2011 “Glacial Getaway”: Polar Bear Plunge on New Year’s Day
Published 10:20 am Thursday, December 16, 2010
The Orcas Island Junior Rowing Club and other hardy islanders are preparing to begin the new year with a splash at the 14th annual Cascade Lake Polar Bear Plunge.
“If you want to start the New Year with an electrifying jolt, participate in an Orcas tradition: The Polar Bear Plunge,” organizers say. “It’s a simple event: the master of ceremonies will give the shout and the hearty souls of Orcas will charge headlong into Cascade Lake. Within a few seconds they will re-emerge, shocked into a new perspective on the world and ready for 2011. Fortunately there will be moral support from the local crowd, a hot fire, hot drinks and snacks awaiting and hopefully you remembered to bring a change of clothes!”
The plunge is a fundraiser for the Orcas Island junior rowing club (OIRA). Each year the club designs a creative t-shirt to commemorate the plunge; donations and proceeds from t-shirt sales support the rowers. This year’s design is by rowing team captain Jacqlynn Zier. Shirts can be bought at the plunge or from the club. Some rare historical shirts from past years will also be available.
“Be sure to show your sunny side for the “glacial getaway” by dressing in an appropriate (or inappropriate) costume for this quintessential Orcas affair,” organizers say. “The plunge happens very promptly at 11 a.m. on Saturday Jan. 1 at Cascade Lake. Be sure to turn up early so you don’t miss the event. Once folks are dressed to jump in a cold lake they don’t like to hang around for long! There are sponsorship forms available from the rowing club Web site at: www.orcasislandrowing.org in case you need some motivation to ‘take the plunge’. Let your friends and family know how brave you are and raise a few bucks for the junior rowing club.” To buy shirts call Jacqlynn Zier at 376-5599 or email jacq@rockisland.com. For more information about the Polar Bear Plunge, call Martin Taylor at 376-6935 or email plunge@orcasislandrowing.org.
The first Polar Bear Plunge was held on Jan. 1, 1998. That year local sheriff’s deputies Ray Clever, Ed Commet and Herb Crowe were auctioned off to jump in the lake.
Since then, there has been a theme for each Plunge:
1999 – Winter Luau
2000 – Millennium Morning Toga Party
2001 – Soggy Prom
2002 – Soggy Super heroes
2003 – Washed-up Rock Stars
2004 – Frozen 50’s Soggy Sock Hop
2005 – Masquerade
2006 – Frozen Farmers
2007 – Freeze Your Booty
2008 – Hypothermic Haberdashery & Frigid Frocks
2009 – Save the Polar Bear
2010 – Hippy Nippy Dip
2011 – Glacial Getaway
