Photos by Ray Vidal
by Kevin Cody
Chaos is the defining quality of the Hermosa Beach Fourth of July Ironman. Most of the competitors puke before crossing the finish line. After running and paddling a mile competitors must chug a six-pack, and keep it down or be disqualified.
But this year, the Ironman’s 50th anniversary, there were two certainties. Annie Seawright-Newton would win, and Pennywise would close the event with the Ironman anthem, “Bro Hymn.”
Seawright did win, as she has on 17 previous occasions. Pennywise did perform, after a decade-long absence. Pennywise first performed at the Hermosa Ironman in a vacant lot on Monterey Avenue, when the band was starting out. In recent years most of the band’s performances have been in stadiums around the world. Their Ironman appearance, which was assumed, but unannounced, was more an Old Hemrosa reunion than performance.
A less expected outcome was Tony Kostelak’s victory in the men’s division. The former Mira Costa football player and wrestler (2001), has been a perennial second place finisher since he began competing when he turned 21 in 2003.
This year he nosed out last year’s champion, Shane Gallas, by half a can. Kostelak chugged down his six pack of Michelob Ultra in under two minutes. He celebrated his victory across the street from the beach venue, at Critters. The following day the goofyfooter flew to Pavones in Costa Rica. The Redondo Beach resident trains year round for the Ironman by surfing.
A record 1,200 athletes, drawn by the promise of bragging rights and a 50th anniversary T-shirt, paid $35 to enter. Entry fees and merchandise sales raised $46,000 for local charities.
Among the even greater number of spectators was 100 year old Joe Arrego, of Manhattan Beach. Arrego raised six children in Manhattan Beach, raised countless racing pigeons, and flew 10 combat missions over Japan during WWII. But he said he’d never seen anything like the Hermosa Ironman.
The Hermosa Beach Historical society is hosting a 50th Anniversary Ironman exhibit through the summer. The museum is also in the preliminary stages of establishing a Hermosa Ironman Hall of Fame.
