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A chilly, but cleansing, start to the New Year in Huntington Beach

It was a way to wash off the old, and bring in the new.

A handful of people took a chilly dip into the Pacific to mark the start of 2021 on New Year’s Day, a long-held tradition in Huntington Beach and other places around the world.

 

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While it wasn’t an official gathering, and no where near the usual hundreds who typically showed up at the Huntington Beach Pier, some plungers still kept the two-decades-old tradition alive.

Others joined in their own way by doing a “solo splash” and posting it online, a virtual fundraiser for Surfrider Foundation’s Huntington Beach/Seal Beach chapter, this year’s beneficiary of the Surf City Splash.

The idea was for people to take a plunge on their own – at any beach, pool or other body of water – and upload their videos and photos with the hashtag #splashitforward, challenging people to donate as they post.

Over the years, the Surf City Splash has benefited several community groups, including the International Surfing Museum and Huntington Beach Rotary Club. It typically starts with a pancake breakfast and features contests, including best costumes, oldest and youngest splashers, as well as a countdown at noon.

Among those who dipped into the chilly ocean was longtime splasher Jack Carey, an 87-year-old who typically wins an award as the oldest participant, and Mayor Kim Carr, posting a video showing her dipping in wearing a wetsuit and also pleading for people to do their part to stop the spread of coronavirus.

“Be safe everyone, and let’s have a beautiful 2021,” she said in the video.

 

 


Source: Orange County Register

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