Bluffton Plungers Brave the May River’s Frigid Depths in Pursuit of Health
Addison Altizer, Tom Rogers, Jason Yoder, kneeling Nick Hoffman, Morgan Crutchley, Eric Elder, Adam Ormsbee,
Yo boy Kevin, Anthony Bautista, Blanca Luna, Rob Fortson, kneeling, Chad Craig (far back) Christine Wrobel, Brent Whitaker, Matt Messenger (far back) Tim Niemiec, Phillip Burgling, Mark Berglind, Joe Almeida,Benny Mullins, Mike Anderson, Eric Olsen, Gerrett Talarczyk
Maddie McRae was a 14-year-old black lab who, like many dogs her age, was starting to slow down. While she could still get around OK, it was clear that her advanced age was leading to some uncomfortable inflammation. Watching her scuffle about the house, her owner Brent Whitaker had an idea.
“I knew cold water was good for inflammation, so I took her down to Alljoy and let her swim and retrieve,” he said. “One time in mid-winter when she was out swimming, I thought, ‘Why don’t I get in?’ So I did, and when I got out, I felt awesome. I felt like I had so much energy.”
Starting bottom right: Joe Almeida, Matt Messenger, Brent Whitaker, Ashley Buis, Eric Elder, Blanca Luna, Chad Craig, Jason Yoder, Addison Alter, Morgan Crutchley, Nick Hoffman, Anthony Bautista, Christine Wrobel, Herman Kramer
This started Brent’s journey as a plunger. These days you see Instagram influencers of all kinds hopping into bespoke tubs of ice water and touting the numerous health benefits of a cold plunge, but Whitaker came upon it organically. And so did a few of his friends.
Herman Kramer, another Bluffton resident, drove by one day and noticed Whitaker swimming out in the freezing waters of the May. “He told me I was crazy. Now he tells me he feels crazy if he doesn’t do it,” Whitaker said. “We just kept talking about how great we felt, mentally and physically, and how nice it felt to be out in the river.”
Within a few months, the two of them had gathered a huge following of fellow plungers. Talking it up with his fellow CrossFitters swelled the ranks, to the point where some of the group’s daily plunges see around 30 people splashing in the May River’s brisk winter waters.
As the group grew, Whitaker discovered more about the many health benefits that come from a cold plunge – not only does it noticeably stem inflammation, but the body’s adjustment to the cold skyrockets metabolism, while releasing a lymphatic stew of stress-busting chemicals from adrenaline to norepinephrine.
Jewels keeps an eye on the Bluffton Plungers from the dock.
“The amount of dopamine that gets released during a plunge is twice the amount released from cocaine,” Whitaker said. “That’s why it gets addictive, because you’re dialed in for three to four hours after.”
Essentially, a cold-water plunge is a way to shock your body into releasing all the feel-good chemicals it has to offer, soothing aching muscles and turbo-charging your system. For Eric Pollock, it’s been a tremendous way to take the edge off his exercise regimen. “Plunging has helped tremendously in addressing anxiety and depression symptoms while aiding in recovery from intense workouts,” he said.
Another plunger, Nick Hoffman, cites an entire list of reasons why he braves the cold, including the mental boost, the test of mettle, and being with a group of like-minded daredevils. “Basically, it’s either a good reset for a bad day or a way to get your day started right,” he said. “Being new to town, the camaraderie of finding a group of fellow lunatics to jump in a cold river together” has become important to him.
For one devoted plunger, Christine Wrobel, the urge to dive into the iciest water tolerable stemmed from breathing techniques she was already pursuing for mindfulness and meditation.
“Jumping in, you’re immediately immersed. That’s where breathing techniques are helpful, because you have to get control of your breath,” she said. “A lot of us have learned to center and control our breath during intense physical activity. It’s easier to put that into practice when something like this is happening. … You’re able to breathe through stress.”
During the warmer months Wrobel will plunge in a tub, but for her there’s something about being out in the May once the temperature drops below 50 degrees. “If you talk to any of the locals, they’ll tell you that May River water heals everything from a broken heart to skin problems,” she said.
You might call the Bluffton Plungers crazy. But one chilly dive into the May’s icy waves might just make a believer out of you.
“It’s a good group of people,” Whitaker said. “And the heart behind it is we want people to be aware of the benefits.”
