Photos: Chris Emeott
Paul Frantzich wasn’t a fan of the cold. But taking an icy plunge for the first time four years ago during a frozen Minnesota February, he suddenly felt as though “nature was aware” of him, he says.
Frantzich was invigorated by his resilience as he overcame his initial fear of the cold water. Submerged up to his chest, he made it a minute and a half with a friend’s encouragement—longer than he thought he would. Exhilaration gave way to a sense of calm and a profound consciousness of the lake. “It was like going home,” says the Excelsior resident.
Frantzich enlisted a few other intrigued individuals, including his wife, Alison Feik, to carve out what became their first shared opening in Lake Minnetonka off of Excelsior Commons beach. He put his marketing background to good use and named his gutsy cold plunge crew the Emperors of Excelsior (EOE), a nod to their penguin counterparts in Antarctica.
Since its first plunge, EOE has expanded over three years to include more than 50 members. One member even flies from California to take an icy dip. Group plunges are loosely organized by a group chat. (“Anyone going to waddle today?” is a common query.) “It’s all about ‘camaraderie and community,’” Frantzich says.
While colder temps pull some people indoors, for others, they serve as a calling card to gather outdoors in the spirit of community, friendship and wellness.
Sara Doherty took Frantzich up on the invitation to cold plunge for the first time two years ago and is hooked. “It’s addicting,” the Excelsior resident says of the reset that brings her “energy and clarity for the whole day.”
Doherty cold plunges two or three times a week. “It makes me be present in the moment,” she says
Not everyone is ready to hop in. Frantzich understands initial hesitation on the part of newcomers and notes how empowering it is to watch those he has introduced to the activity grow more comfortable with the frigid water.
He describes the sensation of cold plunging as: “a euphoric spike, a wonderful rush and joy.” Frantzich also notes improved circulation within 15 minutes of getting out of the water as he feels his body coming out of constriction, and he underscores the dopamine boost during the year’s coldest and darkest months. “I just feel happy,” he says, reflecting on his early mornings of respite with friends on Lake Minnetonka.
Frantzich, who cold plunges daily (sometimes even twice), has learned to stay grounded in his breath during the experience. “It makes me a better person … a better partner, a better dad,” Frantzich says.
Take the Plunge
Paul Frantzich reminds that safety is a priority, especially when it comes to cold plunging in frozen open water. He and other Emperors of Excelsior members diligently maintain their Lake Minnetonka open spot in the ice by checking it daily and taking care to cautiously enter the water to adjust to the water temperature.
Those interested in joining in on the icy fun can email Frantzich at paul@paulfrantzich.com.
Use extreme caution. Be sure to check ice conditions before attempting to go on frozen waterways. And consider contacting your health care professional to determine if cold plunging is the right fit for you.
