An annual New Year's Day ice dive drew about 800 people to the shores of Lake Minnetonka in Excelsior for a quick plunge into the 32-degree water.
The ALARC Ice Dive moved this year to the public docks in Excelsior and included a warming tent, and warm drinks and a breakfast burrito for divers. Divers helped raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project.
Veteran ice dive participants jumped first; those with 20 or more dives ("Orcas") and 10 or more dives ("Sharks") were first to line up for the 8:30 a.m. icy wakeup. The event is important enough that the west metro suburb was able to get a declaration from the Minnesota Legislature in 2014 declaring Excelsior the "Ice Dive Capital" of Minnesota.
Rebecca Boynton jumped into Lake Minnetonka (32 degrees) on Sunday for the 27th Annual ALARC Ice Dive. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Brianne Olson of Carver, MN, plunged into the 32 degree Lake Minnetonka with her daughter Pieper Olson, 7, left, and Maddie Dufrane, 7, right, for the 27th Annual ALARC Ice Dive, Sunday, January 1, 2017 in Excelsior, MN. About 800 braved the icy waters to ring in the new year and to contribute to the Wounded Warrior Project. ] (ELIZABETH FLORES/STAR TRIBUNE) ELIZABETH FLORES • eflores@startribune.com (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Co-founder Bill Wenmark, an avid marathoner, cheered on as jumpers plunged into the 32 degree Lake Minnetonka for the 27th Annual ALARC Ice Dive, Sunday, January 1, 2017 in Excelsior, MN. About 800 braved the icy waters to ring in the new year and to contribute to the Wounded Warrior Project. ] (ELIZABETH FLORES/STAR TRIBUNE) ELIZABETH FLORES • eflores@startribune.com (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
![Brianne Olson of Carver, MN, plunged into the 32 degree Lake Minnetonka with her daughter Pieper Olson, 7, left, and Maddie Dufrane, 7, right, for the 27th Annual ALARC Ice Dive, Sunday, January 1, 2017 in Excelsior, MN. About 800 braved the icy waters to ring in the new year and to contribute to the Wounded Warrior Project. ] (ELIZABETH FLORES/STAR TRIBUNE) ELIZABETH FLORES • eflores@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/EA63X75XEL7GY62HEUHIHH2EMM.jpg?&w=1080)
![Co-founder Bill Wenmark, an avid marathoner, cheered on as jumpers plunged into the 32 degree Lake Minnetonka for the 27th Annual ALARC Ice Dive, Sunday, January 1, 2017 in Excelsior, MN. About 800 braved the icy waters to ring in the new year and to contribute to the Wounded Warrior Project. ] (ELIZABETH FLORES/STAR TRIBUNE) ELIZABETH FLORES • eflores@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/ZWB2WYC6JNVHHM3ZAIQ6KIDCQA.jpg?&w=1080)
