400 take New Year’s Padden plunge

Mayor Pike joins mad dash into icy waters

BELLINGHAM — Men in purple fishnet tights, women in homemade Viking costumes, one mayor and hundreds of other people dashed into the icy waters of Lake Padden at noon Tuesday to celebrate the first day of the year.

“After this, the rest of the year is easy,” said Mayor Dan Pike soon after his plunge into the lake.

The water temperature measured 36 degrees as more than 400 people ran down the muddy, grassy banks, just down the shore from a thin layer of ice floating atop the lake.

The annual Padden Polar Dip is sponsored by the Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department to cap off a weekend of New Year’s events throughout the city. Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce’s Polar Bear Plunge drew more swimmers to the chilly water the same day.

“I just wanted something really invigorating for the New Year,” said Melissa Lukeris, 33, of Bellingham, who had painted abstract red swirls on her face and pinned silk flowers to her braids for the event. Her silver shower cap might provide some insulation, she said.

Karol Weston’s loved ones didn’t know what their costumes would be until they showed up. Weston makes their costumes every year, and this year surprised them with Viking attire. She recycled the coconut bras of the hula dancer costumes of a previous year, spray-painting them a metallic silver. She topped their silver helmets with spraypainted, pointy ice cream cones and draped them with braids of blonde yarn.

“We’re living life,” said Weston, 56, minutes before hitting the water. “As we say, it’s seniors gone wild.”

Steeb Russel, 35, and his wife, Libby Chenault, 30, gave each other a jubilant high-10 after they ran into the water up to their chests. Russel waded back to the shore while Chenault dipped in further, floating on her back for a bit, kicking her feet.

The pair were planning to be in a hot tub within 10 minutes of getting out of the water.

“From here on out,” Russel said, “it’s ‘Maximize the comfort.’”

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Herald Photo by Philip A. Dwyer

Forrest Chiavario of Bellingham reacts to the 36-degree water at Lake Padden Tuesday afternoon during the annual New Year’s Day Lake Padden Polar Dip. Chiavario, who was doing his third Polar Dip, said the water was “Wonderful. Totally rejuvenating.”