Cold plunges have been a hot commodity for a few years now. These days there are pricey tanks and entire spas devoted to dipping into near-icy waters. Some enthusiasts are making it even more bracing by taking their swims outdoors year-round.
“Wild swimming” might be especially popular in Great Britain, but enthusiasts are doing it here, too, experiencing the Hudson Valley’s scenery in a whole new way. Peekskill hosts a well-known polar plunge on New Year’s Day, and groups like Beacon Endurance have done similar but informal plunges into chilly local lakes, ponds, and the Hudson River.
But if the thought of wading into frigid waters sends chills down your spine, it may help to know that the folks who take part in this decidedly non-fair weather activity find it downright euphoric. Plunging outdoors connects people with their bodies and nature at no cost. It’s a literal cheap thrill that takes little more than a swimsuit and winter hat (although neoprone socks and gloves are optional).
Michael Polito starts off slow, stepping into the water gradually until it reaches his waist. Then he begins a measured breathing practice to get his body used to the drop in temperature as he dips into a squat, the water at his shoulders: first, a deep breath he holds for 30 to 40 seconds, followed by 30 deep inhales and exhales. Finally, his body in “safety mode,” heart calm, mind quiet, he can be present.
“You tell yourself you’re in control, you can always walk out. Eventually your body starts to adapt,” he says. “I tend to close my eyes and relax. If I start to feel the pain, I restart the deep breathing.”
Polito, a 64-year-old martial arts instructor from Poughkeepsie, does this at least twice a winter (weekly if it’s a particularly bitter cold season) in any open water he can find. He doesn’t consider the practice a plunge or a swim, but something in between. It’s a physical, mental exercise of cold thermogenesis that, for him, has shown real health benefits.
“It’s good for heart health and immunity,” Polito says, not to mention the burst of energy he gets after a session and the high tolerance for cold he’s developed. When a snowstorm hits and it’s time to shovel, you won’t catch Polito complaining: “I could shovel in shorts and no shirt!”
Early one January morning, Polito remembers stepping into a creek in Beacon, surrounded by a light snowfall: “”t was beautiful.” He sat in the cold water for nearly 20 minutes, only emerging when he’d worked up an appetite for some pancakes.
The Kingston Point Winter Splash Squad operates very much unlike a fight club; if you meet someone who’s a member, they’ll not only talk about it — they’ll make sure you get an invite to the next gathering.
It’s how Craig Wilson learned about the group shortly after moving to the outskirts of Kingston in early 2024. The 41-year-old had a chance encounter in front of his house with the group’s unofficial “hype man,” Ari Goldstein, and by the end of their chat Wilson had made the decision to join. “Was I a [cold] plunger? It was not a regular thing for me, but I had done it before,” Wilson says. “Now if you ask me, oh, yes.”
Each week during winter, group co-founder Tom Hynes sends out a blast to members via WhatsApp, sharing that weekend’s water and weather conditions. By Sunday at 9 a.m., Wilson and the rest of the squad are at Kingston Point Beach in their swimwear and neoprene shoes and gloves, ready to jump in for at least five minutes, if not eight.
It’s a diverse, chatty group of all body types, ages, and backgrounds, Wilson says, “a welcoming and lovely crowd. We have business owners, restaurant owners, doctors, artists.”
Beyond the social aspect, Elena Batt says she finds the plunges empowering and uplifting, especially in the bleakest months of the year. “Winter can be really tough, and I do walk a lot outside,” she says. “But there’s something about stripping down when it’s cold that makes you feel invincible when everything is telling you ‘Don’t do that!’ It quiets my thoughts in a way and makes me feel great afterward.”
And what of spectators or non-splashers who think it’s “crazy” or unfathomable to jump into freezing waters on the regular? Wilson recalls a recent dip, when a woman walking past thought the group was trying to rescue something from the water — because what else would they be doing in there?
“Lots of people do lots of crazy things,” Wilson said. “This is harmless and gets you into nature.” He likens cold plunging to any other outdoor winter activity. The only difference is that it’s best enjoyed when the weather is “anything but fair.”
Editor’s Note: Swimming is undertaken at your own risk, and you should always take note of safety, conditions, water quality, and posted signage at any outdoor water body before wading or jumping in.
