On New Year's Day, folks up and down the Jersey Shore did something that I consider absolutely bonkers: went swimming. In the ocean. Yes, outside.
There's two more polar plunges (that I know of) coming up this winter -- the Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge in Wildwood on January 17 and the Sea Isle City Polar Bear Plunge on Valentine's Day. I'm tentatively going to the Wildwood one to see what all the fuss is about, though dressed in winter gear and NOT going in the water.
But I want to hear from you, plungers. Why jump in the ocean in the winter? What do you wear? And how do you ever warm up after?
7 comments:
Two things:
1) You're nuts!
2) So are my parents. They did a Polar Plunge in RI on New Year's Day. My mom documented it here: http://tinyurl.com/8yq9qa
It's more about drinking than swimming but some amazing costumes. I'm thinking about going down again with my waterproof Xacti camera. Here is the party from Sea Isle 2007.
http://www.jchtv.com/?p=52
I remember going to watch a Polar Bear plunge many years at Coney Island in Brooklyn. What amazed me more than the fact that these people were going into the Atlantic on January 1st was the fact that most of the swimmers were at least over 60! And nuts I guess. Oh and probably pretty cold, too.
Yeah, my church does a Polar Plunge every Super Bowl Sunday. I have done it the last 5 years. The plungers get sponsored by people in the church, and the money goes to missions trips. This year's is Feb. 1st at 2pm on the Strathmere beach (the one on the bay, right next to the OC bridge).
us northeast surfers do it all year round, however we wear wetsuits and it does take a minute to warm up after a good 2 hours in the water. the polar bear plunge is fun, you should try it.
It's funny I came across your post. I was just saying how I wanted to do the plunge in Wildwood.
No way, no how! I'll just write out a check dontation, and keep my behind warm and dry.
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