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enero 1, 2024
1000’s of brr-ave swimmers descended on Coney Island to ring within the new yr Monday — with an icy dip within the North Atlantic Ocean as part of the 121st annual polar bear plunge.
A mixture of Speedos and winter coats dotted the Brooklyn seashore and boardwalk for the occasion, which the Coney Island Polar Bear Membership has hosted since 1903.
Organizers stated they anticipated “record-breaking numbers” for this yr’s plunge into the frigid, however nonetheless unseasonably heat, depths — with temps within the mid-40s.
One gate agent stated the attendance was “undoubtedly extra” than the 4,000 that had registered.
Members had other ways of psyching themselves up for the chilly submersion, like Robert, 49, who confirmed up in shorts with no coat.
“Why look forward to the ocean once I can embrace the chilly air now?” he stated of his technique.
Shannon Douglas, a born and bred Brooklynite, stated the polar bear plunge had lengthy been on her “bucket record,” and was excited this may be her first yr participating.
“Yearly I inform myself I’m going to do it and by no means get to. This yr I wasn’t lacking out. Knocking issues off my bucket record sooner or later at a time starting with this!”
By 10 a.m., the road to examine in for the plunge already stretched for blocks down Stillwell Ave. and across the nook, exhibiting no indicators of getting shorter whilst the primary wave of plungers trudged their approach down the seashore and into the water at precisely 11 a.m.
Some individuals who confirmed up for the frosty swim opted simply to look at due to the large traces.
“The road is just too lengthy, man. It’s like Nathan’s Sizzling Canine Consuming Contest out right here,” stated Hermen, a New Jersey native who made the trek out to Coney Island for the occasion.
“I took the practice from New Jersey on my own to do the plunge for the primary time. However I feel I’ll sit this yr out as a result of the road is approach too lengthy.”
For many who endured the traces, nonetheless, the plunge was well worth the wait because of the unseasonably gentle climate and water temps.
“For those who’re doing it for the primary time, this was the yr to do it as a result of it wasn’t even that chilly,” stated Derrick, 49, a New York native making his inaugural plunge.
“I used to be impressed as a result of all my buddies do it yearly and put up it on social media they usually’re from tropical nations so, like, what’s my excuse?”
Rebecca, whose father used to take her to Coney Island for the polar plunge “on a regular basis” when she was a child, braved the wintry water along with her personal pint-sized plungers, ages 10 and seven, to proceed the custom.
“I’m simply glad I can sustain the custom with my very own children this yr,” she stated, describing their dip as “simple peasy.”
“The water was a lot hotter than earlier years. Don’t let the air idiot you,” she stated.
The courageous swimmers had been greeted with smiles and cheers from the group as they rapidly made their approach again to shore to towel off and retrieve jackets and robes.
To formally mark the event, every plunger was introduced with a certificates of completion that stated “I did it.”
“Wasn’t that dangerous!” one man stated as he ran out of the water.
