The search has begun for Sea Isle City’s new Polar Bear Queen Sea Isle City – After 13 years as Polar Bear Queen in Sea Isle City’s annual Polar Bear Plunge, Dr. Irene Jameson is ready to relinquish her throne at the age of 82. Some may say that they’ve heard this from her in the past, but this year it is definite. So definite, in fact, that the Sea Isle City Tourism Commission has already begun a search for a new Polar Bear Queen, andthey have wasted no time beginning their search. A Polar Bear Queen Contest is currently underway to find Jameson’s replacement, and, considering the event’s popularity, a good turn-out is expected. A new queen will crowned at the next Polar Bear Plunge on February 16, 2008, and Jameson will be on hand to officially pass the baton. The contest for a new queen will serve also as a fund-raiser, and all contestants will be partly judged on how much money they raise. Twenty percent of the proceeds will go to the Make A Wish Foundation of New Jersey and the balance will support free family events sponsored by the Tourism Commission. Interested participants must be 21 years of age, or older, and must agree to adhere to a strict “Polar Bear Queen Conduct Code.” The new queen must also follow specific guidelines, such as being willing to wear a swimsuit while riding on a throne of ice. All contestants must jump in the ocean in February because, according to Jameson, “Real queens do plunge!” Jameson, who has been the director of Sea Isle City’s Public Relations Department for 18 years, was the original organizer of the city’s first Polar Bear Plunge 13 years ago. She got the idea from her son, Robert Jameson, while he was working as a police officer in New Castle County, Delaware. At that time, police officers of the entire state of Delaware were planning a plunge to raise funds. That’s when a light bulb went off over Jameson’s head, and the glow from that bulb would lead Sea Isle City toward a new tradition. In February, 1994, when Jameson and a handful of others took their first plunge, there was only an estimated 100 bystanders in attendance on the beach. But word quickly spread and the event has attracted more and more people every year since. In 2007, the plunge attracted a record 1000 “plungers” and over 10,000 viewers. What a difference a decade has made.
On the first year of the plunge, Jameson had her husband, John, paint “AARP” on the backside of her swimsuit. That was so well received, it started the whole idea of wearing a different costume every year. Some of her costumes are even on display at the Sea Isle City Historical Museum.
“The coldest year was 2003, with snow on the beach, 33 degree ocean temperature, 20 degree air temperature and brisk winds making the chill factor single digits,” said Jameson. “Many of the plungers never returned after that year; I think some of the viewers stopped coming after that year too. However, many others have turned out to replace them since then.” Now that she is officially retiring, she has mixed emotions about passing the torch to a new Polar Bear Queen.
“I was supposed to retire after my 10th plunge when I was 79, but I wanted to keep going into my 80’s. Now, I am sad but I am also glad, and I am sure that the Tourism Commission will do a good job selecting a new queen. Plus, I think it will be good to have a new queen every year, so it will be more interesting,” said Jameson. Polar Bear Queen Applications can be obtained on the Tourism Commission’s website, www.seaisletourism.org, or by phoning (609) 263-TOUR.