By Donald Wittkowski
Amy Senn will be dressed in a mermaid costume, so naturally she plans to take “the plunge.” But the prospect of charging into the chilly surf has made her unsure whether she will jump in all the way or merely splash around knee-deep.
“The water is going to be cold,’’ she said, placing her arms around her body to simulate a shiver.
For Senn, it will be her first Polar Bear Plunge. The madcap annual event in Sea Isle City is the centerpiece of a weekend-long celebration of partying, dining and shopping that will draw an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 visitors to the beach town in the dead of winter.
“It’s just like the Fourth of July,” City Councilman William Kehner said of the burst of tourism that Sea Isle will get from the Polar Bear festivities.
Organizers estimate that 2,000 diehards will take the plunge at 2 p.m. Saturday off the beach between 38th and 40th streets. Although a warm front is expected to bring relatively balmy air temperatures in the 50s and 60s to the Jersey Shore this weekend, the water will remain downright nippy, around 40 degrees.
Senn, 42, of West Chester, Pa., said she gave the water a test trial two weeks ago to prepare herself for the plunge. At that time, she waded knee-deep into the frigid surf, which makes her uncertain whether she will be able to summon the courage to take a full soaking Saturday.
Whatever happens, Senn is calling it a baptism of sorts. She bought a summer home in Sea Isle last year and has convinced herself that participating in the Polar Bear Plunge is a way of becoming a full-fledged member of the local community.
“I figured it was my turn to take the plunge. This is the year that I get baptized in Sea Isle waters,” she said.
In keeping with the wackiness of the event, Senn is planning to wear a mermaid outfit. Each year, dozens and dozens of plungers are attired in zany costumes, while others simply jump in clad only in their bathing suits.
At noon Saturday, there will be a Polar Bear Plunge costume contest at the LaCosta Lounge, which is serving as the social and entertainment epicenter for the weekend festivities.
“It’s going to be a tremendous crowd, perhaps the biggest ever because of the nice weather,” said Jimmy Bennett, the LaCosta’s owner.
Workers were making last-minute preparations Friday afternoon at LaCosta to accommodate the expected surge in customers. Bennett said LaCosta will have four large outdoor tents set up around the lounge at the corner of John F. Kennedy Boulevard and Landis Avenue.
Would-be polar bears wandered into LaCosta on Friday to register for the event. One of them, Charles Leary, a 64-year-old retired plumber and pipefitter from Wenonah, Gloucester County, is preparing for his first plunge.
“It looks like a fun thing to do,” he said, smiling.
Although Leary will be joined by a few members of his family, one person who will not be jumping into the water with him is his 61-year-old wife, Judy.
“I’ll be holding the towels. I’m the official towel holder, and the 911 caller,” Judy Leary joked.
A list of 900 plungers who had pre-registered for the event online showed names from not only New Jersey, but also Pennsylvania, Delaware and New York, organizers said.
Now in its 23rd year, Polar Bear weekend is expected to be such a blockbuster event that many of Sea Isle’s businesses, normally closed for the winter, have reopened just for the celebration. The timing of the Polar Bear Plunge with the Presidents Day weekend should allow the town to capitalize on the extended holiday weekend.
“It’s very important to us,” Kehner said of the boost to the local economy. “Just go around town and look at all of the businesses that have reopened just for this weekend.”
Throughout the downtown area, some of the businesses had customized their signs to feature a Polar Bear theme.
The Ocean Drive bar and its sister property O’Donnell’s Pour House on Landis Avenue have placed signs inside and outside touting their Polar Bear specials and entertainment lineup.
“We’re expecting great crowds and great business. I think it’s going to be an awesome weekend,” said Kathy Larkin, manager of the Ocean Drive and O’Donnell’s.
Larkin noted that O’Donnell’s already benefited from a brisk lunch crowd on Thursday. She said some customers told her that some of their relatives are flying in from other states for the Polar Bear festivities.
“People are coming in from everywhere,” she said. “This is a nice push for us and other local businesses in the middle of winter. It feels like a little bit of summer.”
Schedule of Events:
Saturday, Feb. 18
- 8 a.m.: Plunge registration and preregistration pick-up, La Costa Lounge Complex, 4000 Landis Ave.
- 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Polar Bear Run/Walk for Autism registration, La Costa Main Tent.
- Noon: Polar Bear Plunge Costume Contest, La Costa Main Tent (Please keep all costumes tasteful; the event organizers reserve the right to deny entry to the contest).
- 2-2:15 p.m.: Polar Bear Plunge, JFK Boulevard and the beach. The official plunge location, with medical assistance and ocean-rescue personnel on-site, is between 38th and 40th streets.
- 4 p.m.: Polar Bear Plunge Costume Contest awards, La Costa Main Tent.
Sunday, Feb. 19
- 9-11:30 a.m.: Polar Bear Run/Walk for Autism registration and preregistration pick-up, La Costa Main Tent.
- Noon: Polar Bear Run/Walk for Autism, JFK Boulevard and the Promenade.
- Post-Race Party: Live music, buffet, awards ceremony, door prizes, food and entertainment for the entire family, La Costa Main Tent.
- 3 p.m.: First Annual Polar Bear Cornhole Tournament. Check-in at 1 p.m., La Costa Complex, $60 per team.
