Paul Clinton
Twenty-five hearty souls threw their warm bodies into the chilly
water near the Huntington Beach Pier on New Year's Day, as part of
the annual Polar Pier Plunge.
"In a word, it is exhilarating," organizer Michael Parks said.
"It's a mental challenge. It's not exactly easy to throw yourself
into 55-degree water."
The group of friends, many of whom live in Surf City, have been
plunging into the water on New Year's Day since 2001.
This year, they gathered at the pier shortly before 9 a.m. on Jan.
1, then began jumping into the drink to start off the year.
Several dozen spectators watched from the pier and beach, as the
locals staged their version of this East Coast tradition. The Coney
Island Polar Bear Club, back in 1903, was one of the first groups to
start the year off with a dip in the icy waters of the Atlantic
Ocean.
