A cool, rainy day in January is not the ideal time to take a dive into Lake Lanier, you would think.

But for nearly 100 people, plunging into the icy waters is an exhilarating way to start the new year.

The Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club held its 14th annual Polar Bear Swim fundraiser Saturday at the Lake Lanier Olympic Center. While cold weather is to be expected, this was the first time organizers had to deal with rain.

"We've never had a rainy jump," 2010 club president Tim Watson said. "I would take sunshine and cold over a wet day like this."

Despite the rain, there was no shortage of participants, nor enthusiasm. Phill Norrey, 49, and Emily Baker, 41, of Cumming thought diving into the cold lake was a great way to announce their marriage plans.

"We are going to get married and we thought ‘What better way to start the year than to wash away the old with 20-degree waters?'"

Peter Wade, 20, of Gainesville didn't have time to change out of his work clothes before jumping in the lake for his second year. So he took the plunge still wearing his blue button-up shirt and black pants.

"I came straight from work," he said. "I tried to have someone bring me clothes, but they couldn't."

It was Gainesville City Councilman George Wangemann's 12th year participating in the dive, and he performed the inaugural jump — once he removed the "polar chicken" costume over his swim shorts.

Swimming at a leisurely pace toward the ladder, Wangemann said that the water temperature felt about the same as the previous year. But the air was warmer.

"It actually feels good getting out with the air not so cold," he said.

Last year's participants had to contend with chilly winds and temperatures around 40 degrees. But on this day the thermometer lingered in the mid-50s, with the water at 51 degrees near the surface, and a gray mist hovered over the lake.

New Canoe and Kayak Club president Doug Smith said the jumping was safe because participants were not in the water for a long time. Along with a hot tub and life guards nearby, the club provided life jackets to children and anyone else who wanted one.

"There's not a whole lot of trouble you can get into with a life jacket on," Smith said.

As each participant or group lined up on the dock, Wangemann asked them their reasons for jumping. Standing under an umbrella on the shore, Beth Moffett, 37, of Gainesville found this amusing.

"I think it's funny that George is asking everyone why they're doing this," she said, getting her camera ready. Her husband, Bill, in blue swim shorts, was waving from the dock and getting ready to make his jump. But not before answering Wangemann's question.

"I'm trying to set an example for my two sons, Walker and John Bishop, so they'll be out here next year," Bill Moffett said into Wangemann's mic.

But John Bishop, 5, was already thinking about taking the plunge. "I want to jump in the water!" he said.

After the swim, jumpers and spectators returned to the meeting room and enjoyed hot chili while Watson announced contest winners.

Moffett ended up winning the award for best splash, beating out last year's champion, the 6-foot-9 Jerel Verner of Marietta.

"It was kind of intimidating," Moffett said. "I saw (Verner) last year I knew I had tough competition."

The winner of the best costume contest was Shane Galbraith's family of Gainesville; they wore white T-shirts spelling out a welcome to 2011. Rusty Grindle won the best jump contest.

Watson said the event wasn't about competition but about community involvement and awareness of the Canoe and Kayak Club, its programs and Olympic Center itself.

"We want to make the community aware of this facility," he said. "We have something for all age brackets."

Money from the Polar Bear Swim fundraiser will help fund the club's youth programs and other activities.