Lifeguard tradition grows with Wieland Shield, Taplin Bell competitions
Members of Australia’s Life Saving Victoria team celebrates winning its second consecutive Wieland Shield championship. Photo
Worldwide, the bond between lifeguards has created a special fraternity among its members, so it is commonplace for many siblings and offspring to continue a family’s legacy in the noble profession.
That tradition is alive and well as evidenced at last weekend’s 54th annual International Surf Festival where many of the top lifeguards from California and Australia vied for bragging rights in friendly, yet competitive, events.
This year marked the 24th biennial competition for the Wieland Shield that pits a team of California lifeguards against the Life Saving Victoria team from Australia.
The friendship between lifeguards of the two countries began in 1956 when LA Lifeguards participated in the International Surf Life Saving Carnival held in conjunction with the Olympic Games in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. In 1965, LA County Lifeguards hosted the first Australian SLSA team to tour the United States. Two years later, LA Lifeguards participated in an educational and competition tour of Australia and New Zealand.
The tour was a success and Australian George Nutbeam established competition where one country would tour the other every two years.
A perpetual trophy sponsored and named for the former US Consul General to Australia, William Wieland, commemorates the competition.
Despite fielding what is thought to be its youngest squad this year, Victoria retained the Wieland Shield with an impressive win over the California lifeguards after two days of competition held in Hermosa Beach.
LA County – Southern’s Mel Solberg rings the Taplin Bell a record number 17 times. Photo
Although California won the Surf Teams and Surf Rescue Relay-Mixed competition — the final two events held Saturday evening — it was too little, too late for the Americans, who fell to Victoria 77-59. Victoria has won five of the last eight Wieland Shield competitions; California last won in 2012
“To be honest, we didn’t come here expecting to win,” Victoria head coach Chris Porter said. “So this is absolutely fantastic. But it’s more about a celebration of lifeguarding and competition between the states. It’s more about the close relationships.”
Porter felt California had the edge in swimming and was thrilled with his team’s performance at the beginning of competition.
“We did better than expected on Friday,” Porter said. “We weren’t expected to be in front. This is such a unique event with competition held under the lights.”
It’s winter in Australia, so most of the Victoria team was comprised of university students whose schedules were flexible enough for them to make the trip to California. Many had never left Australia before, although Porter has had years of experience.
“I’ve been coming here for over 21 years but it’s the first time for this team to see this,” Porter said. “The Medal of Valor dinner [held Thursday night at Seaside Lagoon in Redondo Beach] was a real eye-opener for the kids. They’ve seen the passion and commitment the lifeguards have here. The stories they heard, particularly from the three Medal of Valor winners, was a real inspiration to the kids and I think they’ll walk away from that evening and be better lifeguards when they get home.”
Helping Victoria capture back-to-back titles was the Kinsey family. Mother Sonia served as assistant coach while son Guy, 22, and daughter Kira, 20, displayed their athletic prowess in the water and on the sand.
“It’s great to watch my children compete and keep the lifeguard and surf life saving tradition going,” Sonia said. “This has been a fantastic trip for us. These kids need to go back and tell the younger ones to put their hand up for the next competition. To meet so many people in such a short amount a time is a great experience.”
Kira Kinsey said she is used to having her mom as a coach and doesn’t have much of a rivalry with her brother.
“Having mom as a coach has its ups and down but she’s been my coach since I was young,” Kira said. “She definitely hasn’t made me soft.”
Kira Makuta, of El Segundo, high steps past a Victoria, Australia, opponent during the Wieland Shield competition. Photo
Winning the Wieland Shield capped off a 2 1/2-week trip for the Australians, who also competed in San Clemente and Huntington Beach during their stay in California.
It wasn’t all business for the team, however, as they had the opportunity to experience the Southern California lifestyle which included different foods and side trips.
“I love it here,” said Kira, who discovered a new favorite food. “We went to Catalina and I really liked that. We went snorkeling, had fun in San Clemente and went to the Padres baseball game. That atmosphere was fun because we don’t have anything like that at home. The food is a little different and sometimes things are called something different here. I really like the bagels. We don’t have them at home.”
Porter said he was not looking forward to boarding the airplane Sunday night and returning to Australia.
“The trip to California has been fantastic,” Porter said. “The weather is great and the hospitality is extraordinary. Back home, we’re having the coldest weather in 25 years, so leaving lovely Southern California’s warm weather will be hard.
“The thing about the trip is the relationship between our states – California and Victoria. We’ve made some lifelong relationships between the competitors. We’ve learned a lot about how the lifeguards work here and they’ve learned how we compete and we’ve had a great time.”
Lifeguards dive for the prize in Beach Flags competitoin. Photo
Porter, who has spent 45 years in life saving, is constantly trying to improve lifeguard programs down under and is impressed with California’s Junior Guard program.
“The beaches here are very tame compared to ours,” Porter said. “We have very strong rips and rocks so the young guards learn from the older ones. In Australia, an aspiring lifeguard can get a permit to ride with lifeguards at the age of 13. We’ve talked about how we can improve the junior guard programs and build competition. It’s a huge sport in Australia with 10,000 people attending our nationals.”
Like Australia, the California team had its own group of siblings among its squad. Redondo Beach native Brian Murphy competed and his brother Mike served as assistant team manager.
El Segundo’s Ryan and Kira Makuta, both of whom are members of the University of Hawaii’s swim team, returned home for their summer break to work as lifeguards in the LA County Central section.
“It’s pretty cool to be a part of this team,” Ryan said. “Winning the 7-man Taplin Relay in the Wieland Shield competition was a highlight of the weekend.”
“Being selected to represent California and compete for the Wieland Shield is a tremendous honor,” Kira said.
After Victoria was presented the Wieland Shield, Saturday’s events included Junior Lifeguard Championships and Beach Flags competition.
Hermosa won the Boy’s Junior Lifeguard title while the Venice B team took top honors in girls competition.
LA County’s Pat Jacobson was a repeat winner in the Men’s Beach Flags event. Pt. Magu’s Kelly Smyth edged Victoria’s Kira Kinsey for the Women’s Beach Flags title.
The evening concluded with the main event – the Judge Irvin Taplin Medley Relay.
Representing the South Bay, the LA County – Southern team captured its second straight Taplin Bell, the perpetual award presented to the winner of the contest that features teams from throughout Southern California.
LA County Central placed second followed by LA County-Northern.
Tim Burdiak, Taylor Spivey and Rich Sprout savor their win in the Surf Rescue Relay event in the Wieland Shield competition. Photo by Joel Gitelson
The names of each member of the winning team has his or her name engraved on a plaque that is mounted on the Taplin Bell
Competition includes four swimmers, four paddlers and four two-man dory teams from each lifeguard agency.
LA County – Central gained an early lead thanks in part by a strong leg by swimmer Ryan Makuta, but LA Southern swimmers Charlie Patch, Jonathan Diaz and brothers Patrick and Kevin Fink held their own.
Paddlers Brian Murphy, Tucker Hopkins, Spencer Parker and Shane Gallas narrowed the margin before LA Southern’s strong rowing crews of Nick Dale, Mike Wurzel, Mike O’Donnell, Jeff Hart, Mel Solberg, Jeff Lombardo, Tom Seth and Dave Cartlidge pulled away for the victory.
“We knew that Central had amazing swimmers so we felt that when our first board (paddler) hit the water and we were within a minute and a half then we were going to be okay,” Seth said. “We have great boards and boats so when we were only behind 35 seconds when our first board went out, I knew we had it and wasn’t worried at all. It was nice going last with such a big lead. All we had to do was row safe and not crash.”
As is tradition, each winning lifeguard has his or her name read aloud, is presented a medal then rings the Taplin Bell the number of times the individual lifeguard has won.
Rowing with partner Jeff Lombardo in the third leg of the dory race Mel Solberg, of Torrance, increased his record-holding number of wins to 17.
“It’s always such a great feeling to win this and tonight was a total team effort,” Solberg said. “Never in a million years did I think I would have this many wins. When you win that first one, you‘re so happy that you’re on that bell for all time. Then you get the fever and you want to keep winning and winning. I love hearing these guys when they win it for the first time because I remember my first and it’s an amazing feeling.”
Solberg said this year’s event would always hold a special place in his heart. Friday night, he and his daughter Jenna became the first father and daughter to be on the winning Bud Stevenson Intracrew Relay team.
Close behind Solberg in wins is Tom Seth, of Manhattan Beach. Seth has won the Taplin Bell 16 times and knows the importance of strategy and finishing strong. He and longtime partner Dave Cartlidge rowed the final leg of the dory race.
Seth recalled the first of his many wins.
“Winning the first one was so fun because the South Bay had been waiting for so long,” Seth said. “When I first started we weren’t even close and it took me at least five years before my first win. When Gary Crum came to our section and became our chief, he really got us training for the Taplin, which he was really fond of.”
Seth expects a stronger test in next year’s Taplin competition.
“There is a team coming from Australia that really wants to beat us,” Seth said. “They have been training hard. They don’t have dorys there but their board paddlers are amazing and they have very good swimmers.”
Taylor Spivey, of Redondo Beach, sprints past a Victoria opponent during the Run-Swim-Run event. Photo
Former Redondo Union High School swimming star Jonathan Diaz won his second Taplin championship.
“I was honored to be a part of that team and I was blown away by how skilled everyone was,” Diaz said. “After the swim, we were only behind a bit so that’s when we all kind of knew we could have a chance and it was very exciting in that moment. Everyone came together, everyone did their part. It was a true team effort and I think that’s why it’s so special.
“Winning the Taplin competition means the world to me. It has been a goal of mine since I was a JG and last year winning in my rookie year was something I’ll never forget. But this year has a special place in my heart because it was a well-earned win and it was a true team effort. Getting to ring the bell twice in a row was an amazing feeling. I am proud to be an LA County Lifeguard and I’m proud to be a part of that team that won. Hopefully we will continue with that South Bay streak.”
Friday night under the lights, the LA County Lifeguard Championships were held highlighted by the Bud Stevenson Intracrew Medley Relay.
Manhattan successfully defended its title with a thrilling, come-from-behind victory over Santa Monica. Dockweiler finished third.
Manhattan also won the 6-Lifeguard Run and 4-Lifeguard Shallow Water Sprint Relay while Dockweiler captured the 6-Lifeguard Rescue Board title.
For complete results of the International Surf Festival, visit surffestival.org.