This has to be the “coolest” New Year's Day tradition in all of New York City.

The Coney Island Polar Bear club held their traditional January 1 “plunge” on Sunday. Hundreds gathered on the boardwalk near Stillwell Avenue to join the club in their annual swim, an event that raises thousands of dollars each year, most of which goes to Camp Sunshine, a camp in Maine that serves extremely ill children.

The unseasonably warm temperatures made for a bigger-than-usual turnout.

"This year was definitely the warmest," said Brooklyn resident Bobby Young, who has participated in the event for the past several years.

He said his coldest swim was three years ago, which he described as "bone-chilling." He said the number of swimmers that day was considerably less.

"This year was the most people ever," he said.

(Photos: Michael O'Kane)