CityRealty Insider > Swim and Bear It: Cold Water Dippers Make a Splash

Swim and Bear It: Cold Water Dippers Make a Splash

FEBRUARY 24, 2009

Polar Bear swimmers burn calories and help charities.

The intrepid Coney Island Polar Bear Club swimmers have become a standard New Year's Day eccentricity—starting off each new year with a splash and a quick dip in the freezing Atlantic to support the charity of their choice (this year's beneficiary was Camp Sunshine for kids).

But the organization's hardcore members are proud of their status as year-round athletes and fund-raisers, and the sport's reach goes well beyond the much-publicized Coney crowd. Locally, the Long Beach Polar Bears used the supercommercialized Super Bowl to raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. They snagged a bit of history as well, setting the world record for "Most people in a cold water swim."

Next up for the locals (and anyone who wants to join 'em): A "naked" Polar Bear cruise on the Circle Line ferry—don't get too excited, swimsuits are the garment of choice, but participants will be "bear"-ing up to the February weather. And this time some actual polar bears may benefit. Proceeds will go to local animals at the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium.

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