The Coney Island Polar Bear Club is the oldest winter bathing organization in the United States (est. 1903). From October to April the club meets every Sunday at 1 p.m., regardless of weather conditions, for a dip in the Atlantic Ocean. Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York.
During the winter the water temperature is around 35?F degrees. Usually, the Polar Bears spend from 10 to 20 minutes swimming and playing in the water.
Big Al is coming out of the freezing water.
Gordon Gattsek is returning from the snowy shore.
One of the members resting in the snowstorm after bathing.
One of the members resting after having played in the water.
Abe is always present every Sunday. He also participates in swimming races in the Hudson River.
Luis Scarcella, president of the Coney Island Polar Bear Club and retired detective of the New York police criminal office, blowing into a shell before running into the water.
Like a religious ceremony, every Sunday the Polar Bears make a circle holding their hands while in the water.
One of the members resting after having played in the water.
Louie Diaz and Tom McGann are struck down by the snowstorm..Tom, on the right, is the vice president of the Polar Bear Club. He is always one of the last members to leave the beach, making sure that everybody has gotten out of the water safely. They are proud to say that in the Club
Seagulls flying. In the background members of the Coney Island Polar Bears Club can be seen coming out of the water.
Tony Nastro, one of the oldest members of the club, breathing the ocean breeze after the bathing.
Two young girls are coming back from the long beach of Coney Island. In the background is the Asrtoland, one of the oldest amusement park of the world. In the past the area was a major resort and home of amusement parks. This resort period reached its peak in the early 20th century before beginning a steady decline. Today Coney Island represents only the skeleton of its glorious past.
 |              |  |
