The 2014 Duluth Polar Bear Plunge was Saturday, February 15, where hundreds of brave plungers dove into the bone-chilling water in support of Special Olympics Minnesota. The annual event proved yet again to be a huge success, and a big hit with participants and spectators.

The 2014 plunge had roughly 1,000 participants who contributed to a total of just under $200,000 in funds raised to support local Special Olympics efforts. The plungers braved air temperatures in the teens, with a wind chill around 0 degrees. A wind off the lake and light to moderate snowfall added to the weather-related challenge plungers faced.

This was the first year in a few years a hole needed to be cut in the ice. Roughly a foot of ice had formed along the shoreline due to an extremely cold winter, and chainsaws and axes went to work before the plungers could make their way into the frigid water.

Below is a recording of the video stream of the plunge. Also, we've included photos from both the plunge site along the Canal Park shoreline and Grandma's Sports Garden. If you have photos you'd like to share, or you happen to be talking about the plunge on social media, be sure to use the hashtag #PlungeDuluth

Watch the 2014 Duluth Polar Bear Plunge

See Photos From the 2014 Polar Plunge

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