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Polar Bears celebrate 2024 with dip in San Pedro’s Cabrillo Beach

By Orange County on January 1, 2024

Nothing helps start the new year off on the right foot quite like a dip in the ocean — just as the Cabrillo Beach Polar Bears.

Hundreds gathered Monday, Jan. 1 at Cabrillo Beach to once again take part in the annual Polar Bear swim, San Pedro’s seven-decade New Year’s Day tradition.

Despite all kinds of last-minute issues that put this year’s swim in some uncertainty — from rain and water quality warnings to high surf and, finally, an early morning earthquake — it all went off without a hitch, according to organizers.

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“It was a beautiful day,” said Nancy Utovic, one of the participants who also served as the Polar Bear swim “queen” in 2000.

“The sun was shining, it was warm,” said Annie Donahue, the group’s current president.

The waves were about 2 feet — down from the 7-foot swells in recent days. And while there were cautions about the water quality due to the recent rains, lifeguards told organizers that the outer beach at Cabrillo has good circulation, so folks could use their own discretion.

“There was one water advisory sign, but it wasn’t heeded,” Donahue said, estimating about 1,000 people turned out.

Participants included Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, a regular. But the current council member, Tim McOsker, showed up in street clothes for his remarks and well-wishes.

“We haven’t converted him yet,” Donahue said. “He needs to embrace his inner Polar Bear.”

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Donahue put in some long hours as conditions seemed to complicate this year’s annual swim.

“Then there was an earthquake this morning, and someone texted me … asking if there were tsunami warnings,” Donahue said. (There were none.) “I said, ‘Oh no, add that to the list.’ “

The first official Polar Bear swim took place Jan. 1, 1953, and it’s been held nearly every year since — barring pandemics or sewage spills, which canceled two recent swims. And since its inception, the swim has become a reunion of sorts for longtime San Pedro residents.

“Some people I only see on New Year’s Day,” Donahue previously said of the camaraderie that characterizes the event. “It’s a wonderful place to catch up with people you haven’t seen and to do something healthy.”

The swim, though, is also intended to encourage folks to start the new year with some healthy exercise and outdoor fun.

“Someone mentioned it was like a cleansing,” Donahue added. “Dunking your head into the ocean, it’s very cleansing.”

The swim begins the same way every year — by crowning the swim’s king and queen. This year they were Jeremy Wehmeyer and his wife, Adriana Martinez Wehmeyer, who moved to San Pedro about seven years ago.

Martinez Wehmeyer said she met members of the Polar Bear Club while walking dogs near the beach. Eventually, she joined them for an ocean swim.

“You hang out with these folks,” she said, “and the next thing you know, you’re swimming around the buoy.”

After the Wehmeyers were crowned and special guests were introduced, it was time to go swimming.

The crowd rushed toward the water and took the plunge. Some folks splished, others splashed. There were those who dove in head first — and there were those who swam out to a buoy and back.

But no matter how they spent their time in the water, they all had one thing in common: Celebrating 2024 with a beloved San Pedro tradition.


Source: Orange County Register

Published in New Year's Day, News, Top Stories Breeze and Top Stories LBPT

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