Thursday, June 11, 2009

"It's On !" "Oh Yeah, It's On All Right !"




Head's Up !


Saturday, June 20, 2009
The First Annual Malibu Surf and Sport Festival.

"The Zuma Beach Half Mile Ocean Swim":
9 a.m. at Tower #4.


But leave your wetsuits and bodysuits at home. Same goes for your fins because this race is "old school". Break out the lycra and nylon. Blood testing for PED's may follow so all you juicers, stay home. Can't swim without your fins on, bring an umbrella ! Woo Hoo !

Click on the poster above for further details.

And just in from Baywatch Rescue Boat Capt., Jay Butki, the following comprehensive order of events for the Malibu Surf and Sport Festival's weekend events of June 20 - 21, 2009:

Mark your race calendar for June 20, 2009 when the 2009 Malibu Surf & Sport Festival presented by Bud Light will hit the water at Zuma Beach and Malibu Surfrider Beach.



The Malibu Surf and Sports Festival is a great two event day filled with action, food, and creative expressions. Over 2,000 participants from around the country will converge to take part in celebrating the majestic beauty of the Malibu.

Our main staging area will feature a Summer Solstice Chumash blessing honoring the many world class athletes.

Activities include a myriad of surf events including paddleboard and surfcraft racing, lifeguard competitions, a California Beach Volleyball Association (CBVA) tournament, a bicycle race, the Call to the Wall surf contest, art show, Surfboard Water Polo, and a Film Presentation on the World Famous Malibu Pier.

Paddleboarders and Stand Up Paddlers from up and down the coast of California and all points on the watery globe will converge on Zuma Beach in Malibu, to compete for the coveted Tom Zahn Memorial Waterman’s Race title, and the inaugural Malibu Stand Up Surf Slalom at famed Surfrider at the Malibu Pier.

Winners of several of the Ocean events get their names on the new Malibu Perpetual Trophy hot curl redwood board.

The best paddlers in the country come here to brave the waters of the Malibu Coastline and test their paddling skills against a field of top competitors and to enjoy the unique setting that only the famous Malibu Coast can provide. They also come to pay their respects to surfing star, Paddleboard icon, and Lifeguard legend Rescue Boat Captain Tom Zahn. "THE ROLEX OF LIFEGUARDS AND WATERMAN".



(Photos above (x 2), Courtesy of LACo Rescue Boat Captain Jay Butki.)

The level of competition for the 8.5 nautical mile Tom Zahn race seems to increase year after year. The new 3 mile Stand Up Surf Slalom race is a great opportunity for beginning paddlers who aren’t quite ready to spend two hours giving it all they’ve got on the 8.5 mile course. Advanced Stand Up paddlers will also enjoy the 3 downwind surfing laps of the Surf Slalom course as well as the top finishers earn an invite to the Elite race at the 2009 Battle of the Paddle.

The Tom Zahn Memorial Waterman's Race is an open-ocean, near-shore race. Baywatch Rescue boats and lifeguard jet skis will be in the water for your safety. All Zahn Race competitors will be fed at the finish line. First 100 registered competitors will receive a Malibu Surf & Sport Festival Patagonia Race jersey. All registered competitors receive an event T-shirts. Oakley sunglasses for the top OVERALL finishers in the Tom Zahn Memorial Waterman's Race and the Malibu Stand Up Surf Slalom.


Visit www.ussupa.com for course maps and detailed registration information.

2009 Malibu Surf & Sport Festival Schedule:
Approximate event times:
Zuma Beach Tower 4
8:00 AM "THE JAKE" National Doryman’s Association SURFBOAT RACE
9:00 AM ZUMA 1/2 MILE ROUGH WATER SWIM
9:30 AM SURFSKI RACE-Men
9:40 AM SURFSKI RACE-Women
9:50 AM RUN-SWIM-RUN-Men
10:00 AM RUN-SWIM-RUN -Women
10:10 AM 10'6" PADDLEBOARD RACE-Men
10:20 AM 10'6" PADDLEBOARD RACE-Women
10:30 AM Kids BEACH FLAGS
10:45 AM BOARD RESCUE-Men
11:00 AM BOARD RESCUE -Women
11:15 AM NDA 3 LAP SURFBOAT RACE
11:30 AM 10' 6" PADDLEBOARD RELAY-3 Males
11:45 AM 10' 6" PADDLEBOARD RELAY-3 Females

12:30 PM Tom Zahn Memorial Waterman's Race-(8.5 nautical miles Zuma to Malibu Pier)

4:00 PM Malibu Stand Up Surf Slalom-(3 x 1 mile laps at Malibu Surfider )

5:00 PM Surfboard Water Polo (Malibu Pier)

5:00 PM Malibu Surf and Sport Summer Solstice Hookilau Party on Malibu Pier-Music, Food, Drink and performance art by Norton Wisdom

Pier Party ends 10 p.m.

See you on the Beach!


Race Sponsors:
Bud Light, Ford, Patagonia, Michelob Ultra, Anheuser Busch, Oakley, Spalding, 180 Energy Drink,
Becker, US Stand Up Association, California Beach Volleyball Association, Malibu Boardriders Club

About US Stand Up Paddleboard Association:
US SUPA s a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting stand up paddleboard racing and training and putting on quality events that benefit the sport, fostering stewardship of the local environment, and to share the stoke by providing an energetic vehicle to mesh the Stand Up Surf culture with other community groups.

About Beachsport.org:
Beachsport.org is your company's one stop access to the West Coast's most popular and heavily attended beaches. Beachsport was created as an Event Marketing arm for Scott Hubbell Productions. Incorporated in 1985, SHP inc. has an extensive experience in the fields of beach marketing, event promotions, and ocean sport competitions, with a diversified track record of providing production services for the film and television industry



Malibu Surf & Sport Festival-
Tom Zahn Memorial Waterman's Race

12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 20, 2009

Zuma Beach
30050 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA

Entry Fees:
$30 (or $50 for both the Tom Zahn Race and the Malibu Stand Up Surf Slalom)

Entry Forms: http://ussupa.com/Events%20_files/Stand%20up%20full%20info%20.pdf

The Tom Zahn Waterman's Race is 8.5 nautical miles long from Zuma Beach Lifeguard Tower #4 to Malibu Pier


12:30 p.m. Start offshore at the Zuma Lifeguard Tower 4 buoy
Paddle around Pt Dume & around Malibu Pier;
Finish on the beach below the Beachcomber Restaurant.

Refreshments for all participants at the finish line.

Divisions:
Unlimited Paddleboard,
14' Paddleboard,
12' Paddleboard,
Open Stand Up Paddleboard,
14' Stand Up Paddleboard,
12' 6 Stand Up Paddleboard
*1st - 3rd in the Men's and Women's 12' 6 class earns an invite to the Battle of the Paddle Elite Race

Unlimited Surfski,
Lifeguard Spec. surfski,
Dory

Malibu Surf & Sport Festival-
Malibu Stand Up Surf Slalom
4 p.m. Saturday, June 20, 2009

Malibu Pier
23000 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA

Entry Fees: $30
(or $50 for both the Tom Zahn Waterman's Race and the Malibu Stand Up Surf Slalom)
Registration form:
http://ussupa.com/Events%20_files/Stand%20up%20full%20info%20_1.pdf

4:00 p.m. MALIBU STAND UP PADDLEBOARD SURF SLALOM - 3 miles total distance.

Three 1 nautical mile laps of Stand Up Paddleboard racing at Malibu Pier

Lap 1-
Beach Start, Paddle to buoys offshore from Malibu Pier, right turn and paddle up to the Buoy off of Malibu Third Point, right turn and paddle downwind back towards the base of Malibu Pier along the First Point surf, right turn around the West Pier buoy

Lap 2-
after rounding the West Pier buoy, Paddle through the Pier and right turn around the East Pier buoy and right turn around the end of the Pier and back up to the Third Point buoy, right turn and paddle downwind back towards the base of Malibu Pier along the First Point surf, right turn around the West Pier buoy

Lap 3-
after rounding the West Pier buoy, Paddle through the Pier and right turn around the East Pier buoy and right turn around the end of the Pier and back up to the Third Point buoy, right turn round the Third Point buoy and paddle downwind along the First Point surf back towards Malibu Lifeguard Tower #1 for a beach funnel finish

Divisions:
14’ SUP fixed fin,
12’6” SUP fixed fin
* Battle of the Paddle Elite invite qualifiers for 1st-3rd Men & Women in the 12'6" class

*No Open class SUPs in the Malibu Stand Up Surf Slalom

For More info:

http://ussupa.com

http://beachsport.org/2009/malibu_surf_sports_festival.html


http://www.facebook.com/inbox/readmessage.php?t87082639859&f=1&e=0#/event.php?eid6487840260&ref=mf


Until next time...


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

Service • Training • Commitment

*** Keeping the County Recurrent "in the loop"..... whether he/she likes it or NOT ! ***

DISCLAIMER: County Recurrent is not affiliated with nor sponsored by LACOLA or LACoFD.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Chief Scott Davey Retires; ***Curfew Imposed in Southbay !

Dateline: Monday, June 1, 2009

A large crowd of family and friends, lifeguards and the Scott Davey fanbase congregated at the Kiwanis Youth Club in Hermosa Beach, Calif. to celebrate Scott's 38 year career as an LACo Ocean Lifeguard. Shortly after this event, a curfew was imposed by public safety officials in the southbay beach communities until Scott's replacement is named.

"County Recurrent" was able to snap some photos of this illustrious event and we hope you will enjoy them.


Some Old Timers observed on the sidewalk at 1830 hrs, just south of Gould Ave. on Valley Drive in Hermosa Beach.... as the event was just starting.


The Tiki Torches are Lit, The Barbecue is Smokin' and the Front Doors are open...


A couple of early imbibing guests, L2R: Donny Souther and Kenny Atkins.


Apologies to Scott Linkletter who looks like he wants to kick my ass for startling him, at left, with Mark Lozano, at right, the latter of which is a famed veteran of all three sections including several tours of duty in Central Section where he battled the raging surf and rips and currents...


The Master of Ceremonies, Steve Moseley, doing what he does so well


The Guest of Honor, upon his arrival, at 1850 hrs, with his wife and son, followed by a couple more Group Shots upon their entry.





Some guests at the other door... leading to the FOOD, which was Awesome!, including Chief Mike Frazer, at center


A Very Rare Photo of the Infamous "Atkins Brothers", L2R: Kenny and Dan.


L2R: Scott, donning a plastic ring buoy, which is a well known forbidden floating device prohibited on LACo beaches and perhaps the unlikeliest or ironic of props to mark Scott's retirement. Scott refused to have the photo taken without Lee in the photo, thus cementing the rumor that Scott is destined for Politics (see additional photo to follow later in this presentation on this rumor...)





LACo Recurrent, Surfer, Beatnik, Poet, Entrepreneur, Kip Jerger, who also won the evening's accolade, "Best Aloha Shirt", as designated and voted by the "County Recurrent" editorial staff.


The support staff, aka, "The Bartenders", L2R: Jay Hopkins and Ivan Wilkins.


The Moseley Boys, L2R: Steve and Max !


*** JJ *** *** Johnny Joseph Sticker Sighting *** Ivan Wilkins, Bartender, S.O.L., JJ - SMC Swim Team Alum, JJ Protege, proudly wearing his "JJ ISWAMFORJJ.COM" sticker !


LACo Supervisor, Don Knabe, at center, with Mr. and Mrs. Scott Davey on either side of him, celebrating Scott's 38 year career !


The Supervisor whispering and reminding Scott that starting tomorrow at 0800 hrs he is to report to the Supervisor's office to begin his grooming for replacing Don upon his retirement...


Harold Dunnigan, center, listening intently to a real rescue story without embellishments by his colleague and comrade in arms, Wayne.


Two Chiefs ! L2R, Don Rohrer and Randy DeGregori.


Two Chiefs and a Captain ! L2R: Tom Viren, Gary Crum, and Capt. Steve Moseley.


LACo Recurrent and LACOLA Rep. and College Professor, Arthur Verge, Ph.d, at left, with Kenny Atkins (center) and Jamie Orr.


LACo Capt. Kenny Atkins, at left, with Jamie Orr, at center; and Will Maguire, at right.


Jimmy Makuta, at left, with Ted Clair.


Capt. Angus Alexander filling out the Retirement Event Log Book and smiling for the camera, which he guessed correctly upon hearing me shout out his name.


The Two Chiefs Bookmarking Charlotte Graham, S.O.L. They look so much better now with Charlotte in between them.



Capt. Tracy Lizotte, at left; with his son, Dillon, at center; with Dave Story, at right.


LACo Chick Magnet, Assnt. Chief Phil Topar, at center, with his ladyfriend, at left; and, LACo Capt. Chris Linkletter, at right.







ZUMA LEGENDS x 3 ! L2R: Jake, Greg Pfeifer and John Baker.


Harold Dunnigan, at left, with Wayne, hamming and yamming it up.




Congratulations to Scott and his family ! "County Recurrent" has no idea who can replace Scott's enthusiasm, expertise, work ethic and integrity, but we know that he has imparted his wisdom to many lucky and fortunate colleagues. In the words of Harold Dunnigan, "Scott's dedication and unique contributions to LACOLA are immeasurable. We owe him and his family many thanks."

Aloha and Mahalo, Scott !


Until next time...


"County Recurrent" News

http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

Service • Training • Commitment

*** Keeping the County Recurrent "in the loop"..... whether he/she likes it or NOT ! ***

DISCLAIMER: County Recurrent is not affiliated with nor sponsored by LACOLA or LACoFD.

***LEGEND: *** = Parody Remark Only ! No actual curfew in effect.


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Friday, May 29, 2009

Attn: LACo Recurrents; Action Steps to Counter Proposed State Park Closures


( Photo above shows Leo Carrillo State Park, which is among the State Parks proposed to be closed; Photo source: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=616 )

Attn: LACo Recurrents

This is a two-part Informational and Action Communique to counter the proposed State of Calif. plans to close state parks, including state beach parks:


1. Courtesy of David Kupfer, May 29, 2009 7:47:33 PM PDT

Please take action now and click http://ga3.org/campaign/budget_may09 now to send letters to legislators and the Governor and http://www.calparks.org/takeaction/closurelist.html to see the full list of possible closures and legislators (see attachment).

The Governor's short-sighted proposal will impact every California resident. It is the very definition of "penny-wise, pound foolish". Consider the facts:

FACT: The General Fund budget that state parks receive accounts for less than 1/10 of one percent of the entire state budget.

FACT:
Cutting the General Fund contribution to State Parks would reduce the $23.4 billion deficit by only .25 percent.

FACT:
Last year alone, there were over 80 million visitors to state parks – and all indications are that this year was going to be even higher.

FACT: For every dollar that funds the parks, $2.35 is returned to the state's General Fund through economic activities in the communities surrounding the parks.

That means eliminating all funding for state parks could actually result in the state losing over $350 million dollars in revenue and untold number of jobs.

If you can attend Tuesday's Legislative Budget Conference Committee in Sacramento, it may be the only opportunity for public testimony in front of the Legislature on this issue.


2. Courtesy of LACo Recurrent, M. Spyder Thompson
, Ph.d, May 29, 2009 5:01:45 PM PDT;
Re: "this is totally unacceptable..."

Complete List Of State Parks Slated For Closure

Posted: 7:52 pm PDT May 28, 2009Updated: 7:42 am PDT May 29, 2009
SACRAMENTO -- These are the 220 state parks, state beaches, state recreation areas, museums and state reserves that officials say would be closed under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget cuts:

http://www.ktvu.com/news/19596396/detail.html

Your attention and consideration and efforts will be greatly appreciated.

Until next time...

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

Service • Training • Commitment

*** Keeping the County Recurrent "in the loop"..... whether he/she likes it or NOT ! ***

DISCLAIMER:
County Recurrent is not affiliated with nor sponsored by LACOLA or LACoFD.

LACo Recurrent, Lisa Dial-Timmerman Wins Prestigious Teaching Award !


Palisadian-Post

May 28, 2009, Page 3
"Timmerman's Teaching Passion"

Marquez first-grade teacher Lisa Timmerman has won a Lori Petrick Excellence in Education Award from the Palisades Charter Schools Foundation.


(Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer, Palisadian-Post)

Here is the link to the article online:

http://www.palisadespost.com/content/index.cfm?Story_ID=4885


Way to go Lisa !


Until next time.....

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

p.s. Blast from the past, Summer 1989 at SMHQ
(Photo courtesy of Will Maguire)


Third from left on hood of vehicle is Lisa Dial-Timmerman, with Jackie
Burke Carswell, second from left.

SMHQ, Santa Monica Crew Photo Session, Summer 1989.
In this photo, L2R: Dave Estey, Ralph Lee, Lisa Babcock, Dick Orr, Jackie Burke Carswell, Dan Atkins, Mike Frazer, Lisa Dial- Timmerman, Will Maguire, Yoko Shibata, Jeff Gains, Jay Hopkins, Garth Canning.

Friday, May 15, 2009

A Spring Smorgasbord


(Santa Monica South T-26. Photo by Mark Holtzman. Used here with permission).

I. First up in this Smorgasbord Blog Post:

Mark "Air Wolf" Holtzman, who started his lifeguard career in 1971 with the City of Santa Monica which merged with LACo in 1974.
For many years now, Mark has been an aerial photographer and helicopter pilot. Here are a few remarks which Mark shared at our request:

"Will, I started my lifeguard days as a Junior Guard in Santa Monica under Rudy Kroon & Herb Suskin. Became a guard in 1971 in a class with Duncan Henderson, Craig Cheetham, Totti, and Mazarella. The rescue I still remember was in October with a south swell at low tide. I was at Tower 26 & Doug Smith was just north of me. The waves were so big with no water underneath that we had a really hard time getting past them. Tom Zahn on the Baywatch left the pier about the same time we hit the water and was waiting as we finally got through. I remember being scraped up, sore and not wanting to . The rest of the day was spent keeping everyone out, which was definitely the smarter way. I had a great time being a Santa Monica Lifeguard. I think there were about 60 of us.

Here are a few recent pictures (above and below) taken in Santa Monica and Venice taken from my office!!

Mark Holtzman"


(The Venice Breakwater. Photo by Mark Holtzman. Used here with permission).

*** Thanks Mark ! Fantastic Photos !

--- --- ---

II. Next up, Eric Shargo
, Ph.d, LACo Recurrent and Pali High and SMC Alumnus, recently shared with us a story and photo from 'way back', which some of you may recall concerning the famed Malibu Canyon tunnel and some 'scandalous' artwork that appeared almost overnite.

Story and Photo Source:
http://www.americassuburb.com/gone.html

Pink Lady of Malibu Canyon



"On the morning of October 29, 1966, commuters in Malibu Canyon were shocked by a vision that seemed to appear overnight on a shear rock face. Cavorting on the cliff was a 60-foot-high, brilliant-pink figure of a joyfully nude maiden, clutching flowers. The mysterious Pink Lady became a national media sensation. Crowds came to gawk and to wonder who painted her and how. Throngs grew as the mystery deepened. County officials declared the Pink Lady a traffic hazard and attempted to remove her, but high-pressure water sprays only made her gleam more brightly. Paint remover didn't work. On the ground, her admirers became protective, heckling the county crews and signing petitions that called efforts to erase the Pink Lady "prudish, inartistic, inhuman and apathetic."

When the creator stepped forward, shock reigned again. Lynne Seemayer, a 31-year-old artist and mother who lived in Northridge, had spent nights for several months hanging from ropes in the dark drawing the outline. In one marathon session, she applied the paint then went home to make breakfast for her kids. Acclaim and proposals of marriage rolled in, plus offers to join nudist groups. She also got hate mail and a bill from the county. People read all kinds of meaning into the Pink Lady, but Seemayer explained, "I did it simply as an art piece, and that was all." Fourteen gallons of drab gray paint ended the Pink Lady's short life although for a decade afterward a faint outline could be glimpsed over the tunnel mouth."

*** Thanks Sharkman !

--- --- ---

III. Recently, we also received the following photo from retired recurrent beach lifeguard, Erwin "Erkie" Cheldin, and friend of the much loved and revered (and now deceased), Don Wolf.

"Dear Will: Thought you'd like to see this. It's not such a good shot, but it's all I have. Take care. Sincerely, Erkie Cheldin"


(Photo by Evening Outlook. Photo/article clipping courtesy of Erkie Cheldin (erkie@roadrunner.com).

When I inquired as to the date of this photo, Erkie replied as follows:

"Hi Will: Early 50's. As you know Don is not with us any more. He was one great guy and I miss him. Those where some great times. The Cole twins, Buz Trent Kiven Grant and so many more. Sincerely, Erkie."

Additionally, County Recurrent" inquired of Lifeguard History Prof. Arthur Verge, Ph.d as to whether he had any comments about this photo and he replied: "Will - since it is an Evening Outlook photo the original shot will be with the Santa Monica Historical Society."

*** Many thanks to Erkie for sharing this great photo of him and his dory partner, Don Wolf. Thanks as well to both Erkie and Arthur for their editorial comments with respect to this same photo.

--- --- ---

IV. And Last But Certainly Not Least...
just in from the Central American country of Guatemala where one of LACO's and S.M. City's Finest, albeit retired, ocean lifeguard living legends is now living, "County Recurrent" is pleased to announce that Bill Asturias.......

is now a Grandfather and the photo below shows Bill with his granddaughter Sofia, as forwarded to us on May 7, 2009. Congratulations Grandpa Bill. Please extend our collective Best Wishes to you and yours !


(Photo courtesy of Bill Asturias).

*** Thanks for sharing that great photo and great news with us, Bill !

----- ----- ----- ----- -----

Until next time.....



"County Recurrent" News



http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com
email: will.maguire@verizon.net

Service • Training • Commitment

*** Keeping the County Recurrent "in the loop"..... whether he/she likes it or NOT ! ***


DISCLAIMER: County Recurrent is not affiliated with nor sponsored by LACOLA or LACoFD.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

When This Rip Struck a Rescue was only a light Schwich away...


(Bradd Schwichtenberg, kickin' it in Florida; photo courtesy of Bradd)

"County Recurrent"
is once again pleased to present yet another epic LACo Recurrent rescue, this time right in front of Central Section HQ, as SMS Tower 16, back in the 1980's. This time, it is LACo Recurrent, Bradd Schwichtenberg, who is telling the story of that day fateful day when the Big Vacuum Cleaner out to sea began hoovering out to sea...

"I was working Santa Monica Tower 16 on a sunny day right in front of the Santa Monica Lifeguard Headquarters, just south of the Santa Monica pier. It was getting near the middle of the day, waves were medium size, but the bottom was chewed up, rips were beginning to pull. I became more and more nervous, finally I called HQ “where is my late man” “he is on a workout and will be there soon", the voice on the other end assured me. No sooner had I set down the phone when a massive rip cut loose right in front of my tower. I flipped my phone, grabbed my can, ran down my ramp, across the berm and into the water. I yelled at a couple of people heading into the spot to swim “Danger, large rip, move down the beach 400 yards, get out of the water, now”. As I got into knee-deep water I began to high step it. I saw a man frantically waving for me who was in waist deep water “help, help, help” he screamed in a panic. You’re ok, walk in, don’t try to swim, walk, in” I shouted over the roar of the surf. I had my eye on someone further out that looked like he was in big trouble. I flipped my can free, put the sash over my shoulder, and began to swim through the waves at full speed towards the victim. In a couple of minutes I reached him, exhausted, he immediately grabbed onto the can. This one would not have made it I thought.


(Photo show SMS Tower 16 in background, circa Winter 2009, with new Dept.
Ford Escape Hybrid Rescue Vehicle in foreground; Photo by Will Maguire)

Most rips I had encountered were mild enough - that I could swim a victim back to shore straight through the rip or certainly at an angle parallel to shore. No matter how hard I swam, parallel to shore, we could not get out of the rip. After about 5 minutes, my backup guard showed up. The victim was now on two cans being swum out by two guards, parallel to shore. Surely we could get him out together I thought. This was not the case. No matter how hard we both swam, we could not get out. We swam, and we swam, then we rested, then we swam some more. I suppose eventually we would have made it, but this rip was relentless. Finally, we were relieved to see Baywatch Santa Monica pull up. Get in the skipper yelled as the boat swung around. The deck hand hoisted the victim aboard. We climbed in over the transom after him, exhausted.

We rested for a few minutes, while the skipper motored to another stretch of beach out of the rip. With the skill that only comes from years of experience, he gingerly backed the boat through the surf line in a lull between sets. We jumped off and easily swam the victim to shore while he punched it through the oncoming surf. Walking back to my tower I reflected on the rescue. As the song says “I get by with a little help from my friends”; in this case a couple of hundred horsepower from Baywatch Santa Monica didn’t hurt either."

--- --- --- --- ---

Thanks Bradd ! Well done.


(Photo shows Bradd, in close-up, circa 2009)

"Bradd was in the LACO rookie school of 1976 which he recalls included the likes of Less Wulk Barkley, Mike Newman, Ron Pearlman, Tom Katsouleas and Tony Whitmore. He has been on schedule in Venice and Manhattan Beach and worked the beach through 1994. Since his days on the beach, Bradd for many years has been a civil engineer with the Army Corps of Engineers. In addition to being responsible all for coastal, navigation, and ecosystem restoration studies for the state of Florida, he is on the Corps National Urban Search and Rescue team. He lives with this wife and family in Florida. Bradd grew up in Pacific Palisades where he swam for many years with the Palisades YMCA age group swim team. He later swam at Pali High for Coach Dave Anderson and for Johnny Joseph at SMC. At Pali, Bradd swam with such future LACo lifeguards as Eric Shargo, Eric Moore, Devon Clark, Mike Newman, the undersigned, Les Wulk Barkley, and this is just to name a few. At SMC, on Bradd's team were even more teammates who also became LACo Recurrents and included Arthur Verge, Bill Bischoff, Bruce Stahl, Roy Salter, Jeff Anderson, Terry Hearst, Mike Broneau, Kieran Graner, Tom Katsouleas, Mike Moses..."

Until next time...

Will Maguire
"County Recurrent" News

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