Paul Clinton Twenty-five hearty souls threw their...

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.