“But I checked things out on the internet and saw that one woman who was doing this was 71.

“I thought I had a shot at being the oldest person here,” said Robinson, of Philadelphia. The 70-year-old Robinson, though smiling, expressed some disappointment that he could not claim the title as the oldest plunger. “It’s cold,” he said, as he headed for the beach soaking wet. Robinson, a veteran Polar Bear participant, painted his face blue Saturday and called himself the “Blue Man.” He summed up his plunge in two words.

I was the whole rainbow.”ĭespite the mild air temperature, the ocean remained a nippy, 42.8 degrees, according to the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol.Īmong the diehards marching into the surf was a bare-chested Tom Robinson, who carried a large American flag attached to a pole. Today, it’s not bad,” said Rachel Burcaw, a 22-year-old Sea Isle resident who was attired in a bathing suit. This year, though, a warm front had boosted the air temperature to a relatively balmy 56 degrees by the time the masses jumped into the ocean at 2 p.m. In previous years, the plungers had to contend with February’s typical freezing temperatures and howling, seashore winds. Some of the plungers braved the chilly surf clad only in bathing suits. Thousands of self-proclaimed polar bears, many in costumes and others clad in bathing suits, charged into the chilly surf as a huge crowd of spectators roared with approval. Doubtfire, the cross-dressing movie character outrageously played by Robin Williams.Īll of this zaniness – and a heck of a lot more – served as the backdrop Saturday afternoon for the madcap annual Polar Bear Plunge that unfolded on the beaches of Sea Isle City. Responding to the quizzical glances cast in his direction, he told everyone that he was pretending to be Mrs. Instead of sipping on sacramental wine, he hoisted a bottle of beer as he toasted the raucous crowd.Īlso drawing plenty of laughs was a guy adorned in fake boobs, a white wig, wire-rimmed glasses, a pink cardigan sweater and a long black skirt that barely hid his hairy legs. Then there was the pope impersonator who was resplendent in a flowing red and gold robe, accented by a papal-style headdress. 'Polar Bears' young and old charged into the ocean for Sea Isle's madcap dip in 2017.įor starters, there were six women who meticulously covered themselves in 20,000 white cotton balls, painted their noses black, donned a pair of cute, fuzzy ears and dubbed themselves the “Serta Sheep.”

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