• Monday-What'sUP January 23 - 07:30 am

The City of Hancock was host to the Heikinpäivä festivities this weekend, including the Polar Bear Dive, which we feature on today's Pasty Cam. Many thanks to our roving photographers, Z-Man (the first three), Daryl Laitila (the third shot) and E. Neil Harri, who supplied us with a photo of the scene where all this took place.

I'm not certain, but taking a wild guess, I'm going to say the Polar Bear in Z-Man's top photo is most likely one of the judges as he/she is holding up a "3". You can tell by the other photos that there were a number of different styles choosen to enter those icy waters and I don't know about you, but I think each one of the brave souls deserves kudos for having the sisu to take the plunge!

Thanks to Neil and his pilot/photographer skills, we enjoy a bird's eye view of the scene of the jump. Look closely and you'll see the square hole that was cut for the jumpers entry (to the left of the Ramada, where all the cars are parked). There's no one in sight, so Neil must have flown over before or after the festivities were held.

These are always awesome pictures to look at! The crazy ones that jump in are definitely in a club of their own!

Brrrrrrrrrr...........

The only smart one was the one dressed as the polar bear! Can you say crazy boys and girls? I know you can!

Is that person in the wet suit, about 8' tall,he sure looks it.

Great day! I wasn't sure you'd have enough ice to actually cut a hole. Great fun boys and girls.

Greetings from the Chicago land area. HOW ABOUT DEM BEARS!!! Great pictures today but I want to say that I loved the pictures of the Quincy Dredge. My dad worked for Quincy for about 50 years and the dredge was and is always a welcome landmark on our trips to the U.P.

Six more weeks ... til these people warm up again. Great pictures, thank you.

No wonder why you Yoopers are so tough! I'm shivering just looking at these pictures.

Greetings from Columbus, Ohio. The city is going nuts over 3 inches of snow-----whimps!!!!!!We get to listen to non stop "bad weather" reports--this would be a "dusting" for the Copper Country. Pictures were beautiful---wish I was there to enjoy the festivities.

Brrrr!! Better them than me. From the looks of the polar bears, they students are in better shape than I was in my Tech days! I think I'd want my body fat to jump into the canal this time of year. Summer too for that matter.

I prefer to swim when the only ice is in my cooler.

Hummmmmmmmmm crazy doesn't quite describe this mid-winter sport..... this is one time I am glad to be Swedish and Armenian!!!! lol

didn't see you out their ole blue eyes ... ????


Have a blessed day ya'll

Talk about SISU!! Closest I got to this kind of thing wss to take a hot sauna at Rabbit Bay and then run for the lake and dive in-------and get out pronto. In the summer, of course!

SISU: I use the word in place of gut's.I would like to find a friendly word that still get's my point accross.Idea's ?

Nice action shot this time Z--your the man.Wonder what you were dressed in.

The Tall Guy; Wright your right he has to be at least 8 ft.Good to hear from you up der two county's north from me.And i got Fran to my south.I'am stuck in the middle,how lucky.

Z-Man was sitting in the cocktail lounge at the Ramada, next to an open window, with his zoom lens, eating pretzels and drinking beer! Nice action shots!

Dave, My cousin from Finland was here in 1976 and the first thing we asked her was the meaning of Sisu. She said "determination" or "fortitude", as in completing a job, no matter how hard it was.

Sisu covers so much, my stepdad just calls us stubborn Finns. But once you set your mind to something you go through with it.

Not that Wikipedia is the best source, but their definition is remarkably close:
Click® Wikipedia:Sisu

The Wikipedia definition of SISU is quite good. Note that in English the closest translation is guts.
Years ago I played basketball for Suomi College. When on our road trips to Minn. we would have supper at one of the affilated churches after a game. When we walked in they would chant SISU. Then do an old cheer about fish stew and hard tack. The non-Finns were stunned at first. Then it became a good laugh.

I don't like stubborn,because I saw a Southern (hilby)Gent grab a hold of a vine,run while pulling and getting jerked 3 times.The 4th. time was stubbornous too.I like determination

At the risk (to some)of sounding racist. What is a Finn suposed to look like now adays? A pure blooded Finn? Was the only Finn pictured in ZZzz;s-Man still shot. the top one.Cus at me on What's Up page.Dose any one even go there?

David Hiltunen (Davidcorrytontn):
"I don't like stubborn ..."

Tis interesting that the word "stubborn" never appeared in the Wiki definition!

HYVÄÄ HEIKINPÄIVÄÄ SUOMESTA SINNE RAPAKON TAAKSE!

GOOD HEIKINPÄIVÄ FROM SUOMI TO THERE PUDDLE BEHIND!