Ocean jumpers will party after Penguin Swim
The new year will get off to an icy start in Venice for hundreds of people who plan to jump into the frigid Pacific Ocean on Jan. 1.
Without the standard wetsuit usually necessary for the ocean’s 50-degree temperatures, a group of hearty, enthusiastic swimmers will ring in 2004 during the 44th annual Penguin Swim at the Venice breakwater on New Year’s Day.
The swim has been a tradition for decades, first started by Cecelia Kilger in 1960. The event is dedicated to Kilger, who died two years ago and participated in the swim until she was 93 years old.
“It was a small nucleus of Venice characters and it has grown every year,” said Mary McGuirk, the event’s organizer, adding that participants range from 5 years old to 90 years old. In the ’60s, between 10 and 20 people were involved. Now, more than 100 join in the cold water fun.
“It was a small nucleus of Venice characters and it has grown every year.” — — MARY McGUIRK Event organizer
Actor Dick Van Patton, widely known as Mr. Bradford from the television show, “Eight is Enough,” has been a regular for years, along with his family.
Each year a king and queen are crowned, as well as a prince and princess for the competitive swim, McGuirk said.
Los Angeles County lifeguards will set the course for the swim, as well as for the competitive race, depending on the surf. Kings and queens are determined by McGuirk on the day of the swim by their past participation and enthusiasm. The prince and princess are determined by results of the competitive race, McGuirk said.
Last year, Spring de Haviland was named Penguin Swim queen and Peter Griswald was crowned king. Robert Ballentine was prince and Kimberly Emerson was named princess. with the swim was in 1995 — the year she jumped into the surf with a 102-degree fever and combated rip tides, freezing waters and a Pacific storm.
“I was getting over the flu and I was sitting on the couch and said, ‘OK, I’ll just do it,’” de Haviland said. “Afterwards, I felt healed. It was a 180-degree turnaround.”
It’s a melting pot variety of thrill-seeking people from master swimmers to very amateur waders. That’s what de Haviland loves about it.
“It’s a delightful reunion of people every year,” she said. “Everyone is so supportive and the people are such a rush.”
“It’s a delightful reunion of people every year. Everyone is so supportive and the people are such a rush.” — — SPRING DE HAVILAND Penguin Swim queen
The majority of participants are members of the Southern California Aquatic Club, which is a group of swimmers that regularly train at Santa Monica College. The club’s director, Clay Evans, said the average age of participants is about 40 years old, but older people still come out on New Year’s Day. Evans this year will bring his 4-and 10-year-old daughters along for the group swim. He’s hoping more young people show up this year.
“The young kids are tough but not when it comes to cold water,” he joked, hoping they’ll meet the challenge.
It should be a freezing wake-up call for the swimmers as wetsuits are frowned upon. McGuirk expects this year to be one of the coldest on record. Weather forecasts call for 50-degree air temperatures during New Year’s Day and even colder water temperatures. But despite that, it’s still expected to be worth it, she added.
“It’s a nice party and a great way to start the new year,” McGuirk said.
A party is being planned for after the noon swim, complete with hot drinks and food, provided by the Sidewalk Cafe.
Registration begins at 11 a.m. at the beach, just north of Venice Boulevard. There is parking available for $5 at the beach lot near the breakwater.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 30, 2003. Read the original PDF.