WC HYPE hosts a day of winter fun
Chillympics return to Webster City for third yearby ANNE BLANKENSHIP Daily Freeman-Journal Managing Editor
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The Winter Olympics are over for the next four years, but some stalwart Webster City residents created their own winter fun at the Chillympics, held Saturday at Briggs Woods Golf Course.
The Chillympics, sponsored by WC HYPE, a Webster City service organization for young adults, provided a fun outlet for those weary of winter and suffering from cabin fever. Tyler Abens, chair of the Chillympics committee, said the annual event started three years ago.
"WC HYPE was just getting started and the members felt they needed to find a fun winter activity for area residents," Abens said.
"This year is especially nice considering the long, cold winter we've had," Abens said. "We're glad to have this excuse to come out and have some fun in the snow instead of just scooping all the time."
Abens said Saturday's weather proved to be the best of the past three years.
"The first year was not good, and last year it was windy and cold," he said. "Today, it was sunny and there wasn't much of a breeze."
Five teams took part in the competition, which was comprised of five events: frozen turkey bowling, toilet seat horseshoes, sledding launch, beanbag toss, and snow dodge ball. Abens said teams were scored on each event with the cumulative total deciding first place. However, first place is never guaranteed. A special bonus event - the Polar Plunge- can actually change the outcome of the winter games, he said.
If the fourth place team wanted a chance to leap to the head of the pack, Abens said the team members could all jump into an inflatable pool filled with icy water. The third, second and first place teams would then have to take accept the Polar Plunge challenge to keep their rank in the standings.
Turkey bowling was held in the clubhouse parking lot. Two lanes of ice were created with snow built-up along the edges to serve as gutters. Several bowlers took spills as they sent the frozen bird down the lane.
"If you can throw a bowling ball, you can throw a turkey. I'm just afraid I'm going to slip on the ice," said participant Jeff Felts, Webster City.
"The lanes aren't quite square with the pins, so you have to try and compensate for that," he said. "But it sure is fun."
Participants hiked through the snow to the first tee of the golf course to compete in the sledding launch. With two team members giving a good push, two other teammates swooshed down the hill on sleds to see who could mark the longest ride.
Accuracy was key as team members tossed beanbags, and later, toilet seats in an unusual horseshoe game.
Abens said dodge ball was saved for last. A dodge ball court set up near the No. 9 green on the course.
That was a fun event, and actually, a little more physical for participants than some of the other events," he said.
The team of Todd Lovelace, Sara Abens, Cory Bargfrede and Matt Ross claimed the first place honors, but had to take the Polar Plunge to do it.
Bargfrede, who had do take a dip in the icy water the first year of the competition, said he was prepared for the dip this time around.
"It was cold, but worth it," he said.
Contact Anne Blankenship at editor@freemanjournal.net or call 832-4350.
