by Martin Taylor

Special to the Islands’ Sounder

If you want to start the New Year with an electrifying jolt, participate in an Orcas Tradition: The Polar Bear Plunge.

It’s a simple event. Master of ceremonies Dave Roseberry will give a shout, and the hearty souls of Orcas will charge headlong into Cascade Lake on New Year’s Day. Within a few seconds they will re-emerge, shocked into a new perspective on the world.

Fortunately, there will be moral support from the local crowd, a hot fire, warm drinks, and snacks awaiting. Hopefully you remembered to bring a change of clothes!

The event is a fundraiser for the Orcas Island junior rowing club. Donations are accepted at the plunge.

Each year a commemorative t-shirt is created. This year’s very cool, colorful and appropriate tie-dye design was created by team captain Grace Thompson. The t-shirts will be sold at the plunge or by contacting the club. Some rare historical shirts from past years will be available at the event or by contacting the club.

Be sure to show your “inner hippie” by dressing in costume for this quintessential Orcas affair that starts at 11 a.m.

There are sponsorship forms available from the rowing club web site, www.orcasislandrowing.org in case you need some motivation to “take the plunge.” Let your friends and family know how brave you are and raise a few bucks for the junior rowing club.

This is the 13th annual plunge. At the first event, in 1998, local deputies Ray Clever, Ed Commet and Herb Crowe were auctioned off and paid to jump in the lake.

Since then there has been a theme for each plunge: Winter Luau, Millennium Morning Toga Party, Soggy Prom, Soggy Super heroes, Washed-up Rock Stars, Frozen 50’s Soggy Sock Hop, Masquerade, Frozen Farmers, Freeze Your Booty, Hypothermic Haberdashery and Frigid Frocks, and Save the Polar Bear. This year’s theme is Hippie Nippy Dip.