As the minutes passed and hundreds waited to charge into the cold ocean one afternoon, many danced or jumped to stay warm and energized for the First Day plunge. The question lingered: if the air felt chilly under the sunshine, how would the water feel on this January day?
Among the crowd was Brian Green, with a gray beard and a Santa hat, said he’s been entering the water on the first day of the year since the 1980s. A retired Ocean City firefighter, Green was joined by his son, Austin Green, and Austin’s college roommate, Josh Payne. Some were locals, while others had traveled from far away to take part in the event, including a couple from Houston.
