World Photo by Lou Sennick The Bay Area Polar Bears run into the Sunset Bay surf Thursday morning near Charleston for an annual New Year's tradition.

CHARLESTON — A lot of cold water has never deterred a polar bear — not here nor in the Arctic. More than 50 people braved the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean at Sunset Bay State Park early Thursday morning for the Bay Area Polar Bear dip.

The Polar Bears took their annual dip in water that was just as cold as the surrounding air this year. The wintry Pacific's waters tend to hover slightly above 50 degrees. Thursday's high temperature by afternoon only got to 54 degrees.

The group has been gathering at the beach for a quick morning dip on New Year’s Day since 1984. Organizer Kent Sharman gave the group a pep talk and introduced newcomers and then sent the crowd into the surf. Along with the cold dip came a warm shower provided by Rex Miller and his nearby water truck. After warming up and drying off, most people headed to a North Bend restaurant for breakfast.