Photos by Chris MacDonald, Story by Lee Love

It was clear & sunny on New Year's Day in Huntington Beach as hundreds of locals and visitors ROARED into the new year  with a huge SPLASH to kick off the Surf City Centennial. Huntington Beach Host Lions Club is celebrating 70+ years of Service, and raised over $1,500.00 at this event (over twice the funds raised ever before)! Pre-Splash Ceremonies were conducted by Lion-Costumed Lee Love. Members of Miss Huntington Beach Queen's Court graced our event, as well as HB City Council Member Gil Coerper. The award for the "Youngest Splasher" went to 5-month-old Luke Levassar of Huntington Beach. His dad, Local Scott Levassar, says the Splash is a family tradition. Local Kathleen Ellis is registered as the "Oldest Splasher" (let's just say she's over 60), and the "Largest Organized Group" was awarded to the HB Lions. We had two winners for the "Greatest distance Travelled to Participate": Roland Wimmer from Asselfingen, Germany, and Kyle Yule from Glasgow, Scotland. Local  Zack Vuncanon won the "Most Creative Costume" award by dressing as a New Year's Surfer "Baby". Our Lifeguard John Bebe & Chris "Mr. Huntington Beach" MacDonald performed the final countdown after a very long line was drawn in the sand. Text Written From Lioness Lee Love.