Coney Island Polar Bear Club Members Dive Into Atlantic in November
Swimmers gathered on the Brooklyn shore on Nov. 1 for an unofficial season opener, nearly two months ahead of the club's annual New Year's Day tradition.
By Marco Kapoor ·
Caroline Quick stood on the wet sand of Coney Island, her breath visible in the crisp air.
On Sunday, Nov. 1, a group of cold-water enthusiasts entered the Atlantic Ocean for an unofficial start to their season. This event took place nearly two months before the beach's standard New Year's Day ceremony. The temperature in Brooklyn reached a high of 60 degrees, but a strong breeze created a chilly environment for the participants.
Quick, who has participated in the swims since she was approximately 18 years old, described her motivation for continuing the habit despite her origin in Texas. "I don't really know why I do it, I'm from Texas originally and have such a poor tolerance for cold," she said. She noted that the initial physical reaction to the water is a primary draw for swimmers. "It's such a sting at first, and that's the fun part, because you're just screaming with your friends and trying not to run out," Quick explained. She added that after about five minutes in the water, the sensation changes completely. "Give it about five minutes and you feel wonderful, there's nothing like it," she said.
The Coney Island Polar Bear Club, founded in 1903, is the oldest winter bathing club in the United States. Members typically gather for weekly Sunday plunges between November and April. The club also organizes a public event on Jan. 1 where swimmers enter the ocean to mark the start of the new year.
Quick described the physical aftermath of the swim as a unique sensation. She referenced a phrase used by a friend, calling the post-swim chills "delicious." The group's early dip serves as a preparatory step for the winter months, allowing members to acclimate to the cold before the peak of the season.
The swimmers exited the water with visible reactions to the temperature. The scene included moments of vocal reaction and mutual encouragement as they attempted to stay in the ocean. The event marks the beginning of the club's active period for the year, preceding the larger public gathering planned for the new year.
