By Donald Wittkowski
Teri Nowell, of Warrington, Pa., sashayed on the Ocean City beach clad in a pinstriped, Roaring Twenties-style bathing suit and matching socks, hat and parasol.
Her husband, Paul, rolled his eyes and poked fun at the garish, red-and-white outfit that his wife had insisted on wearing in public on New Year’s Day.
A few minutes later, the 68-year-old Nowell did something even more outrageous. She raced straight for the ocean and plunged into the chilly surf. She – and her costume – emerged soaking wet.
“It’s cold,” she exclaimed, while shivering. “But it was absolutely worth it.”
Nowell wasn’t alone on the beach at Plymouth Place. Many other bathers joined with her in Ocean City’s madcap annual First Dip plunge to welcome the New Year. It is one of the wackiest holiday rituals at the Jersey Shore.
The 2017 version attracted thousands of diehards who braved the 42.8-degree ocean temperature to raise money for the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers. Sunny skies and a mild air temperature of 54 degrees helped produce a big turnout.
Many of the bathers appeared as though they had forgotten it was New Year’s Day and decided to dress up for another holiday – Halloween. Comical costumes are what give the event its zany atmosphere each year.
Some men were attired in bright, green wigs and construction hard hats. Others resembled characters from comic book lore. Some appeared like refugees from a Monty Python movie.
Some of the women’s shimmering, sequined costumes looked like they had been borrowed from the New Year’s Day Mummers Parade in Philadelphia. Other women were dressed like Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman, or, in this case, Frosty the Snowwoman. One young girl seemingly had rushed to the beach shortly after jumping out of bed. She was wearing cow pajamas.
And then there were the self-proclaimed “Four Dazzling Divas.” Casey Shows, Christina Stancio, Jan Giercyk and Raine Giercyk cavorted on the beach looking like Greta Garbo wannabes. They were all glammed up in 1930s-inspired outfits, feather boas, gaudy jewelry, satin evening gloves and goofy 2017 sunglasses.
“This is the first year we are doing this. We wanted to make a splash,” Raine Giercyk said with a hearty laugh to emphasize her silly pun.
Shows and Stancio are from Accokeek, Md. Jan Giercyk lives in Vineland, while Raine Giercyk resides in Linwood. Shows explained that the four women had put the First Dip plunge high up on their “bucket list” of crazy things to do.
Brian Green, of Ocean City, said he began taking the plunge long before it became fashionable among the holiday crowds. He recalled there were only about 50 bathers the first time he jumped in the ocean on New Year’s Day years ago.
“It’s always a lot fun. I always dress in a costume,” said Green, who looked vaguely like Capt. America while decked out in a superhero suit complete with a cape and mask.
Green, who was accompanied by friends and family members, seemed unconcerned by the nippy surf before he jumped in. He noted he had done the First Dip on other days when it was much chillier. Still, the water temperature caught him by surprise.
“It was colder than I expected,” he said. “But it was awesome.”
First Dip was one of the highlights of a blockbuster holiday weekend that attracted tens of thousands of visitors to town, according to the Greater Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce. The city’s First Night celebration on New Year’s Eve included an array of family-friendly entertainment at 20 venues scattered across town.
An hour before the First Dip plunge got underway at 2 p.m., more than 700 runners took part in the annual First Day 5K race along the Boardwalk. The course also took the runners along local streets this year because a portion of the Boardwalk remains closed for a reconstruction project.
Hometown track star Jesse Schmeizer, a 16-year-old junior at Ocean City High School, dominated the race to win in 17 minutes, 32 seconds. Stephen Hoffman, 26, also of Ocean City, finished second in 17:41.
Mary Grace Rittler, 16, no hometown listed, was first among the women runners in 18:44. Ocean City running legend Susan Reich, 58, finished third among the women in 20:27.
Schmeizer said he led all the way. Showing the form that has made him a top high school runner in Cape May County, he breezed across the finish line well ahead of the other competitors.
“It feels great being able to win this race,” he said. “I like showing off in my hometown.”
