A New Year’s dip

People donned their swimsuits and plunged into the Pacific, starting their year off with an icy dip Friday.

The Huntington Beach 10th annual Surf City Splash brought out hundreds of people to participate in the yearly tradition.

The event raised more than $1,000 after expenses for the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum on Olive Avenue, said Splash founder Lee Love.

The museum showcases more than 100 years of surfing history and has outgrown its facility.

It has to rotate its collection of displays, artifacts and information because it doesn’t have enough room to showcase everything at one time, said Natalie Kotsch, museum founder.

“We’re known the world over, and we really need to have a spot that fits our reputation,” she said.

Participants of the Splash ate a pancake breakfast by the Lions Club of Huntington Beach before the dip.

Recognition was given out to residents — certificates of sanity to those who stayed dry and certificates of lion-heartedness for those who took the plunge.

— Britney Barnes