Janet Halasek, of Sea Isle City, is the only person to participate in all 24 Sea Isle Polar Bear Plunges. Pictured here with Councilwoman Mary Tighe.
By Donald Wittkowski
What do you call a man who paints his face blue, runs around bare-chested in the middle of winter and deliberately jumps into the frigid ocean?
While the popular answer might be “crazy,” in this case you would be correct if you said “polar bear.”
Each year, Tom Robinson, 71, of Philadelphia, assumes the identity of his “Blue Man” alter ego and joins with scores of other self-styled polar bears to take the plunge off the beaches of Sea Isle City.
Without hesitation, Robinson charged into the chilly surf Saturday afternoon while carrying a large American flag attached to a pole. He emerged soaking wet and shivering, but the bright blue makeup covering his face didn’t smear one bit.
“It was invigorating,” he declared of his dip in the 36-degree water.
Robinson was among an estimated 2,000 to 2,500 diehards who participated in the madcap Polar Bear Plunge that unfolds each February in Sea Isle. Now in its 24th year, the plunge is the centerpiece of the wildly popular annual Polar Bear Weekend celebration that draws tens of thousands of visitors to town for some partying, dining and shopping.
Thousands of spectators crowd the beach to watch the plunge unfold.
Organizers estimated that 45,000 people will spend this weekend in Sea Isle, giving the beach resort a big economic boost during the normally dead winter hibernation at the Jersey Shore. Falling on Presidents Day weekend, the Polar Bear celebration takes advantage of the extended holiday weekend.
On Saturday, the city’s parking lots were full, the downtown streets were teeming with revelers and the Promenade resembled a busy, summer day. The beaches between 38th and 40th streets overflowed with plungers and thousands of cheering spectators for the main event. The air temperature was 41 degrees when the plungers took their dip at 2 p.m. under cloudy skies.
The festivities continue Sunday with the Mike’s Seafood Polar Bear Run and Walk for Autism, which gets underway at noon at John F. Kennedy Boulevard and the Promenade. At 3 p.m., there will be a baggo tournament at the LaCosta Lounge entertainment complex at the corner of JFK Boulevard and Landis Avenue.
Big dinosaur costumes provide a comical backdrop for photo opps.
For Tom Robinson, meanwhile, the Polar Bear Plunge is a source of pride. He adds some patriotic flair while waving the American flag. He also made it clear that he is out for bragging rights.
“I want to be the oldest man on the beach. If someone else out there is 72, I’m going to be very angry,” he said, feigning indignation.
He explained that there is nothing significant or symbolic about his “Blue Man” character. He simply paints his face blue and scrawls the words “Blue Man” on his bare stomach. He has done it for 12 years.
While Robinson’s behavior might seem a bit, well, strange to most of us, he actually fits right in with the rest of the outrageously costumed plungers.
Outrageous costumes add to the chilly fun.
Parading around on the beach was a motley crew of Star Wars characters, Vikings, pirates, dinosaurs and an inflatable dancing polar bear.
Some men were decked out in white, 1970s-era leisure suits, looking like John Travolta’s Tony Manero character from “Saturday Night Fever.” A few women draped themselves in garish jewelry, topping their fake-glam getups with silver tiaras.
Philadelphia Eagles football jerseys were the most popular outfit. Chants of “E-A-G-L-E-S” spontaneously broke out throughout the event in celebration of the Super Bowl champions.
Tina Cassano, 26, of Philadelphia, chose a pink bathing suit, bright pink bow, black tutu and angel wings as her comical beach wear. Accompanied by friends and family members, this was Cassano’s third year taking the plunge.
“What’s a little cold?” Cassano joked while vigorously jumping up and down to try to keep warm.
“But we survive it,” she continued. “We have a good time. It’s a blast. The best part of it is, when you come out of the water, it actually feels warm.”
Two hours before the plunge, the LaCosta Lounge, the social and entertainment epicenter for the crowds, staged a Polar Bear costume contest to get the party started. The contestants were called to the stage to strut their stuff amid cheers and applause from the high-energy audience.
The disco-themed "Saturday Night Freeze" group, of Sea Isle City, won Best of Show in the costume contest.
Kevin Lawrence, 30, of Norristown, Pa., proved to be a picture-taking magnet in his over-the-top costume. Capitalizing on the pro-Eagles hysteria, he wore a cardboard version of the Super Bowl’s Lombardi trophy.
“People are thanking me, because they can take pictures with this trophy,” Lawrence said. “A trophy never dies.”
Six women and one man adorned in bright red costumes and elaborate makeup brought the “Barrel of Monkeys” toy game to life. Jennifer Wilson, 50, of West Chester, Pa., the leader of the group, was joined by family members and a friend.
“We love being creative,” Wilson said, explaining that her group dresses up every year for the costume contest. “We love the atmosphere. We love being part of the whole day.”
One new member to the group was Jennifer’s sister-in-law, Susan Wilson, 55, who lives in Jefferson, Indiana. This was her first time in Sea Isle. It was also her first visit to the Jersey Shore. She was also preparing to take her first Polar Bear Plunge.
“I’ve never seen the beach before in winter,” Susan Wilson said. “But it’s going to be a blast.”
The brightly colored "Barrel of Monkeys" bring the toy game to life.
2018 Polar Bear Plunge Costume Winners
Individual-Small Group:
First place and theme: Frozen, of Green Pond, N.J.
Second place and theme: Land Sharks, of Medford, N.J.
Janet Halasek, of Sea Isle City, is the only person to participate in all 24 Sea Isle Polar Bear Plunges. Pictured here with Councilwoman Mary Tighe.
