JUNE 14, 2008

Huntington Beach (California) picture above shows swimmers competing in a swim around the HB Pier.

Huntington Beach, Cal.―Longer than the average age of most the swimmers who compete annually in the Annual Pier Swim, Huntington Beach's premier (and only) city-hosted swimming competition is greeted each June when the water reaches a toasty 66 degrees F. This event has is an enjoyable challenge to test your strength plying the Pacific Ocean waters that surround the 1853-feet long cement pier structure, one of the longest municipal piers in California.

The pier swim doesn't rank tops among the competition circuit for prize money (only trophies are awarded), but it does offer the perfect opportunity for hundreds of triathletes from the surrounding area who compete in the fierce Ironman Triathlon. While there is an annual California Ironman Triathlon qualifying event (previously held in Oceanside), the Huntington Beach Pier Swim is mostly for fun. And the proceeds are used to benefit some of the City's favorite non-profit projects and agencies.

Hundreds of people show up each year for the Huntington Beach Pier Swim. The majority are participants but the event also attracts a healthy crowd that enjoys watching the event from the Huntington Beach Pier. Fishermen on the pier continue to cast their lines out to sea as swimmers zip or slowly tread by them in this event.  

Brightly-colored swim caps are issued for swim categories in the event and from above or on land, you mostly see these caps of fluorescent orange, yellow or green. If you happen upon a huge mass of people swimming in the ocean around the Huntington Beach Pier, you're probably watching the Huntington Beach Pier Swim. Another event on January 1st, the Polar Plunge, does get the swimmers into chillier waters ranging from 55 to 58 degrees. But at that event, the only thing you'll see is what's described as a quick dip and dive into the ocean....then it's back to land for donuts and hot cocoa or coffee.

This event is sponsored annually by the Huntington Beach City Community Services Department, 5th floor, Civic Center, Huntington Beach City Hall, 2000 Main Street, Huntington Beach, CA.