Everyone pondering participation in a “polar plunge” on Saturday — including events in Port Angeles and on Marrowstone Island — should proffer a brief nod to the memory of Bernarr Macfadden.
Macfadden, a physical-fitness enthusiast who was often derided as a “kook” and a “charlatan” for his occasionally unorthodox views, founded the Coney Island Polar Bear Club in New York 101 years ago — the first of hundreds of such gathering-groups cobbled together since across the United States and Canada.
“It was his belief that a dip in the ocean during the winter can be a boon to one’s stamina, virility and immunity,” according to a club history posted on the Web site www.polarbearclub.org.
Since then, polar dips and plunges have become a full-blown pop culture phenomenon, attracting all kinds of people from all age groups for all kinds of reasons.
Some like the idea of a symbolic cleansing of sorts to start the New Year.
Others do so for health or spiritual reasons as part of a regular regimen.
And still others just like to get crazy.
Tom Rose, who organizes the Marrowstone Island Polar Dip from his Nordland General Store at noon Saturday, and Bobby Croxford, who has been the longtime leader of the 10 a.m. Port Angeles Polar Dip, say all of the above come into play.
“I think it’s one of the craziest things people are going to do,” Croxford said, “so the rest of the year will seem more sane.”
