Polar Bear Swim - 2005 Polar Bear

"This is definitely a mid-life crisis," said Neal Ouellett, three days before his 53rd birthday and minutes before splashing into the Atlantic Ocean on January 15.

Ouellett was wearing a caveman costume at the time.

The air was 25 degrees and the Atlantic at about 40 degrees - perfect weather for the Portsmouth Rotary Club’s second annual Polar Bear Swim. With a minimum sponsorship of $250 per participant, all of it going to charity, about 30 locals stripped down to Speedos, bikinis, shorts and other swim gear to take an icy dip. Onlookers numbered in the dozens, all of them in winter layers and appropriately capped and gloved.

Ouellett, president of the Portsmouth Rotary, joined fellow Rotarians Ted Alex and Eric Weinrieb in caveman attire, bucking for the day’s best costume honor. All got icy wet.