Brian Hart, left, and his brother, William Hart of Loudonville, enjoy a brisk swim in Lake George at Shepard Park Beach on Jan. 1 this year. The annual Polar Bear Swim had hundreds of participants taking the plunge into the icy waters.
Brothers Brian and William Hart have an unusual way of training for the annual Polar Bear plunge at Shepard Park Beach, Lake George, on New Year’s Day. “We train year-round for this event,” said William, 57, who weighs about 300 pounds. “We consume as much alcohol as possible. We eat as much fatty food as possible, and we smoke as many cigars as possible. After all, this is our sport.”