Updated: 01/05/2009 2:40 PM KSTP.com | Print Story
By: Tim Sherno

SHERNO: Jumping into Lake Minnetonka on Jan. 1. Why?

It all happens so fast. One moment you're inside a nice warm building wrapped in a towel, the next (below) you're standing outside clad only in a bathing suit and sneakers staring down at ice-cold slate-gray water and it's time to leap! (That's me and my son Max. Notice how we're both looking at the water.)

No time to think. No second thoughts. No waiting. No hesitating. When they say "jump" you JUMP!  At this point (below) we're in the air but not in the water. Not yet. As we were in the air, I remember hearing the sound of rushing air, and a tiny little gasp... 'ahh.' Looking back, I recognize the gasp.. it was me. 

And when we were IN the water, I remember hearing a heartbeat and the sound of heavy breathing and someone saying something like 'ahhverzzzgggrrreeennnn.' Looking back, again, it was me.  When people find out that I do this each year, they say things like, "you're crazy," or "you do that?!" A lot of times they just say, "no way!"  But the fact of the matter is this: it's not that bad, and it doesn't last long. I watched the video and timed it  -from the moment we touched water until we were all the way out... how long did it take? Just over 10 seconds! I tell people, you can do anything for 10 seconds. (below) 10 seconds is nothing.  

My son and I, and 906 other fun-loving-adventurous people jumped into lake Minnetonka on New Year's morning... I believe it set some kind of record.  The story of the jump is (below) told in the faces of the people AFTER they've jumped. It's thrilling and exhilarating and a great way to welcome a new year. Yes, people, first timers, do look nervous as they wait to jump and they look really nervous right before they jump, but! When jumpers come out of the water they all have the same 'too-big-for-their-face' smile. It's scary to think about doing, great fun to actually do. 

This was my son's 3rd Jump.

Lake Minnetonka. January 1st. 2010. See you there.