[paul w]

So a friend of a friend is a member of the Coney Island Polar Bear Club . I plan to take the plunge for the first time on New years day at 11 am. I will be wading into the Atlantic with nothing more than a little bathing suit. 11 more times of that and I become a member, apparently. Anyway every journey begins with a single step.

Anyone here done it (gone swimming in the ocean in winter) ? Any have any advice for a first timer ? - other than don't bother - I've already heard that a bunch of times. I'm reasonably young and reasonably fit, so I probably won't keel over and die, but still, I'm a tad nervous.

Thanks!

[Kevin]

Tell us how your testicles taste.

[Cubeoid]

All the best. Happy Polar Bearing!

[paul w]

It will be awesome!

[wallinbl]

Uhh, I thought hazing was illegal?

[Hugi]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Tell us how your testicles taste.

I've done it several times, it's not bad as long as you just keep on swimming, you go numb real fast and don't really feel the coldness. And make sure someone is waiting for you with a thermos full of hot cocoa when you get back on the dry land.

Oh, and you'll feel like a million dollars afterwards.

[alligator]

Either that, or you'll die. But you won't feel it, so don't worry.

[bradoesch]

Is the reason you feel so great because you feel so terrible in the water? Would anything feel great as a relief from that? Serious question.

[Ozmodiar]

Originally Posted by bradoesch

Is the reason you feel so great because you feel so terrible in the water? Would anything feel great as a relief from that? Serious question.

I think you feel great afterwards for the same reason you feel great after working out. Endorphins and shiat.

[Hugi]

Originally Posted by Ozmodiar

I think you feel great afterwards for the same reason you feel great after working out. Endorphins and shiat.

True. You don't really feel terrible in the water, just really, really, really cold (at first).

[Jim Paradise]

I did a polar bear swim two years back in Vancouver, and the thing that surprised me was how much my feet hurt. The sand feels like concrete when you run on it. Other than that, great times. Bring some hot chocolate in a thermos and have fun!

[Athens]

Originally Posted by paul w

So a friend of a friend is a member of the Coney Island Polar Bear Club . I plan to take the plunge for the first time on New years day at 11 am. I will be wading into the Atlantic with nothing more than a little bathing suit. 11 more times of that and I become a member, apparently. Anyway every journey begins with a single step.

Anyone here done it (gone swimming in the ocean in winter) ? Any have any advice for a first timer ? - other than don't bother - I've already heard that a bunch of times. I'm reasonably young and reasonably fit, so I probably won't keel over and die, but still, I'm a tad nervous.

Thanks!

Where are you doing it? Big difference if you are doing it in Florida vs New York I would do it only when I can convince a friend to go with me LOL, and im located on the Pacific half way between California and Alaska, its very very cold water

[analogika]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Tell us how your testicles taste.

(he needs to know.)

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by analogika

(he needs to know.)

Could you tell me?

[Athens]

I wouldn't mind finding out

[paul w]

Originally Posted by Athens

Where are you doing it? Big difference if you are doing it in Florida vs New York I would do it only when I can convince a friend to go with me LOL, and im located on the Pacific half way between California and Alaska, its very very cold water

Coney Island, New York. Water temperature should be in the 30s (F).

[Athens]

ya i figured that out after I posted it

[Albert Pujols]

If a bear in Yosemite, and one in the North Pole fall into water, which one would dissolve faster?



The bear in the North Pole because it's polar.

[wdlove]

Having community is a good thing. Sounds like our L Street Brownies here in Boston.

[analogika]

oh wow. chemistry joke!

[DeathToWindows]

Yeah, line up an appointment with a good proctologist... you might have to have your testicles extracted.

[Jawbone54]

The woman in the picture is cheating! What's with the gloves?

BOOOO!!!

[paul w]

They actually suggest you wear some kind of neoprene diving shoes.

Less than a week away... The only tough part is I haven't found anyone stupid enough to want to come along ("Oh man...I'll be too hungover...").

[shabbasuraj]

pix please

[paul w]

Done! Click to enlarge. (I had no idea about the girl's bathing suit. Heh.)

It was fantastic - loads of people, a band, drinks at the bar, free breakfast at the aquarium. A crazy Hungarian band...

Water was wonderful. I highly recommend it. It's really much ado about nothing. I stayed in a few minutes, swam around - didn't want to get out except my feet were throbbing. The funny thing is, in addition to being invigorating and and all that, you leave the water feeling warm - I suppose the product of the blood rushing to your skin. I stayed in my bathing suit for a little while, and didn't even put my coat on for another hour.

So, thumbs up!

[Hugi]

Congrats. It does feel great, doesn't it.

Ever have any problems with religious groups from that grail-shaped birthmark?

[Artful Dodger]

nasty ass

[paul w]

BUMP

For all the haters:

Polar bear action shots!

I only post this because someone a today's swim mentioned they actually found this thread when googling Polar Bear Club stuff. A mac user no less.