For those of us in colder, northern climates, the time for slipping on our bathing suits and hitting the beach is still far, far away. But for those brave/crazy members of the unique sporting club of Polar Bear Swimmers, January is as good a time as any to play in the surf. This bizarrely endearing event, in which the scantily-clad plunge almost joyously into frigid waters across the northern hemisphere, is often played out on January 1 as a way to start the new year fresh. Here, a look at some of the nuttier participants of this year's annual polar bear plunge, from New York to Scotland.
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