2009 Polar Bear Plunge

When my brother and his finacee asked if I wanted to plunge with them into late February's almost freezing ocean waters of Seaside Heights, New Jersey, I said, why not?













This year was the 16th annual Polar Bear Plunge, a benefit for the Special Olympics where thousands of locals brave the cold windy beach to either run like mad people into crashing waves, or laugh from the sands and boardwalk.

Medical personal in yellow diving gear prepared for heart attacks. A police boat waited in the water. The countdown began, and we waited in our bathing suits for eminent doom.

One man ran in, and the rest followed...

I didn't linger for long, but rather ran like hell to get dressed and get warm...















The photos shown below are from "Report from a Polar Bear Plunge: Seaside Heights, NJ"






It was
Madness...