It was a hazy start to the New Year – not because of all the alcohol consumed the night before, but because of the thick fog blanket that lingered on the sand.
But just as noon approached on Sunday the thick fog disappeared, allowing more than a hundred revelers to plunge into a sunny New Year on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier for the 12th annual Surf City Splash celebration.

What started as a few friends doing something fun and different on New Year’s Day has turned into a tradition that grows with each year, now with hundreds of people showing up in swimsuits and crazy costumes to take a dip in the chilly water to wash off the old, and bring in the new.

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“Everyone just gets to greet and wish each other a Happy New Year. It’s a beautiful thing. There’s no gift exchanged, there’s no expectations, it’s just a great day to just celebrate life,” said organizer Lee Love.

The event has turned into a fundraiser, with breakfast served in the morning and certificates available to raise funds for various charities like the International Surfing Museum in Huntington Beach, Canine Companions for Independence, Lions Hearing Clinic and Research Center, and more.

The haze was so thick through the morning that it was tough to see the ocean. But just as plungers started to make their way to the sand, the weather turned – the warm sun making it more tolerable to jump into the chilly 60-degree water.

“I knew it was going to burn off,” Love said. “It’s like June gloom in January.”

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For Blair Wilges, of Pennsylvania, the dip wasn’t too intimidating – considering he’s done a polar plunge in the icy waters of Scotland.

“It’s colder than you’d like to know,” he said. “It was about 38-degrees outside, and the water wasn’t much warmer.”
So was he nervous about the Huntington Beach splash?

“It will be a refreshing dip – but not too frigid,” he said.

One of the best parts about the event is seeing what kind of crazy costumes people come up with. There are plenty of New Year’s party hats. There’s the pirate who goes all out every year, looking like he just walked off the set of “Pirates of the Caribbean.” One group of girls wore bright pink wigs. Pretty much anything goes at this beach party, which lasts no more than 15 minutes.

Jennifer Funke, of Redondo Beach, decided to show up in her Christmas pajamas, an apron and a fuzzy purple hat.
“I picked something that wouldn’t get destroyed and would be easy to wash,” she said, later learning that the pajamas got very heavy after getting drenched in the water.

Most people, however, just wore bikinis or board shorts.

“I’m a little scared about the coldness,” said Huntington Beach resident and first time splasher Shenoa Petersen, looking chilly in just her swimsuit.

Joining Petersen was Keith Townsend, who said they had been in the water the day prior – but with wetsuits on.

“She’s not chickening out,” he said.

This year, the Surf City Splash was held on the south side of the pier because of strong swell and rip currents. Lifeguards watched closely to make sure people didn’t get too close to the pier pilings, which waves could have smacked them into.

Those who weren’t brave enough to take a dip watched from the sand and hundreds lined the pier to watch.

Splashers of all ages lined the sand and as soon as the countdown was complete as noon struck, they rushed into the water. Friends and family splashed each other, sounds of screams and New Year’s horns filled the beach, and people ran out as quick as they ran in. Some stayed in the water to enjoy the cleanse.

Mason Bodle, 8, came out shivering.

“It’s so freezing. Really cold,” he said, before turning back around to the ocean. “I’m going back in.”
Among the oldest plungers were Hugh Goldstein, 83, and wife Amy, 78.

The couple – who have been married more than 50 years – came out of the cold water holding each others hands. It was the third year they’ve taken the plunge together.

“He’s holding me up,” she quipped.

“Our hands are frozen together,” Hugh said with a chuckle.

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