For some Southern California residents, there's no better way to celebrate the New Year than with a dip in cold water.
One of the dipping places Thursday was at the Hansen Dam Aquatic Center in Lake View Terrace. Swimmers headed across the dam's nearly 2-acre man-made lake.
Other local Polar Bear Swims took place at Huntington Beach, Cabrillo Beach and Venice Beach, to name a few.
The dips were part of the annual Polar Bear Swim tradition -- Southern California style, of course.