Friends, family, and well-wishers gathered near the corner of Maplewild SW and SW 172nd St in the Three Tree Point neighborhood for the annual Three Tree Point Polar Bear Swim on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012.

Approximately 40 swimmers entered the chilly Puget Sound waters to feel the exhilaration of life the Polar Bear Swim exemplifies.

Burien Resident and current host of the event, Bob Hubbs, recalls experiencing his first polar bear swim at Three Tree Point. “When we moved out here in ’04 they used to go off the public point, and there were like 4 or 5 (people) so that first winter my ex-wife and I said ‘just come on down and use the boat ramp, it’s a lot easier than hopping over and crawling down and stuff.’ And it’s just gradually grown since then."

Please click the image above for more.

It’s become so popular that a trophy has been created to mark the event.

The trophy is presented to the swimmer that exemplifies the spirit of the polar bear swim. Or as last year’s winner Bart Bryon put it, “Have a lot of enthusiasm, plunge with a certain style. Just go for it and enjoy life…and enjoy being out here with friends and family and fellow Burienites."

12 year old Isaac Krishman of Boise, Idaho who is visiting his aunt- Jodi Hawkins of Burien- for the holidays, plunged with style and took the 2012 Three Tree Point Polar Bear Swim Trophy.

When asked how he felt upon winning the award he responded- “I’m a little cold." Issac vows to return next year to turn the trophy over to a new winner. “I will be back next year."

And so will all the other polar bears.