57 degrees no record but not too shabby for First Day plunge
OCEAN CITY — The sun was shining, hundreds of people were in bathing suits and the Sugarhill Gang’s “Apache” was pumping out of the boardwalk speakers as a reporter arrived Sunday in America’s Greatest Family Resort.
The excitement was pungent in the air — or was it the dead shellfish? — as numerous people crowded the railings and even more slightly stomped the dunes to try to stay away from the water just a little longer, some in costume and others in less.
At 58 degrees, it was only mildly cooler than your average fall day when hundreds of people from around the region descended on the beach next to the Ocean City Music Pier for the city’s annual First Day at the Beach extravaganza.
Spider-Man and Batman were there, as were Fred and Wilma Flintstone, a couple of scholastic swim teams, a newlywed couple and numerous bare-chested boys and bikini-clad girls, all prepared to go dashing into the 43-degree ocean to welcome 2023 with a bang, or a gasp (make no mistake, 43 degrees is cold for water).
“Weather is everything,” Mayor Jay Gillian said. “Even last night with the rain (during First Night), we had record numbers. People love this, it has become a real big tradition.”
Stephanie and Bill Cuthbert of Haddonfield, N.J., spent a couple of weeks in the city last summer and decided to check out the winter festivities with their English bulldog Otis.
“We rented a house for a couple of weeks and wanted to come down and see what this is all about,” Stephanie said. “Probably next year we will be doing the plunge.”
Warned next year could be much colder, they demurred.
“The longer I stand here, the more I want to do it,” Bill said, noting that, unfortunately, he did not have a towel.
Carrie and Dana Cole brought their son, Duncan, 7, from Doylestown, Pa., to participate in the event — at least the boys.
Carrie said her parents own a house in the city and she has been visiting all her life. She apparently had no desire to test the ocean water temperature.
Husband Dana, a veteran plunger, was joined by Duncan but, he noted, “I have two sisters but they’re not doing it.”
Near the upper age range at 70 and 68 years were Jerry and Valorie Space of Cinnaminson, who own a home on the island.
“We’ve always said we wanted to do it and the weather is perfect,” Jerry said. “I’m looking forward to the experience of running in with everybody … and getting out as fast as I can.”
Ocean City’s royal ambassadors — Miss Ocean City Grace Oves, Junior Miss Ocean City Antonella DiAntonio and Little Miss Ocean City Lyla Clark — led the way after removing their pink robes. The tiaras stayed where they were put.
Lyla was joined later by father Ray, mother Sara, sister Faelyn and both sets of grandparents, although it was clear many did not get wet this day.
Doubling as a photographer, the reporter was in the water ahead of the crowd to capture the best shots while most of the local news corps stayed put on dry land, clearly not as committed to their craft.
What they missed was that first shocked look on the faces of many as their feet first touched the water — a pink-haired girl may have said it best with her look of utter dismay.
However, once wet it was easy to handle the temps because the air was so warm with only a mild breeze.
Dripping only slightly, Kim Stanley of Florida admitted going in only to her knees. However, daughters Eva, 15, and Ella, 10, took part fully in their first plunge.
“It was super fun” Eva said.
“It was fun but super cold,” Ella added.
Swimmers Casey Braun, Emme Robbins, Natalie Sawka and Alys-sa Auwarter, 13-year-olds from Sandy Run Middle School in Upper Dublin, Pa., took the opportunity for a little team bonding.
After all of the action, a group of local middle-schoolers gathered in the Ocean City Beach Patrol lifeguard stand. Poppy Hudak, 10, of Ocean City, Allie Pineo, 10, of Upper Township, Kassia Davis, 10, of Upper Township, and Samantha Chamberlain, 12, of Ocean City, were getting in some more holiday fun time before heading back to school.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
