Beachgoers take ocean dip for Groundhog Day

Dozens plunge into earlyspring withswim

HOLLYWOOD — Stephen Hayes raced into the surf on a windy Tuesday to celebrate Groundhog Day – and “to irritate my friends back home.”

Hayes, 71, was one of 100 or so brave souls of all ages who plunged into thewater at 7:30 a.m., around the same time Pennsylvania’s famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, emerged from his burrow and predicted an early spring.

“This is gorgeous,”

said

Hayes, NewYork native who spends winters in Hollywood and became a regular at the Groundhog dip six years ago. “This is what it’s all about, sunny South Florida.’’

Curious tourists stopped by what all the fusswas about.

Some snapped photos with Hollywood’s walking, talking version of Punxsutawney Phil, Marty Nagy of Hallandale Beach.

All suited up in his Groundhog duds, Nagy stayed dry on the shore as dozens of swimmers waded into the wind-whippedwater.

“If I go for a swim, Imight sink,” he said with a laugh.

Bruce Pearson and wife Joan, here on visit from Arlington, Va., ventured outside their beachfront hotel to watch the antics.

to

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“We had 24 inches week,” Pearson said.

“Floridians call this us it’swarm.”

But not warm enough for a the ocean, he said, chuckling.

California native Jeff Hansen, a Dania Beach resident with a home in Punxsutawney, has been organizing the event since 2004.

Hansen, who doesn’t miss those cold Northern winters, predicts he’ll be hosting another Groundhog Day swim offHollywood beach next year.

“We say every year it’s going to be the last one, butwe keep on going,” he said. Swimmershave rangedin age from to 84, Hansen said, and Tuesday

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JOE CAVARETTA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Swimmers jump into the Atlantic Ocean to mark Groundhog Day in Hollywood Beach Tuesday. The event is a fundraiser for the Hollywood Ocean rescue team and proceeds will go toward travel expenses to cover its trip to nationals.