Near freezing temperatures? No prob for Long Island’s Polar Bears

The polar bears plunged.

More than 1,000 Long Islanders braved frigid temperatures Sunday afternoon in Long Beach, charging into the Atlantic Ocean for the annual Polar Bear Splash to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. (Scroll down for more photos.)

“It’s a shock to the system. It makes you feel alive,” Russ Eppler told Greater Long Island after taking part for the seventh time. “You feel like you accomplished something and for a little while, it makes you feel like you can do anything.”

“It’s the best day of the year, no question about it,” added Ryan Arca, who said he has been taking the plunge for more than a decade.

This year’s splash came later than usual. Organizers postponed the event for the first time in its history after colder-than-normal temperatures and dangerous ocean conditions on Super Bowl Sunday forced a five-week delay.

But the calendar didn’t make the water any warmer.

Eppler, a Long Beach native who tracks ocean temperatures, said the Atlantic was actually colder than usual Sunday.

“Most years the water is about 45 degrees,” Eppler said. “But because we had such a brutal winter, today it was about 37 degrees.”

Despite the near-freezing water, organizers said turnout appeared just as strong as ever, with plenty of participants eager to take the plunge — or even two.

“You go a little hypothermic for a second,” Arca said with a grin. “I got out, let my body rebuild, and then I went right back in.”

“He’s absolutely crazy,” joked Arca’s friend Andrew Marci. “He did it twice but no one else does it twice. Jump in once, get out and dry off. The end.”

Since launching in 2001, the annual event has raised more than $8 million for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, helping grant life-changing wishes for children facing critical illnesses.

For Eppler, the tradition is personal — and one he says will always bring him back home.

“No matter where I am in the world, I would come back just for this,” he said. “The vibe is amazing and it’s for a great cause. If you’ve never done it before, I suggest next year you come down and try it out.”

Organizers have already set the date for the next splash: the 28th annual Polar Bear Plunge is scheduled for Feb. 14, 2027.

Photos by Andrew Rappaport