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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, December 13, 2013 | 10 Preparing for the 2014 Courage Polar Bear Dip hile the idea of jumping into Lake Ontario on New Years' Day can be intimidating for first timers, many embrace it as a way to get rid of the cobwebs from New Year's Eve or a chance to cross it off their bucket list. Experienced dippers will tell you there are certain things you can do to make the dip both safer and even more enjoyable. Here's a checklist in preparation: · Skip the line. Sign up and pay your registration fee today at www.polarbeardip.ca then quickly check in at the park on Jan. 1, 2014 to receive your wristband and swag bag · Take advantage of the free shuttle bus from South Oakville Centre, 1515 Rebecca St. -- park near the Beer Store. There is limited parking in the Coronation Park area, and parking restrictions will be enforced on neighbourhood streets · A spotter is a must -- all dippers must bring a friend down to the beach to be their spotter during the event. This person will be waiting for you on the shore with a towel, fresh clothing and dry shoes after you take the plunge. Make sure you know where they are before you enter the water · Don't rush to line-up by the beach. Take time to enjoy the live music and costume contest before making your way to the beach. While the first wave will take the plunge at 2 p.m. sharp, there are more than 700 participants so there will be multiple waves W · Less is more... it is far easier to dry off your skin than your frozen clothes. A bathing suit is ideal for most dippers · Make sure to wear an old pair of shoes or "aqua socks" into the water to prevent cuts from the rocks and to stop your feet from sticking to any snow or ice on the shore. Do not wear sandals · If you wear glasses, make sure to secure them with an athletic strap · Bring an old blanket or towel to put down on the beach so you can sit and change before the dip, and another to wrap yourself in when you get out. Don't strip down to your swim suit until it's time for the dip · Do not stay in the water longer than three crawl strokes. Body heat is lost 25 times faster in water than in air · Bring warm shoes or boots (without laces or zippers is ideal) to put on when you get out of the water, and consider getting your feet warm first when you get out · After the dip, head over to the men's or women's heated change tents and get changed in comfort "And have fun," said Trent Courage, cofounder of the Courage Polar Bear Dip, "but The 29th annual Courage Polar Bear Dip, set for Jan. 1, 2014 at Coronation Park in Oakville, sees teams and individuals take a chilly winter dip to raise money for water projects supported by World Vision. | submitted photo know your limitations. If you aren't comfortable doing it, then don't -- but thousands of dippers will tell you it is a great experience." Not ready to take the plunge? Join the crowd to cheer on the dippers and take part in the festivities. At this year's 29th annual Courage Polar Bear Dip, the fun begins at 12:30 p.m. with registration and live music, continues with the costume contest at 1:15 p.m. and culminates with the dip itself at 2 p.m. A post-dip party takes place at Tin Cup Sports Grill, 1540 North Service Rd. W. It is easier than ever to sign up, pay your registration fee and invite friends to be part of your adventure online. You can also text COURAGE to 45678 to donate $5 to the Courage Polar Bear Dip, which raises funds for World Vision clean water projects around the world. For more information, visit www.polarbeardip. ca or email info@polarbeardip.ca. -- submitted by the Courage Polar Bear Dip NEW LIFE NEW HOME Thousands of Available Models Discover Your Neighbours with Great Demographic Info Choose From Hundreds of Quality Home Builders Be the First to Know of Grand Openings and Priority Registrations MAPLEVIEW SHOPPING CENTRE, BURLINGTON | LIMERIDGE MALL, HAMILTON | OAKVILLE PLACE, OAKVILLE SQUARE ONE, MISSISSAUGA | For more locations please visit www.starsmenshops.com a division of Metroland Media Group Ltd.