For many, New Year’s Day means sleeping in a nursing a hangover, but other people decide to start the year on a different, colder note. The annual New Year’s Day polar plunges are back for 2025 for those looking to start the year with a shock. One long-standing plunge takes place at Ocean Beach, at the Great Highway & Taraval Street, beginning at 12:00 pm. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can get there at 10:30 am to join a naked bike ride before the plunge.
The Riptide will host a warm-up party before the plunge if you need some encouragement before running into the chilly water. Then, after diving into the Pacific, you can join The Riptide for a cozy after-party featuring warm cocktails and plenty of strong shots. All ages are welcome to the plunge, but The Riptide is 21+. If you’re looking for something unique, a little unconventional, and definitely fun to start 2025, this is it.
If you’re looking for another group of plungers to join, a local restaurant and wine bar The Laundromat is hosting a plunge at 10:00 am on Ocean Beach at Balboa. Hoodies will be available with a donation to SF non-profit Glide, and coffee and bagels will be provided for the brave plungers.
Why Polar Plunge?
New Year’s traditions range from eating grapes at midnight to infamous polar plunges. Many SF residents stay far away from the beach and opt to be cozy and warm on New Year’s Day, while others love the tradition and honor it every year.
Plunging in cold water, known affectionately as polar bear swims, has been around for decades. The first-documented New Year’s Day plunge took place in 1904 when a South Boston swim club called the L Street Brownies took a group plunge into Dorchester Bay. Today, you’ll find local polar bear swims on every continent, including Antarctica.
Besides the shock value and camaraderie of the event, many cultures across the globe have made cold water and ice bathing a regular practice. In Finland, the practice of ice bathing is over 300 years old and has recently enjoyed a resurgence in popularity among people in their 20s and 30s, according to Conde Nast Traveler.
No lifeguards are present at the polar plunges, and we recommend checking the weather for any coastal warnings before embarking on the New Year’s tradition.
By Grant MacHamer and Dana Flynn