Polar Bear Dip New Year's Tradition?

[tenni]

I'm curious if Canada (Ontario specifically) is the only place with Polar Bear dips on New Year's day?

I think that Buffalo NY, USA does it but anywhere else? I think that Russians do it but maybe not on New Year's Day?

It was a cold one this year. Check out the video and see the icicles hanging from one woman's glasses after she gets out of the water. The second one is from last year at a different place.

http://www.chch.com/hundreds-take-polar-swim/




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwzPxh-Axdk

[Realist]

I swam in the Danube river, in the fall of 1959....There was no ice, like in this video, but I don't know how it could have been that cold and NOT have ice in it!

I had terminal shrinkage, worse than George Constanza!

[jem_is_bi]

I would rather leave that activity to the polar bears.

[Basin_Bouy]

It's a Worldwide activity on NYD

[jamieknyc]

New York has one on New Year's, and every Sunday during the winter, at Coney Island. I have done that several times. It was cold!

[Cherokee_Mountaincat]

LOL They do it up here too. Ya'll go right ahead. I'll hold yer coat!
Cat

[12voltyV2.0]

Someone who is a "friend" on FaceBook of mine, posted up a story about one of these swims on a lake in Indiana----up in the northern part of the state towards Chicago--they were concerned that it was so cold that people might actually be hurt by doing it this year. I don't know if it's such a good idea to do this----if you have some unknown problem with your heart, they say the shock of hitting the cold water can trigger a heart attack or stroke.

I don't have any interest in doing anything of this sort----to me----water that is less than 70 degrees is way too cold anyway---not going into cold water unless I have to abandon ship and I have on a survival suit---sorry---just my old Coast Guard training at work I guess!!

But for those who want to do this---more power to them and I say----ENJOY!