SULTAN — They’ve got the skinny on how to beat the heat here while continuing to celebrate independence this week.
A Sultan nudist club is taking part in “Feel the Freedom,” an effort to set the world record for the most people skinny dipping at the same time on Saturday.
All participants must be stark naked to attempt to break the Guinness World Record of 13,674 skinny dippers in multiple venues.
“We find most people just jump in and forget about the fact that they don’t have any clothes on,” said Randy Hoppenbrouwer, a club member who was among 117 swimmers in Sultan when the record was set in 2009.
The American Association for Nude Recreation, based in Kissimmee, Florida, is organizing the event across North America.
The Naturist Society, which focuses on clothing-optional recreation, is also participating along with local groups that promote similar causes.
The Lake Bronson Club Family Nudist Park near Sultan is among those hosting skinny dippers.
They must bare it all, plunging into the water at noon sharp on Saturday. But, Hoppenbrouwer, a veteran nudist, instead advises people to ease into the water.
“You can’t just jump in or you’ll freeze everything off,” the 59-year-old said.
The skinny dippers previously fell short of a record in 2010. The Sultan club, however, bested its record with 184 nude swimmers.
This time they are not bothering with the red tape that comes with applying for the official Guinness World Record. Instead, they’re trying surpass the all-time high of 13,674 people swimming nude at the same time.
“It’s much more comfortable than wearing something wet,” Hoppenbrouwer said. “Feeling the water around your body is quite nice.”
The record-setting event doubles as a way to recruit new members to nudist clubs.
“If you get people out there, they usually say ‘Hey this isn’t so bad, let’s go out there again,’” said Hoppenbrouwer, a past club president.
Lake Bronson is a 320-acre wooded park is located about 5 miles north of Sultan. It features trails, a beach, a sun dock, a spring-fed lake and an 85-foot waterfall, which cascades into the Sultan River.
The site has been a popular skinny dipping spot since the 1930s. Now, it boasts a lodge that includes guest amenities and even a dance hall.
Anyone willing to bare it all is welcome at the admission-free skinny dip. Those who want to participate should at the club by 11 a.m. on Saturday.
They should download a visitor application from the Lake Bronson website and fill out before the event. The club will do background checks upon arrival.
People will also be asked to sign a photo release.
The club is located at 33033 Cottontail Road just off Sultan Basin Road. For more information, call 360-793-0286 or email skinnydip@lakebronson.com.
Amy Nile: 425-339-3192; anile@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @AmyNileReports
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