Diving into the new year one cold plunge at a time

As snow fluttered down, about 30 people in bathing suits ran into the freezing water at Round Hill Beach. The South Coast chapter of the Surfrider Foundation held their first polar plunge on Thursday, Jan. 1, along with the first snow of the year. 

“A snow squall rolled in right as we were kicking off and cleared up just as the event wrapped,” said Kate Boerma, the chair of the South Coast chapter. “It was a classic New England moment...snow falling, bitter wind, ocean roaring, and in spite of it everyone braving the cold together joyfully.”

Surfrider is a foundation that works for clean oceans and coasts. The polar plunge was the official kick-off for the South Coast chapter. 

There was hot coffee from Scuttlebutt Coffee and bone broth from Little Moss to help warm up after the plunge. 

“We wanted to bring the community together on New Year’s Day, and convening by the beach for a very cold plunge felt like a meaningful ,and memorable, way to start the year,” said Boerma.