Updated Tuesday, January 2 at 1:22 PM   10th Annual Polar Bear Swim kicks off 2007 By Jerry Gunn GAINESVILLE - About 100 people jumped into chilly Lake Lanier Monday during the 10th Annual Polar Bear Swim and first Southern Winter Games at the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue. They jumped in everything from pastoral robes to pirate regalia to raise money for young athletes in the Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club. George Wangeman had the best costume as the "Dry Land Polar Bear" with John DePalma as the "Wet Polar Bear." "I'm going to get right into that hot tub as soon as I get out of the water," DePalma said. "It's a good cause, "I'm going to get right into that hot tub..." John DePalma we work towards the Olympics here and there are a lot of young kids who are introduced to the sport and really have a chance to excel." Gainesville First Baptist pastor Bill Coates and his followers did the "pastoral plunge" to start the event and then headed for the hot tubs LCKC had available. "Along with Father Vincent of St., Michael's Catholic, there must be about fifteen from First Baptist all together," Reverent Coates said. Carey, Susie and Callie Sartain, Sarah Grace Wells and Hayden Couch did the best jump and coming in second was "Double Trouble" with Matthew Carlisle and Tom Kelly. The Winter Games included ice blocking (a form of sledding), a snowball toss, bowling for penguins and a variation of curling, using a frozen chicken and a shuffleboard-like court. LCKC director Connie Hagler said the Olympic venue allowed more room for the event and for the winter games this year. POLAR BEAR SWIM WINNERS Best Jump 1st - Carey, Susie and Callie Sartain, Sarah Grace Wells, Hayden Couch 2nd - Double Trouble (Matthew Carlisle, Tom Kelly) Best Costume Dry Land Polar Bear - George Wangeman Wet Polar Bear - John DePalma Related Links: Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club   ©Copyright 2006 AccessNorthGa.com / WDUN News/Talk 550. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.