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.
ALSO IN NEW YORK CITY INSIDER
- 30 Park Place Vs. The Baccarat Hotel and Residences - JUL 8, 2014
- This Week in NYC Living - JUL 1, 2014
- Notable NYC Neighbors - JUN 26, 2014
- Great NYC Buildings: New in the Heights - JUN 23, 2014
- Notable NYC Neighbors - JUN 20, 2014
- Notable NYC Neighbors - JUN 17, 2014
- Building Vs. Building - JUN 9, 2014
- Notable NYC Neighbors - JUN 6, 2014
- Notable NYC Neighbors - MAY 23, 2014
- Notable NYC Neighbors - MAY 15, 2014
- Great NYC Apartment Buildings: 12 East 13th Street vs. 22 Central Park South - MAY 13, 2014
- Notable NYC Neighbors - MAY 7, 2014
- Notable NYC Neighbors - MAY 1, 2014
- Upping the Architectural Ante in NoHo - APR 22, 2014
- Great NYC Buildings: Brooklyn's Gold Coast Living - APR 15, 2014
- Notable NYC Neighbors - APR 11, 2014
- Building vs. Building - APR 10, 2014
- Notable NYC Neighbors - APR 2, 2014
- This Week in NYC Living - APR 1, 2014
- Notable NYC Neighbors - MAR 26, 2014
- View Articles By Date