Ringing in the New Year with the Polar Bear Plunge

Jan 2, 2014

Ringing in the New Year with the Polar Bear Plunge

Matt Bracken 0 Comment Nation New Year's, Polar Bear plunge

People in Seattle, Vancouver, Toronto, Brooklyn and other cities across North America take part in New Year’s Day dips in icy waters.

: People participate in the annual Coney Island Polar Bear Club dip, in the Brooklyn borough of New York on January 1, 2014. The Coney Island Polar Bear Club is the oldest winter bathing organization in the U.S. and every New Year’s Day holds the winter plunge, which attracts thousands of participants. (REUTERS/Allison Joyce)

: Participants react after entering Lake Washington during the 12th annual Polar Bear Plunge in Seattle on January 1, 2014. Hundreds participated in the chilly New Year’s Day tradition, organized by Seattle Parks and Recreation and held at Matthews Beach. (REUTERS/David Ryder)

: Participants react after entering Lake Washington during the 12th annual Polar Bear Plunge in Seattle on January 1, 2014. Hundreds participated in the chilly New Year’s Day tradition, organized by Seattle Parks and Recreation and held at Matthews Beach. (REUTERS/David Ryder)

: Participants run into Lake Washington during the 12th annual Polar Bear Plunge in Seattle on January 1, 2014. Hundreds participated in the chilly New Year’s Day tradition, organized by Seattle Parks and Recreation and held at Matthews Beach. (REUTERS/David Ryder)

: A man reacts after entering Lake Washington during the 12th annual Polar Bear Plunge in Seattle on January 1, 2014. Hundreds participated in the chilly New Year’s Day tradition, organized by Seattle Parks and Recreation and held at Matthews Beach. (REUTERS/David Ryder)

: Participants prepare to enter Lake Washington during the 12th annual Polar Bear Plunge in Seattle on January 1, 2014. Hundreds participated in the chilly New Year’s Day tradition, organized by Seattle Parks and Recreation and held at Matthews Beach. (REUTERS/David Ryder)

: Participants react after entering Lake Washington during the 12th annual Polar Bear Plunge in Seattle on January 1, 2014. Hundreds participated in the chilly New Year’s Day tradition, organized by Seattle Parks and Recreation and held at Matthews Beach. (REUTERS/David Ryder)

: People participate in the annual Coney Island Polar Bear Club dip, in the Brooklyn borough of New York on January 1, 2014. The Coney Island Polar Bear Club is the oldest winter bathing organization in the U.S. and every New Year’s Day holds the winter plunge, which attracts thousands of participants. (REUTERS/Allison Joyce)

: People in suits participate in the annual Coney Island Polar Bear Club dip, in the Brooklyn borough of New York on January 1, 2014. The Coney Island Polar Bear Club is the oldest winter bathing organization in the U.S. and every New Year’s Day holds the winter plunge, which attracts thousands of participants. (REUTERS/Allison Joyce)

: People participate in the annual Coney Island Polar Bear Club dip, in the Brooklyn borough of New York on January 1, 2014. The Coney Island Polar Bear Club is the oldest winter bathing organization in the U.S. and every New Year’s Day holds the winter plunge, which attracts thousands of participants. (REUTERS/Allison Joyce)

: A woman reacts after entering Lake Washington during the 12th annual Polar Bear Plunge in Seattle on January 1, 2014. Hundreds participated in the chilly New Year’s Day tradition, organized by Seattle Parks and Recreation and held at Matthews Beach. (REUTERS/David Ryder)

: People dance on the boardwalk before the annual Coney Island Polar Bear Club dip, in the Brooklyn borough of New York on January 1, 2014. (REUTERS/Allison Joyce)

: People participate in the annual Coney Island Polar Bear Club dip, in the Brooklyn borough of New York on January 1, 2014. The Coney Island Polar Bear Club is the oldest winter bathing organization in the U.S. and every New Year’s Day holds the winter plunge, which attracts thousands of participants. (REUTERS/Allison Joyce)

: People pose next to a polar bear costume worn by two participants in English Bay during the 94th annual New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim in Vancouver, British Columbia on January 1, 2014. (REUTERS/Ben Nelms)

: Participants prepare to run into English Bay during the 94th annual New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim in Vancouver, British Columbia on January 1, 2014. (REUTERS/Ben Nelms)

: Participants take pictures of people running into English Bay during the 94th annual New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim in Vancouver, British Columbia on January 1, 2014. (REUTERS/Ben Nelms)

: A woman wearing a wedding dress prepares to run into English Bay during the 94th annual New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim in Vancouver, British Columbia on January 1, 2014. (REUTERS/Ben Nelms)

: Participants run into English Bay during the 94th annual New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim in Vancouver, British Columbia on January 1, 2014. (REUTERS/Ben Nelms)

: Participants run into English Bay during the 94th annual New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim in Vancouver, British Columbia on January 1, 2014. (REUTERS/Ben Nelms)

: Participants run into English Bay during the 94th annual New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim in Vancouver, British Columbia on January 1, 2014. (REUTERS/Ben Nelms)

: Participants warm up around a fire after entering Lake Washington during the 12th annual Polar Bear Plunge in Seattle on January 1, 2014. Hundreds participated in the chilly New Year’s Day tradition, organized by Seattle Parks and Recreation and held at Matthews Beach. (REUTERS/David Ryder)

: People pose next to a polar bear costume worn by two participants while running into English Bay during the 94th annual New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim in Vancouver, British Columbia on January 1, 2014. (REUTERS/Ben Nelms)

: Two people wear a polar bear costume while running into English Bay during the 94th annual New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim in Vancouver, British Columbia on January 1, 2014. (REUTERS/Ben Nelms)

: People pose next to a polar bear costume worn by two participants while running into English Bay during the 94th annual New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim in Vancouver, British Columbia on January 1, 2014. (REUTERS/Ben Nelms)

: Participants jump into a hole cut in the ice on the Ottawa River during the annual Great Canadian Chill polar bear dip in Ottawa on January 1, 2014. (REUTERS/Chris Wattie)

: People take part in the ninth annual Polar Bear Dip at Sunnyside Beach in Toronto on January 1, 2014. Hundreds of participants braved the icy waters of Lake Ontario to raise money for Habitat For Humanity. (REUTERS/Aaron Harris)

: A man participates in the ninth annual Polar Bear Dip at Sunnyside Beach in Toronto on January 1, 2014. Hundreds of participants braved the icy waters of Lake Ontario to raise money for Habitat For Humanity. (REUTERS/Aaron Harris)

: Joanna Kalbarczyk (left) and sister Maria Kalbarczyk (center) participate in the ninth annual Polar Bear Dip at Sunnyside Beach in Toronto on January 1, 2014. Hundreds of participants braved the icy waters of Lake Ontario to raise money for Habitat For Humanity. (REUTERS/Aaron Harris)

: From left, Kathy Ringo, Beth Hartman, and B.T. Eberhart are pictured before entering Lake Washington during the 12th annual Polar Bear Plunge in Seattle, on January 1, 2014. Hundreds participated in the chilly New Year’s Day tradition, organized by Seattle Parks and Recreation and held at Matthews Beach. (REUTERS/David Ryder)

: A girl pleads to go back to shore after entering Lake Washington during the 12th annual Polar Bear Plunge in Seattle on January 1, 2014. Hundreds participated in the chilly New Year’s Day tradition, organized by Seattle Parks and Recreation and held at Matthews Beach. (REUTERS/David Ryder)

: People pose next to a polar bear costume worn by two participants while running into English Bay during the 94th annual New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim in Vancouver, British Columbia on January 1, 2014. (REUTERS/Ben Nelms)

: Participants cheer before entering Lake Washington during the 12th annual Polar Bear Plunge in Seattle on January 1, 2014. Hundreds participated in the chilly New Year’s Day tradition, organized by Seattle Parks and Recreation and held at Matthews Beach. (REUTERS/David Ryder)

: Participants run into Lake Washington during the 12th annual Polar Bear Plunge in Seattle on January 1, 2014. Hundreds participated in the chilly New Year’s Day tradition, organized by Seattle Parks and Recreation and held at Matthews Beach. (REUTERS/David Ryder)

: People play volleyball in Lake Washington during the 12th annual Polar Bear Plunge in Seattle on January 1, 2014. Hundreds participated in the chilly New Year’s Day tradition, organized by Seattle Parks and Recreation and held at Matthews Beach. (REUTERS/David Ryder)

: Participants react after entering Lake Washington during the 12th annual Polar Bear Plunge in Seattle on January 1, 2014. Hundreds participated in the chilly New Year’s Day tradition, organized by Seattle Parks and Recreation and held at Matthews Beach. (REUTERS/David Ryder)

: Participants run into Lake Washington during the 12th annual Polar Bear Plunge in Seattle on January 1, 2014. Hundreds participated in the chilly New Year’s Day tradition, organized by Seattle Parks and Recreation and held at Matthews Beach. (REUTERS/David Ryder)

: Participants react after entering Lake Washington during the 12th annual Polar Bear Plunge in Seattle on January 1, 2014. Hundreds participated in the chilly New Year’s Day tradition, organized by Seattle Parks and Recreation and held at Matthews Beach. (REUTERS/David Ryder)

: Participants warm up with coffee and hot chocolate after entering Lake Washington during the 12th annual Polar Bear Plunge in Seattle on January 1, 2014. Hundreds participated in the chilly New Year’s Day tradition, organized by Seattle Parks and Recreation and held at Matthews Beach. (REUTERS/David Ryder)

: Spectators, including a dog on a boogie board, are pictured on Lake Washington before the 12th annual Polar Bear Plunge in Seattle on January 1, 2014. Hundreds participated in the chilly New Year’s Day tradition, organized by Seattle Parks and Recreation and held at Matthews Beach. (REUTERS/David Ryder)

: A man celebrates after entering Lake Washington during the 12th annual Polar Bear Plunge in Seattle on January 1, 2014. Hundreds participated in the chilly New Year’s Day tradition, organized by Seattle Parks and Recreation and held at Matthews Beach. (REUTERS/David Ryder)

SEE MORE

The weirdest Polar Bear Plunges
10 ways to get ready for the Polar Bear Plunge
Polar Bear Plunge through the years
Polar Bear Plunge costume contest

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