Braving the bitter cold in bikinis

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - When the winter winds into high gear and the thermometer drops to -40F it’s a Fairbanks tradition to take off your clothes and take a picture.

While Fairbanks faces a cold snap, there are those who embrace the opportunity to display their bravery in the crippling cold. For some folks, a temperature of 40 below zero means it’s time to strip down and flash a smile as they capture a picture with the tantalizing temperature. As to what makes that temperature so special is unclear outside the infrequency with which it occurs, but -40F and -40C are the same temperature which might just make it more magical.

These fearsome lows tend to invoke one of two responses however. Fear and thrill. Thrill leading to a frozen Fairbanks phenomenon.

Saturday, Jan. 27, saw a large line of cars hugging the curb along Alumni Drive, rounding the corner to Farmers Loop Road. These vehicles weren’t pulled over for an emergency vehicle disaster nor were they inoperable due to cold weather. Instead they all pulled over to stop for a picture. For some reason -40F brings out a need to conquer the cold in bikinis.

As long as I’ve lived in the last frontier and longer, residents have returned to UAF to take their picture at the campus sign on Alumni Drive, where a digital display shows the temperature. It’s their way of showing that they have in fact braved the terrible temperatures. Jessica Johnson, a long time resident of the golden heart city and a graduate student at UAF said she believes this sign has become the destination of choice for photos possibly due to disagreements cast by the use of at home thermometers.

But it still begs the question, why do they do it? “[Be]cause it’s exciting and the other option seems to be sit at home and be miserable because it’s cold,” said Johnson.

But it’s not just residents, tourists get in on the action too! One couple came up from the warm weather in Texas to the tantalizing temperatures in Alaska to pay a visit. Hoping to bring home some memories, a tale of bravery and perhaps a reason to brag, they said “[they’re] doing it because [they’re] leaving in two weeks and we wanted a little memento.”

From babies to grandparents, plenty pulled up for their picture at the sign while some residents have had this opportunity more than once while living in Fairbanks. Whether they return annually or not all depends on timing, however with recent years having fewer days at -40F or colder compared to historical records. Yet, that doesn’t mean multiple stops can’t be made to the sign in a single cold front. “My classmates and I had a lab cancelled so we went Friday morning and then some of my other classmate were upset and so we went Saturday night,” Johnson said.

While this traditions remains strong in Fairbanks, some life long or near life long residents simply haven’t had a chance but embarked on a mission of chill and thrill when it arrived. “This was actually my first time doing surprisingly enough. I just haven’t had the opportunity before,” said Jack Kendall, a resident of Fairbanks. “It was really exciting.” While he said pressure played no part in the decision to take to the cold in nothing but shoes and shorts, he felt a need to get the experience under his belt since “it’s a proper Fairbanks experience.”

As to how long the tradition has been around in Fairbanks is hard to gauge. Some historical photos seen at various locations in town have the temperature written on the print. But, I have yet to see a frontier time photo with people standing next to a thermometer. As far as the tradition of using the UAF campus sign, “my guess would be, as long as the sign has shown a temperature down there,” said Johnson.

For those that now have triumphed the task themselves, the sentiment of participation was fairly positive. “It was pretty intense when I did it, so you know, I honestly have more respect for people who do it now,” said Kendall. “There’s definitely enough adrenaline that you don’t feel the cold and there’s something awesome about taking the picture,” said Johnson. She added that there’s also a certain bit of joy that comes from encouraging others to go for a proper photo, stripping down to their briefs or arriving in their bikini.

While some may call them crazy, it doesn’t appear that those taking off their clothes to take on the cold will call it quits anytime soon.

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