Kicking off a weekend of competition at the beach, the Venice team lifeguards captured its third consecutive Bud Stevenson Intracrew Medley relay, holding off teams from Dockweiler and Manhattan Beach in the 48th annual International Surf Festival.
Thousands of participants and spectators converged on South Bay beaches for the weekend of competition that began with the LA County Lifeguard Championships Friday evening at the Manhattan Beach Pier.
Saturday’s action began with the Dick Fitzgerald 2-mile run, an event that has turned into a friendly rivalry between the running teams from Mira Costa and Palos Verdes high schools. Eighteen-year-old Jacob Paulson, of Rolling Hills Estates, finished first with a time of 13 minutes, 35 seconds, five seconds ahead of Paulson’s coach and former Olympic distance runner Jeff Atkinson, 47, of Manhattan Beach.
“I just wanted to beat him and I succeeded,” Paulson said while pointing at Atkinson. “It’s a good feeling.”
Next week Atkinson, a Mira Costa alum, and Race Director Renee Smith, who is the Mira Costa girls cross country coach, will take a group of approximately 50 runners from the Mira Costa and Palos Verdes running programs on a 9-day trip to Mammoth for an annual training trip.
Jimmy Breen (Hermosa Beach) edged last year’s winner, Kevin Hanley (Manhattan Beach) for third place, just ahead of Nathalie Higley (Redondo Beach) who was the top female finisher at 14:05.
The lack of surf forced the postponement of the surfing contest until Saturday, Aug. 15 at 8 a.m. There are plenty of openings for all divisions. To register, visit surffestival.org.
With more than 300 entrants competing in the 2-mile, open ocean race, Rancho Palos Verdes resident Kyle Daniels, 33, won the Velzy-Stevens Pier-to-Pier Paddleboard title with a time of 15:20.9 in the Unlimited Class (12 ft. & up). Leah Beebe, 27, was the top female finisher in the division with a time of 20:38.5.
In the Stock Class (12 ft. & under), Jake Miller, 16, placed first with a mark of 17:54.4. Manhattan Beach lifeguard Tracey Crothers had the best women’s time of the day, finishing at 19:03.5. Chad Brown (10, 22:55.2) and Rachel Atkins (13, 26:10.1) were the top male and female finishers in the Soft Board competition and Neal Drink, 47, took top honors in the Standup division with a time of 18:26.1.
The course barely had time to calm when more than 1,000 competitors hit the water at the Hermosa Beach Pier for the Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier swim. Mira Costa alum Micah Carlson was denied a third consecutive title when Sean Lemm, of Redondo Beach, outpaced a group of four swimmers to capture the event with a time of 45 minutes, 31 seconds. Carlson, who won last year with a mark of 39:30, finished fourth behind Wadley (he goes by one name), who placed second at 45:39 and Walid Wasfey (45:44).
This year’s swim included separate heats for men and women. Diane Graner-Gallas, 45, of Manhattan Beach placed first, completing the course in 44 minutes. Mira Costa junior Marisa Purcell finished second ahead of L.A. County lifeguard and Mira Costa alum Taylor Spivey.
As the hundreds of aquatic athletes were drying off, hundreds of costumed players comprising theme-based teams were packing the sands adjacent to the Manhattan Beach Pier for the Charlie Saikley 6-person, arguably the most popular event of the festival. Thousands cheered on teams such as Rage All Night, Girls Gone Wild, Bollywood Goddesses and Texas Dookiesticks who vied to advance to Sunday’s championship matches.
Wearing thick mustaches and Hawaiian attire, Team Magnum won the Men’s Open title, becoming the fist repeat champion in the event’s 48-year history with its victory over Fresh Brothers.
Mira Costa girls volleyball coach Lisa Arce Zimmerman, AVP players Carrie Dodd and Nancy Mason and Leanne McSorley led Paul Martins to the Women’s Open championship by defeating The Rock Stars.
Pier Pressure took first place in the Women’s Masters 35+ division while Salt Creek Grill/Legends won the Men’s Masters 40+ title and Rosecrans topped the Arrogant Bastards for the Men’s Masters 50+ crown.