Video: Diving into 2010 at the West Seattle Polar Bear Swim

(WSB video and photos by Christopher Boffoli)
WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli reports about 50 people hit the beach, and then the water – as you see in his video above – for West Seattle’s 2010 New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim. First, of course, before the dash into the Sound, it’s off with the clothes:

The water temperature, by the way, was on par with the air temperature – 49-degree water, and (at 10 am) 50-degree air. Immediately afterward, time to warm up again:

The post-swim warmup included free chowder donated by Duke’s, which is right across the street from the swim site:

Missed it? Or – want to do it again? This year, you have a second chance to run into Elliott Bay with dozens, maybe even hundreds, of kindred souls – Special Olympics of Washington is presenting the Polar Plunge on Alki, 11 am January 24. It’s a SOWA fundraiser so you need to register, individual or team – you can start the process here.

4 Replies to "Video: Diving into 2010 at the West Seattle Polar Bear Swim"

  • FabulousEm January 1, 2010 (7:36 pm)

    This was my first year and it was so fun! Definately doing it again next year!! Yea!

  • Missy January 1, 2010 (11:00 pm)

    The Special Olympics Washington plunge will be awesome! I’ll be there!!!

  • Living in West Seattle Since 1985 January 3, 2010 (12:26 am)

    I like how that guy said, “Not like Mexico!”

    • WSB January 3, 2010 (12:38 am)

      Funny thing is, for a brief note on Twitter, I looked up stats for the Pensacola, FL, polar bear swim. The air there – in the GULF OF Mexico, admittedly a ways northeast of Mexico itself – was COLDER – 47 degrees – and the water not that much warmer, 54 – TR

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