(Image source: Mike Murphy's legendary (already) rip enabled magic carpet trip through the surfline during the ocean swim recheck on 06.08.2011 at 2600 Strand. Copyright Mike Murphy 2011. All Rights Reserved. Used here with permission.)
Dateline: LACo Recurrent Ocean Swim Recheck, Wed., June 8, 2011 at 2600 Strand, LACo Training Center
If you haven't heard about it yet, yesterday's (Wed., 06.08.2011) recheck swim was BRUTAL! You name it, the 39 guards that swam it know what I am talking about, with perhaps the exception of Mike Murphy who shrewdly rode out a monster rip and avoided an impact zone unlike any faced by this recurrent in 35 plus years!
39 guards swam. 17 did not make the time cut!
There is a lesson to be learned here, folks!
*** Be prepared. Be in shape. Know the territory. Use your brains. Use your ocean knowledge.
The conditions in the surf line at 2600 Strand at the present time present a literal vortex of close to shore obstacles. Yesterday, we had inshore holes, rips, lateral currents, a low tide, cold water temps and a heavy pounding consistent surf in an impact zone chosen by nearly the entire group! It was a meat grinder! At a higher tide the impact zone, as it turns out, presents a much different challenge and does not impede progress through the surf as much.
More will be written on this topic. The urgency of this message must not be delayed, however.
Check out Murph's illustrious and glorious rip current free ride in his own hand prepared chart above.
Below, is the same chart with an additional feature, namely, xxxxxxx, which symbolizes the meat grinder impact zone which took such a heavy toll on the field of swimmers yesterday.
Finally, we have included the Retest Memo posted by the Training Staff for those recurrents who have to retest.
Stay focused, be prepared, be grateful!
10-4
Until next time.....
Will Maguire, Editor
"County Recurrent" News
2 comments:
*** Just in from Veteran LACo Recurrent, Dave Shenbaum: "I used to be 140lbs, in good shape and had a full head of hair. Now I am fat, bald and in ok shape. I passed my swim with time to spare on Wed the 8th. Ya, it was a little cold. The surf was maybe head high. But quitting was NEVER an option. Even if you do not make the time (weather, surf, cold, buoy distance) finish the swim!!! You are an LACo Lifeguard. The public does not have an option on choosing their lifeguard.
Recurrent LG
Dave Shenbaum"
(note: Thanks Dave!)
Also, per Lance Keene: "We did our recheck swim and confirm, it's LONGER!!! I too, usually do my swim around 7:30 and did today's swim a hair over 10 mins, and that was 6th place out of the 28 or so swimmers. Sadly, we had a few that did not make the cut off and will have to do the swim again. One lad did it in 12:59, just under the mark."
May 21, 2012 12:43 PM
hotchkisslandscape said...
June 6th here I come.
May 21, 2012 2:29 PM
William Maguire said...
And just in from Arthur C. Verge, Phd, on how far out the buoys are currently set and who did the recheck swim this past weekend: "As I made the first buoy turn, I swear I could see Avalon Harbor!"...
May 21, 2012 4:21 PM
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This comment has been removed by the author.
May 22, 2012 10:20 AM
NilaWard said...
Maybe we should all just consult the tide books and sign up for a recheck with low tide around noon!
May 22, 2012 7:34 PM
William Maguire said...
Low Tide is generally a good option but last year (2011) in early June we got slammed by a south swell on a low tide and it was "hammer time" in the impact zone and 17 guards failed the recheck swim and they had to repeat the swim. The day before there were similar conditions and 10+ guards did not pass and had to re-test. That was an unusual circumstance but it can happen. There is a blog post on this "Big Wednesday" recheck swim on County Recurrent, incidentally.
May 23, 2012 12:01 AM
KD, Surf Realtor said...
Fellow guards - it's time to get focused. Seems like if we're going to call ourselves the best lifeguards in the world we better not sweat a simple recheck swim. Last time I checked, our victims didn't pick the flatest, low-tide, glassy days without currents to get in trouble. Treat these buoys like a rescue - life or death. Swimming in the pool is good, but we need to be ocean wet regularly. In fact, OL Mike Murphy, one of the worst pool swimmers I know, who has been in the water everyday for the last 7 years or so, won the "Big Wednesday" recheck swim last summer - on zero pool training. Good luck.
Kyle Daniels
May 24, 2012 1:25 PM
me said...
Service • Training • Commitment
12:59 sounds suspect?
Service • Training • Commitment
good job Art Verge
Service • Training • Commitment
Well said Kyle
Service • Training • Commitment
Yeah lets check the tide books?
Service • Training • Commitment
May 24, 2012 1:56 PM
me said...
I would like to add, if any Los Angeles CO. Lifeguard needs help passing, I will personally swim the buoys with them. I do not want to witness one more fail. Lets be real after last years FAILS shouldn't WE as a group get it together. I have heard guards say "I would have to work out to make the time standard"
(Professional swimmers???)
Dave I couldn't agree with you more!
May 25, 2012 12:28 AM
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