STORM LAKE, Iowa (KTIV) -
It may be the dead of winter, but it didn't stop the town of Storm Lake from coming alive with outdoor and indoor activities.
Winter may bring many people inside, but the outdoors is where you'll find Minnesota native Dylan Wright and his college buddies.
"I love winter. Minnesota has good winters up there. It's just how I was born," said Dylan Wright, freshman at Buena Vista University.
"It's pretty fun out here. Wake up and do something instead of sitting and doing nothing at all," said Kamsa Thephavong, freshman at Buena Vista University.
Skating on a frozen Storm Lake, they and hundreds more took part in the Extreme Winter Festival. In its third year, the games were a way for folks to beat the winter blues even if the weather this year was a bit warm.
"We were supposed to have our beverage tent and our golf tournament and disc golf out on the ice, but you know it's been kind of warm so we moved that up to the great lawn and it turned up great up there," said Angelique Anderson, Storm Lake United's Member development Specialist.
But the games went on, even on the lake.
"It's fun. I like the smaller groups. It's a more faster pace," said Wright.
"Just having fun outside. I like being on the ice," said Kamsa Thephavong, freshman at Buena Vista University.
"When I first saw it here advertised 2-3 weeks ago I was really excited because I'd always wanted to do one," said Crystal Davis, senior at Buena Vista University.
Davis, a senior at BVU, had never been in a triathlon, Sunday was her first shot.
"So I just wanted to get the experience and see what it's all about because I've been an athlete my whole life," said Davis.
"People came out and really participated and supported the event so we were really happy," said Anderson.
"It's just a way to get the students and the community all together, working together and just having some fun. A little kind of community bonding," said Davis.
The weather may not have been extreme this year, but the fun sure was.
Officials estimated around 400 people attended the 3 day event.
They say they're planning on adding more events next year such as a polar plunge.
