NORDLAND— “Sometimes we have a big year and sometimes we have a small year,” said polar bear plunge organizer Tom Rose on Sunday.
“This is a big year.”
More than 200 people crowded the area around the normally bucolic Nordland General Store on New Year’s Day afternoon for the ritual of jumping into cold water as a way to greet the year.
This is the 18th celebration, and Rose, owner of the general store, has participated in every one.
“There is a lot of anticipation before you go in but you feel really good afterwards,” he said.
Several jumpers said that going in the water on Jan. 1 is a great way to start the year, washing away the old and submerging themselves in new possibilities.
“You start the year like this and it has to get better,” said Marrowstone Island resident Mitch Brennan, who did not jump this year.
But Brennan’s 15-year-old daughter, Sage Brennan, took the plunge with her friend, Sara Allen.
Allen, a member of the Chimacum Swim Team, talked Brennan and several of her teammates into participating.
“It’s pretty cold when you go in — you get a big shock — but it’s OK when you get out,” she said.
Allen, 14, has done the dip three times and it doesn’t get any easier, she said.
Most of the jumpers went out onto the pier, jumped in screaming and climbed out quickly —although a few went in for a second dip.
Anna Nasset of Port Townsend had her first dip.
“I grew up in the Midwest and I’ve read about this all my life and I always wanted to do it,” she said.
“It’s an amazing way to start the New Year. I wanted to do it last year but I sprained by ankle.”
“When I went in, my eyeballs wouldn’t stay straight, they were jumping around,” said Sara Leonard of Port Hadlock.
“It’s a very positive way to start the New Year.”
“I don’t know if this changes my outlook on the whole year, but it does change my outlook about the day,” said Todd Stephens, who jumped in holding hands with Leonard.
“It’s not something you do every day.”
The jumpers began at noon and it took about 20 minutes for the crowd to winnow out, but there were some late stragglers.
Three of these walked out on the pier and then jumped into the water stark naked.
The three gave their names as Tina Gunderson, Georgette Safari and Nitro Trust (who was wearing blue lipstick) and said they were from Nebraska.
Rose said that naked jumpers are rare “but it happens.”
The three didn’t offer a reason for their polar bare jump, admitting that it took a lot of courage.
“But we did it,” Gunderson said.
“We are strong.”
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
