Sultan group joins record skinny-dip attempt today

SULTAN — Ron Abeel doesn’t get along well with bathing suits.

He doesn’t like the way the clingy trunks get cold as soon as the air hits them.

Sometimes, he avoids getting in the water altogether rather than put on a pair.

He won’t need to decide between the two at noon today.

Abeel plans to go skinny-dipping with hundreds of other nudists as part of a nationwide attempt to break a Guinness World Record.

“It’s just a really delicious way to go swimming,” said Abeel, 54.

The event was organized by the American Association for Nude Recreation, based in Kissimmee, Fla. Last year, the association helped set the first skinny-dipping world record.

Nationwide, 13,648 got in the water at once, association spokeswoman Carolyn Hawkins said. Lake Bronson contributed more than 180 to that total.

It was surprisingly easy to organize the event, Hawkins said.

“Everyone wants to think, ‘Let me be part of history — let me be part of something,’ ” she said.

The record attempt doubles as an ideal recruitment tool for nudist parks such as Lake Bronson, Hawkins said. The family nudist club is located on 320 wooded acres north of Sultan.

“Obviously nude recreation is not for everybody … ” Hawkins said. “But you really don’t know until you’ve tried it.”

Lake Bronson hopes to draw more than 200 people to its spring-fed lake for today’s event. It will waive its usual admission fees during the event.

Skinny-dippers will gather at the club office before noon to sign registration forms. Those will be stamped by a public notary.

Then, people can head straight to the lake. There’s no need to first visit a changing room, said Randy Hoppenbrouwer, a Lake Bronson member.

“Once you’re nude, you’re nude,” he said.

At noon sharp, everyone will be asked to get in the water, synchronizing their plunge with other clubs across the country.

Someone will shoot a quick picture to memorialize the event, and then people can, well, hang out.

Abeel may do just that.

The Kirkland man joined the club with his wife, Jean Abeel, about three years ago. They liked the rustic atmosphere and appreciated the family-oriented rules.

No overt sexual activity is allowed, and the only places you have to be naked are in the lake and the hot tub.

The Abeels now keep a trailer there. Their grandson and daughters visit.

Ron Abeel said he doubts a sense of modesty will keep anyone out of the water during the record attempt.

“People are a lot more comfortable when there are 150 other naked people running around,” he said.

Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455; arathbun@heraldnet.com.