Freezin’ for a Reason on the Outer Banks

Have you ever jumped in the ocean in winter? It’s quite an invigorating experience, at least here on the Outer Banks where the ocean is cold but not dangerously so.

I have a tradition of jumping in the ocean every New Year’s Day, and it’s really never as bad as I think it’s going to be. I have this pattern in which I stand on the beach for a while getting my nerve up, actually considering not doing it this time, but then once I finally go in, it feels amazing. Most times after I get out, I go right back in because I know it will be a while before I swim again. It’s my annual ritual for washing away the old worries of the previous year and welcoming a fresh start.

Regular cold water immersion is actually good for you. Practitioners of the Wim Hof Method tout increased blood circulation, reduced muscle inflammation, weight loss, stress reduction, more energy and better sleep as the benefits of regular cold water immersion. People who practice it regularly say that the body acclimates to the cold and builds up a tolerance pretty quickly.

Want to give it a try? Join the Outer Banks chapter of the Surfrider Foundation this Saturday, March 5, at their Freezin’ for a Reason fundraising evennt at the Ocean Bay Lifesaving Station in KDH. The ocean temperature is right around 45 degrees F this week, so it’s going to be cold, but it’s going to feel great! Did we mention that this event starts at 8 a.m.? Early birds only!

Beyond testing your capacity for freezing yourself, there’s another good reason for participating in this event. All proceeds will benefit Surfrider’s Blue Water Task Force Initiative, a citizen water quality monitoring program aimed at raising awareness of local pollution problems and bringing communities together to implement solutions. They’re hoping to raise $16,000 to purchase water monitoring equipment to measure fecal and bacterial levels in recreational waters.

Immediately after the event, everyone is invited to Jack Brown’s Burger Joint in Kill Devil Hills for an after-party. There will be breakfast (free for the cold-water plungers), beer and live music. This is Surfrider Foundation’s first event since the pandemic began, so the turnout is expected to be great, adding to the fun of the event.

There are three ways to help Surfrider raise money for this event, all of which you can do by clicking here.

1. Register to take the plunge yourself.
2. Donate to the clean water cause. 
3. Donate in support of a local celebrity. 

Instead of jumping in yourself, you can support a local celebrity, such as Nags Head Mayor Ben Cahoon, KDH Mayor Ben Sproul or Kitty Hawk Mayor Craig Gariss. The mayor raising the most funds will win the Golden Plunger Award to display at their town hall. You can also vote for a local principal: FFHS Principal Chuck Lansing, MHS Principal John Luciano, FFMS Principal Diane Childress, KHES Principal Greg Florence and MES Principal Curtis Price as of this writing. The principal with the most funds raised will win a gift bag of local swag.

For more information about Surfrider Foundation Outer Banks Chapter or to learn about how you volunteer or help out, visit their website. 

And for more great events happening around the Outer Banks this week, such as the Outer Banks Wedding Weekend and a ton of live music options, visit our Daytime and Nightlife pages.

Photo: Noelle Rebekah on Unsplash