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BEAVER | Thursday, December 29, 2 0 1 6 | 4 Brothers have advice for those takingthe plungefor the first time continued from p. 1 Lake Ontario while the brothers filmed a televi sion segment for Sun day's event. Although hot tubs are typically part of the promotion for the Polar Bear Dip, Trent said they weren't included this year. "We sort of it made it a larger event that way, but we really wanted to focus less on that (hot tubs) and a little bit more on the actual dipping, and the message we're trying to get across with Can ada' s 150th birthday, raising $ 1 5 0 ,0 0 ," said Trent. "(It was) more about pro moting the event on Jan. 1, rather than being an event itself." The pre-dip, which usu ally draws a sizable crowd, has been covered by the me dia for more than 15 years, Todd noted. "It is very important to us to spread the word about the event a little more and give people the idea when they see crazy people running in the water, then they want to do it, too, on Jan. 1," said Todd. for us. I'm just happy the way it has grown to be where it is right now," he said. As a local and beyond tra dition, people would gather at Coronation Park Jan. 1 to "jump in the water on their own," Trent said, whether or not there was an organized event. "That is a tribute to the number of people who just repeat, repeat and repeat, but there are always new people every year who join," said Trent, noting 60 -7 5 per cent of participants are regular dippers, while newcom ers account for the remainder. "Eventually, other people join who weren't part of it 20 years ago, 10 years ago, five years ago, now they're at an age where they feel they can do it." The Courage brothers have advice for those running in for the first time on Jan. 1. For example, they advise people to bring water or running shoes, not flip-flops, and have a spotter onshore with a warm blanket or anything that will help restore body temperature once they exit the lake. The m ost important thing to re member is your feet get "really, re ally cold" in the water, Todd said, so dippers will need to remove their shoes immediately upon getting to shore and replace them with warm boots. "You get your feet warm and your body follows. You really feel the pain in your feet if they've been sub merged (in water) and you don't do anything about it," said Todd. "Once you warm up those feet, everything feels better." Brothers humbled The Courage brothers are "very humbled" with the re sponse the dip has generated since it moved to Oakville 2 0 -2 5 years ago, Todd said. "It' s been very substantial www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE N ew LEG O ® Dr.Marisa D'Angelo Dr. Shivani Saggar M ak e & Take · S ta r W ars · M in e c ra ft · P o kem o n 905-825-9994 - 461 N. Service Rd. W Oakville We offer full Family Dental Services in our new modern office in a calm and relaxing environment.We are a paperless office and use digital x-rays.We welcome kids, teens, adults and seniors. NEW PATIENTS are welcome and we will accommodate your dental emergencies We will directly bill your insurance company and offer convenient evening and weekend appointments. 2525 Old Bronte Road, Suite #130 Palermo Professional Centre (ground floor) Branle Rd. Dundas St W . t N I a 5PECKLE5 flRT5TUDIO.COM www.reflections-dental.ca 905-827-8700 Pine Glen Rd. i see Dip on p. 34 BOXING WEEK SALE 't o o ` Valid for any 3 for 1 purchase, cannot be combined with any other offer. December 26 - January 4 The Right Pair for the Right Occasion. f /3 fo rlg la sse s H /3 fo rlg la sse s T im b e rla n d ^ p r a d a EYE EXAMS AVAILABLE 905-849-1522 2 2 0 N o r t h S e rv ic e R d. W e st @ D o r v a l w w w .3 fo r 1 g la s s e s o a k v ille .c a R O O TS GUCCI FENDI ( £ ) CHANEL