Bullock, Cummings favored in International Surf Festival Swim
Ryan Bullock The black stripe on Ryan Bullock’s shoulder during last year’s Dwight Crum Pier to Pier Swim was in memory of retired lifeguard Ed Nelson, who died when he reached the Manhattan Beach pier in the 2016 race. Bullock has won the swim the past three out of four years. Photo
Two of the area’s top swimmers look to repeat as winners of the Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier Swim during the 56th edition of the International Surf Festival, to be held at local beaches Wed., Aug. 1 through Sun., August 5.
Redondo Beach is the host city for this year’s competition presented by BeachSport.org, the Chambers of Commerce and Cities of Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance and Los Angeles County Fire Department and Department of Beaches and Harbors.
Lifeguard Ryan Bullock, of Torrance, and Lifeguard El Segundo’s Kelsey Cummings have been the top swimmers in recent years with Bullock looking for his third straight victory and fourth in five years.
In last year’s victory, the 33-year-old Bullock held off Kevin Fink, of San Pedro, with a winning time of 41 minutes, 16 seconds to claim his third win in four years. Fink won the race in 2015 and 2013.
“I always know Kevin will be the guy to beat,” Bullock said after the 2017 race. “He’s only 21 so the age factor comes into play. Except for the strong current moving south in the second half of the race, the conditions were great. The water was warm and clear and I could see schools of fish underneath me.”
Bullock was also a member of the Redondo/Torrance/Cabrillo team that won the Bud Stevenson Intracrew Relay on 2016 and swam for the LA County Southern championship team in the Judge Taplin Medley Relay team that won titles in 2015-17.
“I’m aiming to defend my title, however, you never know who’s going to show up,” Bullock said. “It’s my favorite event of the year because of the great atmosphere surrounding it with the International Surf Festival. The hardest part of the race is managing the start then hanging on with a good pace for the entire two miles.
On the women’s side, Cummings captured her second title in three years with a time of 46:48. She finished second in 2016.
“The water was beautiful and warm,” Cummings said. “The first half of the race was great. Then it became a little bumpier as we headed to the Manhattan Beach Pier. I just focused on the men in front of me and did my best not to get passed.”
She also competed in the Bud Stevenson Intracrew Relay Friday night, lifeguarded in Santa Monica on Saturday then returned to Hermosa Beach Saturday night for the Taplin Medley competition.
Cummings was a member of the LA County team that competed at the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) National Championships in the Daytona Beach, Florida where she has finished second in overall points in the women’s division the last two years.
Swimmers who did not complete the 2017 Pier-to-Pier swim must register for the swim on-line and then pass a 500-meter “check out” swim which will be held at the Hermosa Beach Pier on July 14, 21 and 22 from 9-11 a.m. New swimmers can also qualify by competing in the inaugural Redondo Beach Open Water Swim on Sunday, July 15 at Miramar Park, 201 Paseo De La Playa.
After the Los Angeles County, Lifeguard Medal of Valor Dinner is held Wednesday, Aug. 1 at 6 p.m. in Redondo Beach, Surf Festival competition begins in earnest on Friday with the two-day Charlie Saikley Volleyball Tournament beginning at 9 a.m.
The LA County Lifeguards Championship take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Hermosa Beach Pier.
Action continues Saturday with a full schedule of events including, the International Bodysurfing and Surfing Championships, R-10 Paddleboard Race. Dick Fitzgerald Two-Mile Run and Southern California Lifeguard Championship event including the Judge Taplin Three-Mile Lifeguard Medley Relay.
Competition wraps up on Sunday with the Velzy-Stevens Pier-to-Pier Paddleboard Championship, Sand Castle Design Contest, Jr. 6-Man Beach Volleyball Tournament (boys & girls 12-18), Paul Matthies Dory Race and South Bay Youth Swims and Paddles. Surffestival.org.