Happy New Year!

The tenth annual Dolphin Dip Extravaganza will take place on the beach by the Surf City Pier (Roland Ave. Beach Access) on Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 11 am. Participants will gather to welcome in the New Year with a… splash!

While waiting for the start signal at high noon, dippers can watch a costume contest, acrobats, and belly dancers, explore a static display of military vehicles and listen to the Topsail High School Marching Band. There will be commemorative t-shirts (this year’s t-shirt logo was designed by Topsail High School student Kaiya Scott) and other items for sale and the proceeds will be donated to this year’s charity: Hope for the Warriors (www.hopeforthewarriors.org).

Added to the extravaganza this year is a 5k race — The Dolphin Dash 5k Beach Run that will take place the day before the Dip on Saturday, December 31, 2011. The run will be entirely on the beach, and there is no telling whether the sand will be packed, soft or ankle deep. There will be awards for age group winners. Walkers and children are encouraged to join the family-friendly run. The race will begin at noon at the Roland Avenue Beach Access in Surf City.  Packet pick-up will start at 10 am.

According to Brian Moxey, the Dolphin Dip’s founder and director, jumping into the ocean in the middle of winter feels good.

“Not only does it renew and invigorate your spirit, but by noon on the first day of the New Year, you have accomplished something. It can seem scary; you may feel like you can’t do it, but once you get in the water and get out again, you have done something that seemed hard. It can set the tone for other resolutions and it’s a metaphor for challenges and problems we face in life,” he said.

Moxey expects 6,000 attendees at this year’s event, which has grown exponentially since he rounded up a mere 20 people to join him a decade ago on New Year’s Day. He had recently moved to the area from South Carolina and wanted to continue his personal tradition of a fresh start for the New Year by jumping into Lake Hartwell, S.C.  The following year, Moxey promoted the idea and 120 people showed up. 

“The reason it has grown is that when people participate they have a great time. They want to come back the next year and, when they do, they bring others to experience it,” said Moxey.

Introducing the experience to as many people as possible is really what Moxey wants the Dolphin Dip to be about. And to color Surf City as a four-season destination rather than just a summer beach town. 

“This event has changed Surf City in the winter. It’s a great public relations venue and it is an economically good and positive thing for the town,” said Moxey, adding that the event has tremendous support from Mayor Guy, the Surf City Police Department and the local merchants that sign on as sponsors each year.

It is not just the business owners that “re-up” every year. There are plenty of repeat dippers. Alex Hoffman, 22, of Topsail Beach says he likes to try to be the first one in the water and, like Moxey, does it to start his new year off right. 

“But it does seem like the water gets colder every year,” said Hoffman.