BY MATTHEW LYSIAK and JANE H. FURSE
DAILY NEWS WRITERS
Monday, December 3rd 2007, 4:00 AM
Not everyone was as plucky as the Polar Bears of Coney Island.
The weather outside was frightful but the Polar Bears found it delightful.
On the first snowfall of the season - a little more than an inch fell in Central Park - 60 members of the Coney Island Polar Bear Club trudged down the icy Boardwalk to take the plunge into the chilly waters off Eighth St.
"I immediately lost feeling in my hands and feet, but then it felt amazing," said Polar Bear Vice President Eric Weiss, 33, who works in advertising and is in his fifth season with the 100-member club.
"I don't swim much in the summer because I don't like crowds, but today was nice - no wind, calm water and parking was a breeze," Weiss added.
"I used to question my sanity, but after the initial shock, you begin to see the joy and realize Polar Bears aren't that crazy," said Capri Djatiasmoro, the 37-year-old club secretary, who also works in advertising.
With the water temperature reaching an "invigorating" 48 degrees, Djatiasmoro even said, "It was a little warm for my taste."
Eli Cohen, a Polar Bear for 13 years, said he and other "old-timers" are sure the water is not as cold as it used to be - and blame global warming.
They say they want to invite former Vice President Al Gore, who won the Nobel Prize for his efforts highlighting climate change, to make their case.
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