One winter morning post swim at Jane the Bakery cafe a group of Bay swimmers were enjoying breakfast and glowing with what Judge Rene Chouteau describes as the "brilliant peace derived from the narcotic effect of cold water swimming."  During the meal, Buck Delventhal, Peter Allen, and Matt Davis regaled newer members with tales of wild pier jumps and unorthodox swims.  

​

Everyone listening was awestruck and inspired by this forgotten yet sacred activity of jumping off piers. Everyone agreed this sounded like a wonderful idea.  Everyone but Norbert.  

​

Despite weekly pokes, ploddings, and pleadings, Norbert's iron will prevailed as many tried persuading him to parachute off a pier to plunge into cold water.  His answer was always "no."  

​

It was not his fault.  As a risk officer of a major bank, his risk reward calculator was overly sensitive.  Despite many months of nagging, Norbert's heart would not change.  As a final Hail Mary, an event was created to persuade the  Norbert to throw caution to the wind, break the chains of his mind, and leap from a pier.  

​

In the Year of the Pandemic, June 2020, Norbert's friends and supporters organized the first Free Norbert, a Fort Mason Jump with the goal of fully liberating Norbert.  The event was also held in honor of Buck Delventhal who founded the Buckaroo Sunrisers of the South End Rowing Club.

​

We now celebrate Norbert's leap annually because we recognize that each of us has an Inner Norbert that must be freed on a regular basis.

​

We also thank the Buckaroo Sunrisers who sustained us during the dark days of the Pandemic. When asked why they jump, they may say: "We jump not because it's there, but because it's neither here nor there."