In Stone Harbor, 306 Plunge into Bone-Chilling Surf

STONE HARBOR – Polar Bear Fever pounced upon this resort Sat., March 10. The whimsical malady drove 306 warm-blooded souls into the 50-degree surf cooled further by a 43-degree wind shortly after high noon. The dash into the sea was part of the Second Annual Stone Harbor Shiver.
For beach lovers, who could no longer await May’s official opening of the Atlantic Ocean for the season, the Shiver afforded an opportunity to don bath robes, bikinis or less, and prove their fortitude to their scantily-clad friends.
For the record, there were 18 good-natured teams that paid their fee to enter the event that benefitted Cape May County Special Services School District, Friends in Need and Volunteers in Medicine.
Among the teams were piping plover look-alikes, a Chinese dragon, penguins, hula dancers, surfers and even the Three Stooges look alikes.
Mayor Suzanne Walters served as a judge, attired in a white bathrobe.
Presiding over the zany mid-day escapade was “King,” Karl Giulian and “Queen,” Sister James Dolores, of Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The smiling nun is no stranger to the surf. She has long boosted a September Nun’s Beach Surf Contest in the waves directly in front of the Villa Maria by the Sea convent at 112th Street.
Teams of plungers paraded before the judges and the regal duo seated atop a lifeguard bench for a better view of the team, crowd and surf.
A Friday night pre-plunge party was hosted by the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor.
Beyond the breakers, a N.J. State Police Marine Unit boat cruised, in the event a plunger got into distress. Few got much farther than knee-deep surf.
Also at the ready were wet-suit clad lifeguards and a couple of similarly attired uniformed officers.
While most plungers wore less, for the second year, Bob and Councilwoman Josee Rich wore more. The couple entered the surf in high style, she in long black gown, and he in a tuxedo. They strode into the surf, lingered a bit, then casually strolled out, no doubt ready for a regal audience with King Neptune.