Patrolling the shores and aiding beachgoers, the men and women who serve as lifeguards would be unable to perform their duties without possessing a high level of athleticism.
Each summer.these athletes and life savers have the opportunity to showcase their skills at the International Surf Festival, where the Taplin Bell is the coveted prize.
Presented by BEACHSPORT.org, the Chambers of Commerce and Cities of Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Los Angeles County Fire Department and Department of Beaches and Harbors this year’s event will be held Aug. 4 – 7. It kicks off with the Charlie Saikley 6-man beach volleyball tournament at 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 4. The Los Angeles County Lifeguard Medal of Valor Dinner follows at Redondo Beach’s Seaside Lagoon at 6 p.m.
In order not to conflict from the lifeguards’ day jobs, competition is held under the lights beginning at 7 p.m. adjacent to the Hermosa Beach Pier. On Friday, Aug. 5 the LA County Lifeguard Championships take place, featuring a U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter and L.A. County Lifeguard Rescue Demo, a 6-Lifeguard Run Relay and the Bud Stevenson Intracrew Medley Relay.
Saturday’s action includes the Southern California Lifeguard Championships, with the Junior Lifeguard Taplin, Lifeguard Beach Flags and Judge Irvin Taplin Three-Mile Lifeguard Medley Relay.
Representing the South Bay, the LA County – Southern team is seeking its third straight Taplin Bell, the perpetual award that bears the names of each member of the winning teams
Competition includes four swimmers, four paddlers and four two-man dory teams from each lifeguard agency.
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’s name has appeared on it.
Last year Mel Solberg, of Torrance, increased his record-holding number of wins to 17.
“It’s always such a great feeling to win because it is 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.”
Close behind Solberg in wins is Tom Seth, of Manhattan Beach. Seth has won the Taplin Bell 16 times and expects a stronger test in this 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.”
The Surf Festival will serve as a tuneup for the Nautica United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) National Championship that returns to Hermosa Beach beginning with the Junior Lifeguard and U19 Championships on Wednesday, Aug. 10 and followed by the USLA championships Aug. 11-13. Competition runs from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. daily.
The LA County Surf Life Saving team recaptured the title last year in Daytona Beach, Fla after having its 27-year winning streak snapped in 2014. Brian Murphy, of Redondo Beach, is the men’s defending individual champion.
The International Surf Festival includes something for all ages including the Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier swim, Velzy-Stevens paddleboard race, Dick Fitzgerald beach run, Paul Matthies dory race, surfing and bodysurfing championships, California Beach Volleyball Association tournaments and a sand castle building contest.
For schedule of events, visit surffestival.org and usla.org
