Los Angeles County lifeguards are prepared to defend their national title when hundreds of top professional lifeguards come to Hermosa Beach for the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA National Lifeguard Championships.
Hosted by the LA County Surf Lifesaving Assn. (LACoSLSA), the four-day event returns to Hermosa Beach for the first time since 2013 this week.
Action takes place on the north side of the Hermosa Beach Pier beginning Wednesday with the junior lifeguards (ages 9-17) and Under-19 competitions.
Professional ocean lifeguards will compete Thursday through Saturday, August 13th. Competition begins at 8 a.m. each day.
“Open-water lifeguards from across the US will showcase their athleticism and professionalism during the many events held each day,” said David Cartlidge, President of the LACoSLSA. “Every day of the year, lifeguards ensure the safety of millions of visitors to the beaches throughout the U.S. This event demonstrates the fitness and endurance required daily by lifeguards to make rescues, while also utilizing their lifesaving training and experience.”
LA County began a new winning streak at Daytona Beach, Fla. in 2015 after having its 27-year reign snapped by Monmouth County, N.J. in 2014.
Brian Murphy, of Redondo Beach, was the 2015 Men’s Open overall point leader winning the Howard Lee Trophy. He won the Board Race and Ironman events, finished first in the Taplin Relay with partners Tim Burdiak, Patrick Jacobson and Kevin Fink and placed second in Board Rescue with Kevin Fink.
Representing the Coronado Beach Lifeguards, Carter Graves was last year’s Women’s Open points leader.
LA County expects to be challenged by a strong California State Lifeguard Assn. team who recently dominated the CSLSA California Regional Lifeguard Championships held July 23 in Huntington Beach.
From surf swims to beach runs, paddleboard and surf boat races, as well as the grueling multi-discipline Ironman/Ironwoman events, lifeguards from numerous agencies will vie for bragging rights to be crowned the country’s best lifeguards.
Helping LA County retain its title will be the father/daughter duo of Mel and Jenna Solberg of Torrance.
Mel increased his record of 18 Judge Irvin Taplin Medley Relay championships at the International Surf Festival Saturday night and won his age division (Men’s 50-54) in the American Ironman competition at the 2015 USLA National Championships.
His fever for lifeguard competition rose after being introduced to the sport by some some of the lifeguard greats such as John Baker and Jake Jacobson.
“I think it’s awesome that Jenna has followed the lifeguard path,” Mel said. “She grew up around the ocean and has a real love for it. She also enjoys the competition.”
Jenna will be representing the United States at the World Lifesaving Championships to be held in The Netherlands Sept. 1-18.
Many LA County lifeguards captured age division titles in 2015 including Patrick Jacobson (Men’s 30-34), Deirdre Fisher (Women’s 50-54), Mitch Kahn (Men’s 55-59) and Shari Latta (Women’s 55-59) in the Board Race.
Ironman/Ironwoman age division winners included Jacobson (Men’s 30-34), Tandis Morgan (Women’s 30-34), Jeff Lombardo (Men’s 35-39), Rob Pelkey (Men’s 45-49), Ann Finley (Women’s 50-54), Kahn (Men’s 55-59), Latta (Women’s 55-59) and Dale Adama (Men’s 60-64).
Kevin Fink is the defending the Men’s Open Surf Race champion title while Jacobson (Men’s 30-34), Lombardo (Men’s 35-39), Chris Linkletter (Women’s 45-49), Fisher (Women’s 50-54), Kahn (Men’s 55-59) and Adama (Men’s 60-64) were age division winners.
Winning their age groups in the American Ironman competition were Lombardo (Men’s 35-39), Rob Pelkey (Men’s 45-49), Mel Solberg (Men’s 50-54) and Kahn (Men’s 55-59).
El Segundo’s Kelsey Cummings (Long Beach Lifeguard Association) won last year’s Run-Swim-Run Open Women’s crown with age division titles going to Chris Linkletter (Women’s 45-49) and Ed Heinrich (Men’s 65-69).
LA County also won thge  Women’s Taplin Relay with Tandis Morgan, Jenna Solberg, Kelsey Cummings and Tianna Pugliese.
The LACoSLSA is a non-profit organization that exists to promote ocean water safety initiatives among the general public and lifeguards by creating training, education, competition and community outreach opportunities.
For schedule of events visit usla.org.
