The Venice Penguin Swim is a great way to start off the new year in Venice! Plunge into the brisk Pacific Ocean with family and friends on Jan. 1, 2017. – Venice Paparazzi | Venice Beach CA, Photo Agency, Community Info, News, Events

Click here to view 2017 Venice Penguin Swim photos.

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57 Venice PENGUIN SWIM EVENT DETAILS:

Here is a message from Swim.net’s Jacki Hirsty

Date: Jan. 1, 2017 – 12noon Location: Venice Breakwater – Venice, CA Activities: 50-yard fun dip or 500-yard challenge

Start the year proving your mettle with a quick dip in the Pacific Ocean. Penguin Club, sponsored and run by Southern California Aquatics (SCAQ), will provide you with a cool, fresh start to the New Year. Sign up at Venice Beach at 11:00 a.m., where Venice Blvd. meets the ocean. The Penguin Swim begins at noon. Adults are $10, minors are $5. Commemorative T-shirts will be available for $10 on-site. (We apologize for the nominal charge after 57 years of no charges, but permits and fees are being required by governing authorities now.)

DIRECTIONS: Take Venice Blvd. to the end and enter parking lot at the beach (parking is $10-15). Walk 100 yards north.

Choose (on-site) between two courses: one is a fun dip of 50 yards and the other, for those who are up for a challenge, is a 500 yards swim. Swimmers in the fun course do not have to put their head underwater. The fastest male and female swimmers in the challenge course are crowned prince and princess.

We suggest that you start this ocean swim with a warm-up and end with a warm- down. Swimming is usually a safe activity, but it is exercise, and is strenuous, more so on January 1, when it is cold. You are responsible for being physically fit. See your doctor before starting any physical activity and at least annually for regular checkups. For more info: Jacki Hirsty at [email protected]