The Zuma Trophy Room!

The Trophies and Awards that blanket the stairwell at Zuma Lifeguard Headquarters kind of reminds us of a pirates cave full of gold, jewelry and trinkets. It's that stunning and vast! Want to feel inspired? Step on up to the first landing between the ground and second floor and look up and down, sideways and backwards and you will be mesmerized by all of the awards and THE NAMES of Legendary LACo Lifeguard Competitors. It is the recognition and inscription of the names of hundreds of lifeguards that further establishes this spot as a place of reverence and respect. To see the names of so many lifeguards is truly a testament to the mutual respect Zuma guards have for one another. Some of them are still on duty, some have gone on to other jobs or the great beyond but none of them will be forgotten because their names are right there for anyone to see and acknowledge, remember and to smile at their memory.

We could write stories till the end of time about each individual whose made it up here in this hallowed hallway of lifeguarding competition. Yes, it's Impressive and it is also Inspiring! You cannot help but walk away changed and excited. Of course, the 53 degree water out front will also leave you excited and with a smile on your face as you run across the sand, slam your feet in the bucket at the front door and quickly get under the hot water of the shower.

In any case, feast your eyes because this time around we took pictures of EVERYTHING! When we last did a Zuma Drive By on Oct. 1, 2011, we only took a few photos of these trophies. This time around, however, you get to see them all. File under: Woo Hoo ! Enjoy!

p.s. and we've heard from some of the guards whose names appear on these trophies so look for those as well as we have incorporated them herein, with their consent. Thanks to all !







(Reputed) Trophy Husband, below... :-); and Certified LACo Lifeguard Captain




From: Robert Burnside
Subject: Re: Zuma Guards: 1958 - 1967 AND 1968 - 1974
Date: March 17, 2011
To: Will Maguire
Thanks for the memories!
Zoooooooooooooooooma!

Bob

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From: Tom Viren
Subject: Re: Zuma Guards: 1958 - 1967 AND 1968 - 1974
Date: March 17, 2011

Nice job with the articles Will. I started in 1962 and Finished in 2001, so I have seen a lot of paddles and names. For many years Norton Wisdom penned the names to the boards when he was in the Northern Section. Rob is right about it being a special place for LA CO Lifeguards. They may move to other Sections but they will always remember their time as a Zuma Guard.











From: Mark Jalving
Subject: RE: Zuma Guards: 1958 - 1967 AND 1968 - 1974
Date: March 21, 2011

My notice was the names of those I knew who are no longer with us:

Gar Steiner
Dave Heck
Jim Krauss
Sheridan Beyerly
Lew Evans
Bud McKinley
Ted Davis
Jack Campbell
and others whom I'm not aware of or never knew

May God rest their souls and bless them for the rescues they made and the lives they saved.

Mark Jalving






*** With respect to the above three photos of the longboard trophy featuring lifeguards from 1958 - 1967, check out what Cal Porter just sent to us via email !

From: Cal Porter
Subject: RE: Zuma Guards: 1958 - 1967 AND 1968 - 1974
Date: March 17, 2011
To: Will Maguire

Hi,
The first three photos in your e-mail are of my old balsa redwood board, an early Pacific Systems model. I bought it in 1939 from Chauncey Granstrom who was a guard with Santa Monica in the early 30’s, then guarded for the County at S.M. Canyon in the later 30’s. Chauncey worked out in the Venice Plunge when I was a guard there. I knew the board, paid him 15 dollars for it when he decided he was going to get a new one, and hung up my old Tom Blake paddleboard. I donated it to be the first name board on the wall of the old Zuma station. I wanted the earliest names of all of us that worked there in the 1940’s on the board but somehow it ended up with the 1958 crew being the first guards on the wall. I surfed that board until the early 50’s. The legend, Pete Peterson, reshaped it for me twice as the years went by. Cal

(Photo above courtesy of Cal Porter. Photo shows Cal "back in the day" with this same longboard that once having served several owners well for decades of surfing and paddling lived on to an even more profound mission as a Zuma trophy piece.)



From: spike beck
Subject: RE: Zuma Guards: 1958 - 1967 AND 1968 - 1974
Date: March 17, 2011

I love those paddle boards ---------------one thing that i remember is when Jerry Cunningham came to Zuma as a Captain from South Bay. I loved working for Jerry, as did everyone I know - but for some reason, he just hated those boards, oars, pics etc. He thought they were clutter and wanted them "out of there". If I remember right, Jerry got promoted, and wasn't at Zuma long enough to follow through on his wish -----plus he was met with overwhelming resistance.
I just wish my name was on more of them -----
spike



From: Rob McGowan
Subject: RE: Zuma Guards: 1958 - 1967 AND 1968 - 1974
Date: March 17, 2011

Will,

VERY NICE . . . I have very fond memories of my days in the Northern Section and feel it is a special place, unlike most others, in not only L.A. County, but in any lifeguard service. I will always feel privileged to have been a Malibu – Zuma Lifeguard because they are like no others! Thanks for the memories.

Rob









































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That's all Folks !

All Photos by Will Maguire, March 10, 2011, unless otherwise indicated.


Until next time.....


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

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*** 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.

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"The Zuma Buoy Swim"

Legend has it that the buoy off Zuma Lifeguard Headquarters is a symbol of lifeguard fitness. In fact, there is a tradition at Zuma Beach where a swim out to a buoy is not just a buoy, but is something along the order of a right of passage and a respected measure of fitness. Rumor has it that then Lt. Burnside started this tradition back in the early 1960's and required all recurrent lifeguards to swim out to the buoy and back before their shift for the first two weeks of summer.

In keeping with this tradition, "County Recurrent" sent one of its reporters out there yesterday morning at 0800 hrs to see what this was all about. We are also hopeful that we will hear from Zuma veteran lifeguards about their experiences with the Zuma buoy swim so that we can add their remarks to this blog post.

In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this photo collage of our trip out and back to the Zuma buoy... in water that was 53 degrees Fahrenheit!!!...

















































Be sure to check out our short video of the Zuma Buoy at the end of this blog post.

Also, just in from LACo Chief, Bob Burnside, Ret., this evening of March 11, 2011; Re: Zuma Buoy Swim:

"It became a fun challenge at times... One racing against the other... also challenges as to sprints thru the surf and back. Also, had the gang do in and outs... full speed... It was a fun time... and really never heard anyone cry about the water temp etc. Besides a workout, one of the big reasons was that Zuma water temp. was always far colder that south bay... We felt when it hit 60 degrees, we had arrived for summer temps.

Remember, even though the crew complained a little as they grabbed their freezing balls hanging in their sexy speedos... as I grinned watching them take those early spring swims in sometimes 58 degree zuma water temps...they always came out with a smile and as a family they knew and accepted that everyone was going thru the same agony... It paid off, however, as on those early spring and summer rescues, they new what to expect. I was always so proud of them. The best lifeguards in the world passed thru Zuma. They were and surely are still a "Team"... and "making rescues as a team"... working, playing as a team....Ala the Zuma "Village" which was part of the great tradition this section had... and hopefully will always hang onto... Bob















---

*** Many Thanks to Bob Burnside for his remarks on the tradition of the Zuma buoy swim.
Any of the rest of you Zuma guards want to share some memories about this tradition, please let us know.

All photos by Will Maguire. Used here with permission.

*** *** ***

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.

*** PLEASE forward to other Recurrents, past and present, so that we can add them to our mailing list. ***

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King Harbor: Something Smells Fishy?!.....

(Photo source: L.A. Times)

P.U.! Is it just me or does King Harbor stink. If you were there yesterday, March 8, 2011, you would definitely have SMELT it. We're talking lots of "anchovies" and we are not talking pizza! Sardines! Break out the calculator because there were too many to count.

Seems like a ton of small fish took a wrong turn and headed into King Harbor, where they suffocated due to a lack of oxygen in the water in this confined space because there were just too many of the little suckers!

(Photo source: Examiner.com & Getty Images)

Our advice, if you are planning a trip to the south bay anytime soon, is DO NOT order pizza with anchovies. Trust us on this one!

10-4

---

Additional resources:

1. Redondo Beach fish die-off: Tests show oxygen levels at 'almost zero'

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/redondo-beach-dead-fish-oxygen-levels-zero.html
---

2. New wildlife mass deaths: millions of dead fish off California coast
Examiner.com
http://www.examiner.com/libertarian-in-national/new-wildlife-mass-deaths-millions-of-dead-fish-off-california-coast-photo

---

3. LA mystery as millions of fish float belly up in harbour

The Sydney Morning Herald
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/la-mystery-as-millions-of-fish-float-belly-up-in-harbour-20110309-1bn8m.html

*** *** ***

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.

*** PLEASE forward to other Recurrents, past and present, so that we can add them to our mailing list. ***

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"Thar she blows", by Capt. Jeff McConnel

Just in from the Big Island of Hawaii are a few absolutely outstanding photos of humpback whales taken by retired L.A. City and LACo recurrent beach lifeguard, Jeff McConnel. One of these photos was recently published by MSNBC on its website, as follows:

Per Jeff: "check out the photo credit on the whale article.... scroll down once you get to this site:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41851707/ns/travel-travel_tips/

aloha,

captain jeff mcconnel

---

From MSNBC:

* Watch for whales

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41851707/ns/travel-travel_tips/


(Photo above by Capt. Jeff McConnel / Courtesy HawaiiOceanSports.com)

"Whale-watching boats can get within 100 yards of these giant creatures. Several species of whales visit the Big Island waters year-round, but January through April is the best time to see giant humpback whales. Up to 7,000 of the 45-ton, 40-foot-long (on average) creatures seek out the tropical Hawaiian waters to breed and give birth to calves. Humpbacks can be seen surfacing, tail slapping and blowing spouts from many spots on the shore, but for a closer look, join a whale-watching boat tour with Hawaii Ocean Sports or one of the many other companies that will make sure you get as close as legally possible to the visiting whales.

Tip: A good spot to look for whales from land is from Buddha Point (just beyond the dolphin pool) at the 62-acre Hilton Waikoloa Village. It’s on the island’s Kohala Coast, about a 20-minute drive north of Kona International Airport."

*** *** ***

And here are a few more photos by Jeff that he has taken in the past couple of weeks now that the whales are off the west coast of the Big Island for their mating season.

Ever seen a breaching whale ? Well, now you have.




And we've saved the Best For Last. Get a look at the Flying Humpback below !







(With respect to the above photo of the flying/breaching whale, per Jeff: "Interestingly enough, it is believed that the humpback does not start from any great depth for its ascent to breach. The tail or peduncle muscle (the largest in the animal kingdom) produces around 5,000 hp and kicks only once or twice to b...reach!! In short, scientifically speaking: WOW!)

---

All Photos herein are Copyright Jeff McConnel 2011. All Rights Reserved. Used here with permission.

Many Thanks to Jeff for sharing these amazing photos of his and his comments. Absolutely Fantastic!

*** *** ***


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.

*** PLEASE forward to other Recurrents, past and present, so that we can add them to our mailing list. ***

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Tamarindo: Kilroy Was Here !

(Photo of Tamarindo Beach above by Bob Kilroy. Used here with permission.)


( Map Source above: http://aquatamarindo.com/images/mapa-tamarindo.jpg )

"County Recurrent" News is pleased to present a few remarks from one of our finest veteran LACo Recurrent's, Robert "Bob" Kilroy, D.C., who recently returned from Costa Rica where he vacations as often as possible. So without further adieu...

"Tamarindo, Costa Rica, is a beautiful crescent moon beach, which had there been any surf, would make for some excellent surfing, as they say, “for kids of all ages”. When we were there the surf was small to nothing, but the current was such that it brought schools of sardines into the beach that were so dense, in knee deep water, you could barely see your feet. The line up of surf boards was replaced by a line up of local fishermen, who were having a bonanza.



Like on any beach I was drawn to the guard tower. It provided a great view of the beach, but potentially problematic descent to the sand.


As I stood there contemplating the virtues and faults of this design, a guy came up and introduced himself as the lifeguard or salvavida. When he found out that I did not want surf lessons and did not want to buy some weed, he had no interest in talking with me any further about guarding these beaches.



An hour or so to the north, near the Nicaragua border, is Olie’s Point. Named after Oliver North who used a nearby airstrip to smuggle arms to the Contras. One of North’s cargo planes that crashed in the ocean was salvaged from the sea by some Costa Rican’s and converted into a bar. These people love to recycle. Olie’s Point has a fabulous fast moving and hollow right and was recently featured in Endless Summer II.

---

All photos above by Bob Kilroy. Used here with permission.

Many thanks to Bob for sharing his photos and remarks about his most recent trip to Costa Rica with all of us. Bob has been an LACo Recurrent for over 30 years and when he is not getting his days in at the beach you will find him at his chiropractic office in West Los Angeles.

*** *** ***

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.

*** PLEASE forward to other Recurrents, past and present, so that we can add them to our mailing list. ***

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"New Facts Unearthed on the First Lifeguard Swift Water Rescue", Cal Porter

(A Flooding San Gabriel River, above. Photo courtesy of Cal Porter.)

Just in from Cal Porter:

"New Facts Unearthed on the First Lifeguard Swift Water Rescue"

"Due to the diligent research by B. Chris Brewster, President of the U.S. Lifesaving Assn., new facts have been unearthed regarding this first known swift water rescue by beach lifeguards in Los Angeles County. Chris dug up an article in the old Los Angeles Herald newspaper of January 9, 1910 describing the rescue on the San Gabriel River which took place on Sunday, January 2, 1910. Lifeguards George “Mac” McManus and Adolph Toenjes were rushed to the scene by sheriff’s car and effected the rescue by boat of a family of four stranded in their home in the middle of the flood. In discussing this event with Mac back in the 1940’s, when we lifeguarded together at Santa Monica Canyon, he remembered the date as 1911 (actually the year of a bigger flood) and not 1910, but he only missed it by a year. At that time he didn’t remember the name of his fellow lifeguard on the rescue (Adolph), and he recounted that they saved a family of three not four, but many years had passed since that day long ago. Adolph was seriously injured resulting in blood poisoning when he became entangled in barb wire while making the rescue. In writing the story of this rescue I researched the newspaper archives of 1911 and found no reporting of the event. So thanks to Chris for researching further, back to 1910, and getting the full newspaper account of this first swift water rescue by beach lifeguards."


(Above, an additional photo of a Flooding San Gabriel River. Photo courtesy of Cal Porter.)

Respectfully,
Cal Porter

-----

Editor's notes:

1. To see the original story by Cal, check out the following link:

Friday, February 18, 2011

"1911: The Very First Lifeguard Swift Water Rescue", by Cal Porter

http://countyrecurrent.blogspot.com/2011/02/1911-very-first-lifeguard-swift-water.html


2. Here is the link and the text from the Jan. 9, 1910 front page article from the L.A. Herald:

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042462/1910-01-09/ed-1/seq-21/ocr/

L.A. Herald, January 9, 1910

"LIFESAVERS NEED OF OUTFIT VENICE CORPS IS POORLY
EQUIPPED SHOULD HAVE MOTOR BOAT AND ACCESSORIES
Adolph Toenjes, Hero of San Gabriel Flood, Is Laid Up as Result of Daring Rescue Work
VENICE, Jan. S.— Tardy, but nevertheless hearty, appreciation by the public of their heroic services has resulted in greatly brightening the spirits of members of the Venice volunteer life saving corps. The agitation being made to procure the necessary funds to furnish tho corps with modern life-saving apparatus of the most improved type is watched by the boys with deep interest. Hope is expressed on all hands that the agitation may result in benefit to the crew in a very substantial nature. The recent exploit of the Venice life savers in rescuing four persons from their dangerous predicament in their little home surrounded by the flood waters of San Gabriel river In Los Nietos valley has attracted more attention than ever before to the self-sacrificing work of tho young men composing the Venice volunteer corps. This most recent performance of the boys was the climax to a series of activities in life saving extending over three years that probably equals the record of any similar organization in the United States. It is gratifying, indeed, declare members of the corps, to see that the great mass of people directly and indirectly affected by their work on the beach, have come to realize the importance of the life savers to this community. At a meeting a few weeks ago the members of the life saving corps reorganized, shedding the name of "United States Volunteer" and adopting the name "Venice Volunteer" corps. The boys had been induced to associate themselves with the government volunteer service with the promise of financial support, but the support never materialized. Funds for the maintenance of the life saving work are provided by citizens of the beaches - particularly the various civic organizations and women's clubs. Frequently entertainments are held by the latter, at which small sums are realized for the corps. None of the members receives a cent for his work, but engages in it purely from a heroic spirit and a desire to aid humanity in distress. Each member of the crew, is employed in or around Venice, and whenever the life saving alarm is given, drops his work and hastens quickly to the station at the end of the Venice pier. One case is recorded where a member lost his position for not responding to an alarm, but fortunately such instances are rare. By a recent arrangement with the Los Angeles Pacific railway, brought about through the agency of President Fred K. McCarver of the Venice Chamber of Commerce, the railway company agrees to haul the life boat and paraphernalia of the corps to any point on its lines In case of an emergency, free of cost and furnish a special car for the purpose. By this means, the field of the lifesavers is expanded to take in the beach northward to the long wharf and southward to Redondo Beach.

Tom Wilae Is captain of the corps, with his brother, George Wilde, second lieutenant, and Adolph Toenjea second lieutenant. John Molitor Is quarter master. The following are members of the corps, being ranked as surfmen, shoremen and boatmen: George McManus, Alex Gray, Dan I£nl , Stanley Tawasend, David Moreno, Albert Romero, Marcus Lee, Henry Toenjes, Harry Kouck, John Makin, R. Yarnell and Clifford Bowes, mascot. An executive committee, which directs the actions of the life savers in time of need is composed of Capt. P. Grant, Capt. W. King, G. L. Anderson and George Hubbard.

The equipment of the life saving corps is very inadequate, in the opinion of those familiar with the operation of life saving stations on the Atlantic coast and Great Lakes. An eighteen foot, four-oared life boat is the only craft available when the boys are compelled to make a trip beyond the surf. A small number of corl; jackets and life buoys, with line, make up the balance of the paraphernalia. A motor life boat, = unsinkable and capable of great speed, such a type as that in use at government life saving stations, is greatly desired by the Venice corps to place it in position to lend quicker aid to drowning persons. In addition to this a long list of life saving accessories would have to be provided for the corps before It could be considered firmly established. Adolph Toenjes. who "with George McManus, braved the torrential writers of San Gabriel last Sunday, was injured in the right log by becoming entangled in a barbed-wire fence. Little attention was paid to the injury at first, but it has since developed a possibility of blood poisoning, according to the attending physician. Toenjes is now practically laid up as a result of his volunteer life saving work.

3. Some additional remarks from Cal regarding the status of the Venice plunge and beach lifeguards in 1910:

"...the paid Venice Plunge Guards, starting in the early 1900’s, in addition to guarding the pool also guarded the beach and surf in front of the plunge, as is evidenced in the 1922 photo below. There was a tower there and equipment labeled Venice Bath House. Mac, at the bottom of the photo, told of the frequent ocean rescues due to the mostly non-swimmers in those days. Of course when I worked the plunge in the 30’s the L.A. City Lifeguards were out front taking care of the water. However, we could see out the large glass windows what was happening out there and we did run out to help once in a while if needed because many of the victims were people out of the plunge. When I was old enough I left the plunge and became an L.A. City Beach Guard myself, with a raise from 35 cents an hour to 75 cents an hour."

(Photo above, from 1922, on the beach in front of the Venice plunge, courtesy of Cal Porter.)


*** *** ***

Many Thanks to Cal Porter and Chris Brewster for their continuing efforts to bring stories of interest to our readership.

10-4


Until next time.....


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

("Seven Towers". Photo above by & Copyright Will Maguire 2011. All Rights Reserved.)

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.

*** PLEASE forward to other Recurrents, past and present, so that we can add them to our mailing list. ***

*** OPT IN *** Just send us an email and we will add you to the list.


***** ***** ***** ***** *****