The International Surf Festival 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 continues through Sunday.
The 52nd annual event kicked off Wednesday with the two-day Charlie Saikley 6-man beach volleyball tournament in Manhattan Beach. Spyder and Rusher Air Bacchus are the defending men’s and women’s championship teams, respectively.
The L.A. County Lifeguard Championships take place Friday at the Manhattan Beach Pier and will feature U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter & L.A. County Lifeguard Rescue Demo, 6-Lifeguard Run Relay, Lifeguard Events and the Bud Stevenson Intracrew Medley Relay featuring Venice as defending champion.
Saturday’s action begins at 7:30 a.m. with the Surfing Championship at the Manhattan Beach Pier. Shortly thereafter, Hermosa Beach hosts the Dick Fitzgerald 2-mile run at 8 a.m. and the first of two days of competition in the California Beach Volleyball Association (CBVA) tournament that begins at 9 a.m.
The Southern California Lifeguard Championships will be held Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Manhattan Beach Pier. The event features demonstrations and events including Junior Lifeguard Taplin, Lifeguard Beach Flags and the Judge Taplin Three-Mile Lifeguard Medley Relay won in 2012 by the L.A. County Central Section “A” team.
On Sunday, a sand castle design contest and the Velzy-Stevens Paddleboard Championships begin at the Manhattan Beach Pier at 7:30 a.m. The top paddlers are expected to finish between 16 and 17 minutes at the Hermosa Beach Pier.
The CBVA beach volleyball tournament resumes at 9 a.m. when, down at the shoreline, participants enter the water for the Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier Swim that concludes at the Manhattan Beach Pier.
David Schlesinger, of Studio City, and Dawn Heckman, of Commerce, won the 2012 men’s and women’s titles with the same time of 39 minutes, 38 seconds.
Also at Hermosa Beach, a lifeguard dory race is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. followed by South Bay Youth Swims and Paddles at 1 p.m.
For more information, visit surffestival.org.
