Thursday, July 28, 2016

Thursday, July 28, 2016: SMS Foot Patrol and Buoy Swim...

Dateline: Santa Monica South, Thursday, July 28, 2016... Get this!  By 12:10 pm, Central Section had recorded 11 stingray hits on beach patrons!...  Do the Shuffle!...

In any case, we begin with a photo of the still under construction and yet to be completed Recurrent Sauna and Jacuzzi Recreational Facility out front of CSHQ.  Also, note the dory on the Ben Gottlieb Shred Sled and its new placement adjacent thereto in advance of this evening's Thursday Nite Twilight Concert Series on the Santa Monica Pier...


Below, the SMPD's Eye in the sky on the sand before it gets lifted...


Someone decided to go barefoot recently...


OL Brandon Leon at Tower #24...


Below, today is not a day for the Mike Murphy Foot Bucket Pedestal apparently at Tower #26, though it remains available and on standby status in the shade between the bucket and the red racing paddleboard...


After our buoy swim at Tower #26, we head back to CSHQ but not before getting a good shot of Tower #26 and Capt. Eugene Atanasio watching the water from the deck...


OL Sebastian Wurvee, below, rescue can raised and watching the water out front of Tower #26...


Below, the other Snyder brother... OL Scott Snyder, on duty at Tower #24...



Below, Tower #22, now doubled with OL Brandon and, we think, OL Katya...


And back at Tower #16, the other Leon brother, OL Steven Leon, on his deck and watching the water...


Center of frame below and stuck in the soft sand is the Santa Monica Police truck setting up for tonite's concert...


Below, the 10th recorded stingray hit in Central Section gets treated at SMS Tower #16 by Capt. Eugene Atanasio and OL Ben Gottlieb...


And below, look who else wears SPY sunglasses besides OL Katya... none other than OL Ben Gottlieb...


And those large Sparklett's water bottles don't get filled with hot water by themselves for treatment of stingray injuries!  Shown here is Capt. Scott Grigsby who told us at 12:10 pm that there had been 10 stingray injuries in Central Section... and two minutes later SMS Tower #29 called in an 11th!...


Do the Stingray Shuffle!

10-4

Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

(All photos by & Copyright Will Maguire 2016.)

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Wednesday, July 27, 2016

The Central Section Shred Sled...

Dateline: Wednesday morning, July 27, 2016... inside the garage at CSHQ as we arrived for an off duty workout... we find veteran LACo OL, Ben Gottlieb, also off duty and busy at work with his latest lifeguard competition accessory, namely, the (Ben Gottlieb) Central Section (Dory) Shred Sled! What's that?... you ask...  Well, you take a pallet, a couple of used bench pads, some duct tape (always duct tape), a hammer and some nails and, of course, absolutely essential are two used snowboards...

Not convinced yet?  We have just the solution to your questions... photos and videos!  Grab a cup of coffee or your favorite off duty/retirement beverage, as you are so inclined... and enjoy!.....

Say!... what's going on over yonder?!...


Below, you simply cannot put together a shred sled without duct tape!...


*** Video Alert ! ***

Introduction to the Shred Sled: The Video

     https://youtu.be/xvFCFkbp4MA

Below, Ben gets busy with a hammer and some nails.....


 *** Video Alert ! ***

Spartacus Returns: The Video

     https://youtu.be/hhYvErDbaoo



*** Video Alert ! ***

Truck, Trailer and Dory: The Video

     https://youtu.be/Rmuz4w_BEmE

... all of this is going on by the way, below, under the watchful eyes of Capt. Eugene Atanasio at the front door upstairs.....


Now check this out!...  The dory has been installed on the shred sled!...



OLS Alex Vicente shows up and so I am relieved of my volunteer/draftee role in this caper...


After finishing up my weight workout, I notice that Ben is off for a board paddle...




close up shot below of a Division OLS conducting a VIP tour of CSHQ.... it was all very hush hush or actually beyond what I could hear so who knows.....


On our way out to Tower #16 to take a swim we hear Capt. Eugene call out to Ben from the upstairs front cat walk at CSHQ to haul a** to Tower #26 where he is needed by Capt. Katzer... thus scrubbing his planned off duty paddle to Tower #26...  well, see for yourself in the accompanying video of same below...

*** Video Alert ! ***

Ben!... Get Your Butt to Tower #26: The Video

     https://youtu.be/23KUztXIJAk


We also took this opportunity to take a photo of OL Katya at Tower #16, on duty and watching the water... An absolutely beautiful morning with the sun out and just a trace of wind off shore...


We also took notice of Katya's selection in sunglasses since that is one of our regular topics of inquiry here at "County Recurrent", e.g.., what sunglasses are our Ocean Lifeguards wearing and why?... Do you recognize the brand?


Katya wears SPY® sunglasses and not because she is Russian...   :-)  She says the polarized lenses are the best!


So there you have it!...

10-4

Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

(All photos and videos by & Copyright Will Maguire 2016.)

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Sunday, July 24, 2016

CSLSA Regionals: The Whole Enchilada...

Dateline: Saturday, July 23, 2016 at Huntington State Beach...  Here is a more complete set of photos and videos of some of the day's events, the venue, the competitors, the spectators, etc. et al...

405 South to Huntington Beach... at 0700 hrs.  Note the smoky skies from the "Sand Fire" in Santa Clarita...


Beach Blvd. in Huntington Beach...


Detoured to Main St. to find a donut shop... no luck.....


Back on PCH, now southbound... we spot a familiar dory! 


Follow that dory!...







Definitely the right place!...




Upon our arrival on the berm, the the women's 2 mile beach run was finishing and the men's 2 mile run was just about to start...




..... followed by the pre-race staging area for all entrants in the men's open surf swim...


Competitors on their way to the starting line for the men's open surf swim...





Below, LACo OL/Capt. (Ret.), Jimmy Makuta (aka, Maui Jim)








*** Video Alert ! ***

The Start of the Men's Open Surf Swim: The Video

     https://youtu.be/0SGTaPkN2xg



*** Video Alert ! ***


Reconn At Waters Edge + Paddleboarders Warm Up: The Video

     https://youtu.be/u2ZugM3hEto


and here comes the first group of swimmers...


The first two finishers catch the same shorebreak and its a sprint to the finish line!...


Aaron Piersol of Newport Beach finishing in the top five.....



Someone pointing out Hawaii Ocean Lifeguard/World Body Surf Champ/DaFin Exec., Mark Cunningham below in white t-shirt and hat watching the finish of the men's open surf swim race...


*** Video Alert ! ***

Men's Open Surf Swim; The Finish: The Video

     https://youtu.be/-_PvuFmsxSc







meanwhile, some of the attendees and competitors took a body surfing break...


Next is a very interesting shot because it shows the start of the Men's International Ironman (run-paddle-surfski) with all of the competitors except 5 electing to run to the south before entering the water because of the hoovering left to right lateral current!...



*** Video Alert ! ***

International Ironman Competitors' Racing Paddleboards: The Video

     https://youtu.be/e8Wkwq92dDM









Interesting Factoid:  Going into the final segment, the surfski, the three Fink brothers were in First, Second and Fourth position!...



Below, LACo OL, Kevin Fink, finishing in First Place!...






Due to the fog which covered up the flags and buoys, the ocean races were delayed and the decision made to run the "beach flags" events and hoping that the fog would burn off...






Below, three LACo Lifeguard Legends chat in the shad, with a cameo at right by U.S. Gold Medal Swimmer/Newport Beach Ocean Lifeguard, Aaron Piersol, happens to be walking by..... True Story!...













LACo OL, Pat Jacobson, wins the men's open beach flags!...


Age Group Beach Flag pre-comp. pow-wow...


Final Three in the women's open beach flags about to start below...




 *** Video Alert ! ***

The Finals of the Women's Open Beach Flags: The Video

     https://youtu.be/RMpo3Eg4J1o






Below, sample shot out to sea.... buoys and flags still not visible but it is burning off just a bit...


back at the berm..... competitors and spectators mingle and grab shade...


LACo OL, Pat Jacobson, packs it in after competing in three events, the open surf swim, the International Ironman (top 5 finish), plus the open beach flags (Numero Uno)...


The skies finally cleared in the early afternoon and so... then it was time for the men's age group surf swim.....






Below, just to the right of center frame is veteran LACo OL/Phd, Mike O'Donnell, with his right hand up calling out his top five finish to come...  (speculation here by the undersigned...). 






*** Video Alert ! ***

What Lateral Current?...: The Video

     https://youtu.be/qpMO-tiaJnE

note:  the lateral current from left to right was absolutely stunning in how powerful it was... All of the swimmers ended up past the first white flag and had to swim back to it!... After that it was a freight train to the finish, however...



Below, at middle of frame in the background the first swimmer appears.....


... and its Laguna Beach veteran lifeguard, Scott Diederich!...









Below, true to his word, O'Donnell finishes third overall and first in his 55 - 59 division (thanks to Adam Sandler for the stats!)...











..... and on the heels of the age group men's surf swim is the younger age group men's surf swim which was started once the previous race's swimmers had rounded the first flag.  In the masters division (we think), first out of the water is none other than LACo OLS, Jeff Hart!...




 

Next event on the schedule was the women's open surf swim.....



*** Video Alert ! ***

The Start of the Women's Open Surf Swim: The Video

     https://youtu.be/wIwgsgZNy_c


















*** Video Alert ! ***

Sneaking Up On Alison Riddle Davenport: The Video

     https://youtu.be/cAV0ivd7reM

note:  Just as Alison was reaching out to grab her finisher's stick, her peripheral vision picked up on the female competitor trying to sneak up on her and grab her stick.  Alison was having none of that and quickly grabbed it!  Below are a couple of screen grabs, though a bit blurred, yet they capture the moment of the failed stick grab by the other competitor.









... as the women were finishing their swim on one race course, the men's 3-man paddleboard relay was happening on the other course.....


*** Video Alert ! ***

3-Man Paddleboard Relay; The Finish: The Video

     https://youtu.be/viTgs0lvoOY




next up on the men's schedule, the open surfski race.....






pre-race pow-wow..... during which time the event's, "Men's Course Head Official", Adam Sandler, explained to the competitors that he had decided/opted for a Surfski land start (rather than in knee deep water) and land finish for safety reasons due to the conditions (with the pounding shorebreak, etc).


we slipped back to grab something and they started the race!...





*** Video Alert ! ***

Men's Surfski Race; In the Surfline: The Video

     https://youtu.be/A8tGwfTVK6I







------

... and then we packed it in, skipping the dory boat races, the run-swim-run, etc. et al... and began what turned out to be a 2 1/2 hour drive to San Diego...

Check out Crystal Cove!...  Wow!...



slow going thru Dana Point, thought of Phil Topar, retired and living the good life, and gave him a salute with one of the fingers on my right hand and kept driving.....  :-)   





... with our destination being the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con... but that is another story for another day for another blog.....




===

Postscript:

2016 California Surf Lifesaving Regional Competition Final results:

A. Chapter Totals:
1 California State Lifeguard Assoc 1754.250
2 LA County Surf Life Saving Assoc 712.625
3 Los Angeles County Lakes Lifeguard Assoc 111.125
4 Long Beach Lifeguard Assoc CA 57.500
5 Newport Beach Ocean Lifeguard Assoc 33.000
6 Unattached 12.500

B. Chapter Totals:
1 Laguna Beach Lifeguard Assoc 497.000
2 Santa Barbara Lifeguard Assoc 141.500
3 County Of Orange Lifesaving Assoc 61.500
4 Los Angeles City Lifeguard Assoc 43.125
5 Santa Cruz Surf Lifesaving Assoc 39.500
6 Coronado Beach Lifeguards 31.000
7 Seal Beach Lifeguard Assoc 20.875

Individual Open Points Women Top 10
1 Renae Jackson California State Lifeguard Assoc 93.500
2 Christina Boring California State Lifeguard Assoc 89.500
3 Audrey Neilan California State Lifeguard Assoc 79.000
4 Emily Neilan California State Lifeguard Assoc 62.250
5 Ally McCormick Laguna Beach Lifeguard Assoc 61.000
6 Shannon Snell California State Lifeguard Assoc 60.250
7 Laurel Kistler California State Lifeguard Assoc 59.500
8 Kelsey O'Donnell LA County Surf Life Saving Assoc 59.125
9 Sara Davis Kennedy California State Lifeguard Assoc 53.500
10 Jenna Solberg LA County Surf Life Saving Assoc 45.125

Individual Open Points Men Top 10

1 Shane Scoggins California State Lifeguard Assoc 90.750
2 Ben Brewer Santa Barbara Lifeguard Assoc 66.875
3 Kevin Fink LA County Surf Life Saving Assoc 66.000
4 Cameron Zuziak Laguna Beach Lifeguard Assoc 57.375
5 David Buckalew California State Lifeguard Assoc 56.250
6 Porter Hogan Laguna Beach Lifeguard Assoc 44.875
7 Isaac DeSoto California State Lifeguard Assoc 44.250
8 Benjamin Tran California State Lifeguard Assoc 43.750
9 Killian Rose California State Lifeguard Assoc 43.250
10 G. William Abele, Jr. California State Lifeguard Assoc 41.000

=====

10-4

Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

(All photos and videos by & Copyright Will Maguire 2016.)

***   ***   ***