Thousands to enjoy 56th year of Surf Festival competition
Ryan Bullock, of Torrance was a three-time champion at the 2016 International Surf Festival, winning the Bud Stevenson Intracrew competition as a member of the Redondo/Torrance/Cabrillo team, helping LA County-Southern capture its third straight Taplin Medley title and winning the Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier swim. Photo
Moving from mid-week back to Friday and Saturday, the popular Charlie Saikley 6-man beach volleyball tournament in Manhattan Beach will be one of the most popular events at the 56th year of the International Surf Festival. More than 50,000 spectators are expected to watch costume-themed teams vie for the title while celebrating the beach lifestyle.
Known as the “Godfather of Beach Volley,” Saikley passed away 12 years ago. Saikley’s son Jay now runs the tournament.
More than 50,000 people flock to Manhattan Beach to watch the Saikley 6-Man beach volleyball tournament.
“A lot of the people at the tournament are the same ones who knew my father when it began around 50 years ago,” Saikley said. “They love and respect it just as much as I do, and that’s what I love about this event.”
Action begins at 9 a.m. Friday, August 4 and continues on Saturday, August 5.
On Sunday, Aug. 6, the Jr. 6-man Beach Volleyball Tournament will be held at the Manhattan Beach Pier at 9 a.m.
Open to kids ages 10-16, the event is in its third year with boys, girls and coed divisions. There will also be prizes for the best costumes.
The surf festival is presented by BEACHSPORT.org, the Chambers of Commerce and Cities of Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and Torrance, the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the Department of Beaches and Harbors.
Lifeguard vs. lifeguard
Lifeguard competition highlights the four-day festival with action taking place under the lights at the Hermosa Beach Pier.
The LA County Lifeguard Championships begin with a lifeguard rescue demonstration at 7 p.m. and finishes with the Bud Stevenson Intracrew Medley Relay (two runners, four swimmers, four paddlers, one surf ski paddler, and four two-person dorys).
Defending champion Redondo/Torrance/Cabrillo looks for a repeat against teams from Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Dockweiler, Venice, Santa Monica, Will Roger,; Malibu, Zuma Beach and the Baywatch Rescue Boat crews.
The event also includes a 6-lifeguard run relay; a 4-lifeguard shallow water sprint relay and the 6-lifeguard rescue board relay.
Lifeguards return to Hermosa Beach Saturday for the Southern California Lifeguard Championship Events (Junior Lifeguard Taplin, Lifeguard Beach Flags and Judge Irving Taplin Three-Mile Lifeguard Medley Relay), beginning at 7 p.m.
LA County-Southern, the reigning champions. include Mel Solberg, of Torrance, who improved on his record number of Taplin Bell victories with number 18 in 2016.
“The Taplin is such a team sport,” Solberg said. “You can have the best swimmer in the world but if the rest of the team doesn’t pull its weight, it doesn’t matter. I’ve been blessed to be a member of some great teams. I won my first six Taplin Bell titles at Zuma. I really enjoy hearing athletes ring the bell for the first time because I remember what that meant to me.”
LA County-Southern lifeguards celebrate after winning the Judge Irving Taplin Medley Relay in 2016.
Why it’s a surf festival
Saturday’s Surf Festival action begins at 8:45 a.m. with the Bodysurfing Championship on the north side of the Manhattan Beach Pier. Run by the Gillis Beach Bodysurfing Assn., the event include eight men and women’s divisions.
On the south side of the pier one of the original Surf Festival events — the Surfing Championships — begins at 7:30 a.m. Last year’s Most Outstanding male and Female surfers were Scott Witmer and Manhattan Beach’s Megan Seth, who won the Junior Men’s and Women’s Shortboard divisions.
Saturday’s action also includes the R-10 Paddleboard Race and Dick Fitzgerald two-mile run, both starting at 8 a.m.
The Riviera Mexican Grill R-10 Paddleboard Race is held at Torrance Beach and is part of the Waterman’s Challenge, which also includes the Velzy-Stevens Pier-to-Pier Paddleboard race on Sunday morning.
Ty Garrett and Savannah Pio won the make and female divisions at the 2016 Dick Fitzgerald 2-mile run.
Beach run
The Dick Fitzgerald Run starts and finishes at the Hermosa Beach Pier. The race is named after former Director of the Department of Beaches Dick Fitzgerald, who helped start the International Surf Festival.
Defending male and female champions are former Mira Costa distance runners Ty Garrett (13:31) and Savannah Pio (15:23).
More volleyball
On Saturday and Sunday, the California Beach Volleyball Association (CBVA) will hold tournaments beginning at 9 a.m. in Hermosa Beach highlighted by the Men’s and Women’s $1,500 Michelob Ultra Open on Sunday.
More water sports
One of the fastest growing sports will be showcased Sunday when the Velzy-Stevens Pier-to-Pier Paddleboard race, presented by the South Bay Boardriders Club, begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Manhattan Beach Pier. Max First (15:26) and Bailey Rosen (19:43) are defending men’s and women’s champions.
Sunday’s action includes the Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier Swim at 9 a.m. More than 1,100 participants are hoping to cross the finish on the beach, north of the Manhattan Beach Pier. Ryan Bullock (41:18) and Stephanie Peacock (42:48) are reigning champions.
Competitors line up at the starting line of the Velzy-Stevens Pier-to-Pier Paddleboard race.
At 9:30 a.m. at the Hermosa Beach Pier, the Paul Matthies Dory Race takes place with two-man crews rowing through the surf.
More competition, including Sandcastles
The Doryman’s Relay will follow immediately after pitting individual team members against each other. California State Lifeguards Dane Boer and James Bray captured both events in 2016.
Also on Sunday will be a Sand Castle Contest on the south side Manhattan Beach Pier at 7:30 a.m. Beginning at 1 p.m., on the north side of the Hermosa Beach Pier, the Surfside Swim Team will host South Bay Youth Swims and Paddles.
For more information, visit surffestival.org.