Will
Share them with everybody!
Thanks again
Larry
*** Many Thanks To Larry!
All photos by & Copyright Larry Raffaelli 2013. Used here with permission.
Until next time.....
"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com
Friday, April 5, 2013
Bobby's Beachside Memorial Service: The Photos, by LACo OL, Larry Raffaelli
Dateline: Thursday, April 4, 2013 at Santa Monica South Tower #26, at 10 a.m., the beachside memorial service for Robert "Bobby" Chavez was held. Here are the wonderful photos that Larry Raffaelli took and gave us permission to share.
Will
Share them with everybody!
Thanks again
Larry
*** Many Thanks To Larry!
All photos by & Copyright Larry Raffaelli 2013. Used here with permission.
Until next time.....
"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com
Will
Share them with everybody!
Thanks again
Larry
*** Many Thanks To Larry!
All photos by & Copyright Larry Raffaelli 2013. Used here with permission.
Until next time.....
"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com
Celebrating The Life of Bobby Chavez
Yesterday, April 4, 2013 in the late morning, friends and family of Bobby Chavez gathered at Rusty's Surf Ranch on the Santa Monica Pier to celebrate the life of our beloved lifeguard pal, Robert "Bobby" Chavez. Bruce Saylors told me a story about Bobby one year participating in a one mile swim from P.O.P. to the Santa Monica Pier during a south swell and swimming and body surfing inside the surf line the whole way! I am hoping that Bruce will write this up. Sam Bertolet said there were many Bobby Chavez stories. He recently shared one of those stories with all of us in the separate blog post entitled, "Bobby's Flying El Camino".
---
Also, just heard today from legendary (in his own mind... his words, not mine!) (albeit, now retired) Santa Monica City beach lifeguard and LACo OL, Greg Jackson, and he remarked as follows about his pal, Bobby Chavez:
"Bobby coached me swimming in Jr High and was always on my case in a very good way while I was lifeguarding. As you know, not everyone was invited to work on the boats, you had to add something. Tom Zahn found out I was a competitive sailor, Olympic trials and all that stuff, and Bobby put a good word in for me (he also called me and told me not to screw up, he knew where I lived).
"He was such a great guy….. definitely a mentor….. when I was at SMN Tower #15 after work I’d meet up with those guys at Sinbad’s on the pier….. George Merritt, Rex, Bobby, Tom Johnson, Ando, couple of the harbor guys. All I remember is 3 or 4 screwdrivers lined up in front of me and Curt Ando sneaking out the back, and having to walk my bike home because I couldn’t ride……..
Those guys were serious… some still are….
J"
---
And just in earlier this evening from none other than Jimmy Makuta hisself... here's a great little story he related:
"A quick one on Bob. When we were with Santa Monica City, Bob would be the skipper of L-1, the rescue boat, now known as BWSM, when Zahn had his days off. Nick Steers was the deckhand. We would surf SMS T-18, Chavez and Steers would come by on their patrol of Santa Monica South. When they would see us by T-18, Steers would pay out about 25yds of tow line, Bob would tow us from the SM pier to POP pier, about 10-15 knts .Some times Steers would have two lines attached to the samson post and there were two of us surfing behind the boat. It was the best!..... all in the name of boat training...... of course!
Rest in peace Bob"
---
Below are some of the photos that I took yesterday at Rusty's which show many of our lifeguards, family and friends that came together to acknowledge our pal, Bobby. I am sure going to miss his smile which said so much about his character. He is with all of us in spirit for evermore.
Will Maguire, Editor
---
Also, just heard today from legendary (in his own mind... his words, not mine!) (albeit, now retired) Santa Monica City beach lifeguard and LACo OL, Greg Jackson, and he remarked as follows about his pal, Bobby Chavez:
"Bobby coached me swimming in Jr High and was always on my case in a very good way while I was lifeguarding. As you know, not everyone was invited to work on the boats, you had to add something. Tom Zahn found out I was a competitive sailor, Olympic trials and all that stuff, and Bobby put a good word in for me (he also called me and told me not to screw up, he knew where I lived).
"He was such a great guy….. definitely a mentor….. when I was at SMN Tower #15 after work I’d meet up with those guys at Sinbad’s on the pier….. George Merritt, Rex, Bobby, Tom Johnson, Ando, couple of the harbor guys. All I remember is 3 or 4 screwdrivers lined up in front of me and Curt Ando sneaking out the back, and having to walk my bike home because I couldn’t ride……..
Those guys were serious… some still are….
J"
---
And just in earlier this evening from none other than Jimmy Makuta hisself... here's a great little story he related:
"A quick one on Bob. When we were with Santa Monica City, Bob would be the skipper of L-1, the rescue boat, now known as BWSM, when Zahn had his days off. Nick Steers was the deckhand. We would surf SMS T-18, Chavez and Steers would come by on their patrol of Santa Monica South. When they would see us by T-18, Steers would pay out about 25yds of tow line, Bob would tow us from the SM pier to POP pier, about 10-15 knts .Some times Steers would have two lines attached to the samson post and there were two of us surfing behind the boat. It was the best!..... all in the name of boat training...... of course!
Rest in peace Bob"
---
Below are some of the photos that I took yesterday at Rusty's which show many of our lifeguards, family and friends that came together to acknowledge our pal, Bobby. I am sure going to miss his smile which said so much about his character. He is with all of us in spirit for evermore.
"A Toast To Bobby"!...
Vaya con dios, amigo!
Rest in peace, Bobby.
(All photos by & Copyright Will Maguire 2013.)
*** And Many Thanks to Bruce Saylors, Greg Jackson and Jimmy Makuta for sharing some memories of Bobby with all of us.
10-4
-----
Until next time.....
"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
"Bobby's Flying El Camino", by Sam Bertolet and Harry Varnas
Just in from Harry Varnas by way of Sam Bertolet:
From: "Varnas, Harry"
Date: 04/03/2013 2:45 PM (GMT-08:00)
Subject: Bobby Chavez Story
Hi Will,
Sam was telling me a story about Bobby and Santa Monica pier. Please include it with Bobby's other info. Sam says ok to publish it.
Sincerely,
Harry Varnas
---
Lifeguards operated from two rescue boats consisting of the L1 which was the twin engine boat and the L2 which was the single engine. We would have two deckhands assisting the boat skippers during the summer months. Rescue calls involved rental boats getting swept through the rocks along with strong rip current rescues at the T14 point. The water’s edge started near the bike path by the old Boat house which is now Bubba Gump's.
---
Many Thanks to Sam and Harry for sharing this great story with all of us.
10-4
***
From: "Varnas, Harry"
Date: 04/03/2013 2:45 PM (GMT-08:00)
Subject: Bobby Chavez Story
Hi Will,
Sam was telling me a story about Bobby and Santa Monica pier. Please include it with Bobby's other info. Sam says ok to publish it.
Sincerely,
Harry Varnas
---
Bobby ‘s Flying El Camino
By Harry Varnas
Sam Bertolet
recalls his early days working with Bobby Chavez as a Santa Monica City
guard. Bobby worked as a lifeguard boat
operator and deckhand. He was a tinkerer and thinker and could fix many things
on the boats. He also taught the senior lifesaving at Santa
Monica College pool which helped us new guards get our training
certificates. He helped coach swimming
with the legendary Coach J.J.
Bobby was a no nonsense fellow. When he found out I wanted to be a beach
lifeguard, he made sure during training that I could not break his holds when
we did our drills in the deep diving pool.
He would jump in, sink to the bottom and I’d struggle to get him off my
back. He never let me win the first
time. He was fair but believed you had
to earn it.
In the sixties, the old Santa Monica pier
was in full operation. The activity on
the pier made it a wild place. People
could drive their cars to the end of the pier.
There was Pete Peterson’s boat launch hoist where he would place your
boat in the water. You could then park
your car and walk down a ramp to your boat.
Next to Pete Peterson's, were two big party boats and Pelton's Boat Rentals.
Lifeguards operated from two rescue boats consisting of the L1 which was the twin engine boat and the L2 which was the single engine. We would have two deckhands assisting the boat skippers during the summer months. Rescue calls involved rental boats getting swept through the rocks along with strong rip current rescues at the T14 point. The water’s edge started near the bike path by the old Boat house which is now Bubba Gump's.
After work some
of the guards and patrolmen would hang out at the local watering holes. If a guard was needed for an after-hours
response, it would not be hard to contact one at places like Mobys, Simbad's or Chez
Jay's. After getting someone out of Sinbad's once or twice, however, you never did it
again.
Hence, we
could call Bobby as he lived close by.
His car was a blue Chevy Camino and I would wait and watch the top of
the pier. It was fun to watch him arrive. His car looked like it was flying off
Colorado Boulevard then down the incline and up the pier. But that, of course, was because Bobby was
being chased by a cop or two with the red lights and sirens. He would screech to a halt and tell the cop
that it was a lifeguard emergency which would frustrate the cops to no
end. Sometimes they would ask me if he
really was a lifeguard.
Bobby Chavez
was a great swimmer and competitor. He was honest and straight forward. He would stand his ground if he thought he
was right. I remember that if I made a mistake, we didn’t go any further until
he was sure I wouldn’t make that mistake again.
Of course, there are many more stories.
Rest in Peace Bobby
Rest in Peace Bobby
---
Many Thanks to Sam and Harry for sharing this great story with all of us.
10-4
***
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Robert "Bobby" Chavez, R.I.P.
Robert "Bobby" Chavez, R.I.P., Santa Monica and LACo OLS, Ret.:
April 12, 1941- March 27, 2013
---
Update: April 2, 2013:
Just in from Rex Goble regarding the Memorial Service for Bob Chavez:
Thursday, 4/4/13 at 10am
Santa Monica 25 - Ocean Park Blvd
Reception to follow at Rusty's - Santa Monica Pier
---
From: Lifeguard Alumni
Subject: Passing of Robert (Bob) Chavez
Date: March 27, 2013 10:43:17 PM PDT
Hello all,
We just received the following message through Lea Barton.
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of retired lifeguard Robert Chavez. The Lifeguard alumni family passes along our condolences to the family of Robert Chavez.
When more information becomes available we will pass it along.
Best regards,
Nick
-----
It is with great sadness to announce that Robert (Bob) Chavez passed away earlier this evening at St. John's hospital.
April 12, 1941- March 27, 2013
Regards,
Lea Barton
-----
*** For those wishing to express their condolences to Bobby's family, please contact the undersigned or Nick Steers for the address.
Rest in peace, Bobby. Your spirit lives on, of that we are certain. Your friendship, smile, laughter, compassion and humanity are gifts that you shared with all of us. For that we are eternally grateful.
We ask Bobby's friends and lifeguard colleagues to share a story as a comment or send it directly to the undersigned via email and I will post it here. Immediately below are two black and white photos from Rex Goble's photo archives that are absolutely Classic from "back in the day" of the Santa Monica City Beach Lifeguard Service! I've also included a couple of photos below that I have of Bobby in the past several years from lifeguard events which I post here to honor his memory and service as both a Santa Monica City and LACo Lifeguard.
 | |
| Summer 1969. L2R, at Top, John Howe, Steve Saylors, Rex Goble, Wayne Pugh, Bob Chavez; Kneeling, L2R, Tom Zahn, Mike Jennings, Abby Schneider, Curt Ando. Photo courtesy of Rex Goble and Lea Barton. |
 |
| Summer 1970: Top, L2R: George Merritt, Bob Chavez; Front/Seated, L2R; Wayne Pugh, Curt Ando, Steve Saylors, Rex Goble |
 |
| Bobby Chavez, front and center, at the memorial service for Don Spitler several years ago. Photo courtesy of Will Maguire. |
 |
| Bobby Chavez, at right; with his friend and lifeguard pal, Jimmy Doman. Photo courtesy of Will Maguire. |
 |
| "Dos Amigos", L2R; OLS' Ret., Rex Goble and Bobby Chavez, circa 2009. Photo by Will Maguire. |
About Bobby Chavez:
"I fondly remember Bobby as the deckhand along with boat captain Tom Zahn on Memorial Day 1978 when SMS was hoovering with rips (with rescues on SMS for the day in the triple digits) and making multiple trips to the rescue boat and lifting victims up to Bobby and he would haul them on board until a lull and then we would escort them back to shore." Respectfully, Will Maguire.
---
And just in from Sam Bertolet and Harry Varnas, have a look at the story they have shared about Bobby at:
Bobby's Flying El Camino
http://countyrecurrent.blogspot.com/2013/04/bobbys-flying-el-camino-by-sam-bertolet.html
---
Bruce Saylors mentioned that he spoke to his brother Steve recently and mentioned that Bobby had passed away and Steve told Bruce that Bobby was a "consummate waterman".
---
*** Video Alert ! *** Here are two links to videos on YouTube. The first shows the missing man formation of the three Baywatch Rescue boats approaching the beach side service for Bobby just south of SMS Tower #26 (shot from SMHQ); and the second is a short interview of Bobby at the 2006 Santa Monica Lifeguard Reunion. This latter video was shot by Michael "Mick" Moriarty.
1. Baywatch Rescue Boat Tribute to Bobby Chavez, April 4, 2013: The Video
http://youtu.be/MAnvqw09_Z4
and
2. Bobby Chavez Interview in 2006: The Video
http://youtu.be/mQjfuY_TPpc
---
And here are the remarks that Harold Dunnigan said about his pal, Bobby Chavez, at the beach side
memorial service:
---
Rest in peace, brother!
Until next time.....
Will Maguire, Editor
"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
"Rowing the Surf Dory's...1970's", by Tom Allen Sena
Head's up, Recurrents! Get a cup of coffee and sit back cuz you are all going to really enjoy this story by (now retired) L.A. City OLS and LACo OLS (aka, Permanent), Tom Allen Sena, who along with his brother Randy Allen, and many other lifeguard-dorymen, were up and down the California coast in the late 60's and '70's participating in the lifeguard dory races. Ready?!... Here goes!
Rowing the Surf Dory’s… 1970’s, by Tom Allen Sena
The surf dory has been used in Life Guard Services up and down the Southern California Coast as lifesaving equipment for many decades. With a crowded summer day on the beach, with bigger surf causing "rip" currents, and dragging groups of people in the near surf areas out into deeper water, a surf dory was very good for rowing out and bringing people into the boat, or letting them hang on the gunnel, until it was safe to bring them back in. A two man dory allowed the stern man to control the boat with his oars, and the bowman to ship his oars, and help the people in the water needing assistance. Older dory's were modeled off the east coast lobster dory's, and the original boats on the west coast used by the lifeguards were the Peterson wood dory. This was a two person craft, ~20 ft. long, and weighing ~ 350-400 lbs. with two thwarts to sit on, and a double set up of oar locks bolted to the wood gunnel. These boats provided good service to the lifeguard crews in Southern California for many years, with guards from the 40's, 50's, and 60's like L.A. City guards Myron Cox, Bud Clark, Ed Perry, Bob Williams, Don Rohrer, Ed Hoffman, and Jerry Balonich, using the dory's for surf rescues and as a work out to stay in shape, and be strong and ready for big surf days. The experienced Lifeguards would teach the new guards dory technique, and the tradition lived on.
Modern dory's evolved in the late 60’s with the new "Schock" dory, molded out of fiberglass, with a false bottom installed just above the water line. This was an outstanding new design, because it made the dory "self-bailing". The Peterson dory did a good job of breaking through the waves to get out through the surf, but would invariably get water into the boat, so you had to bail the water out at some point. Hit the wave wrong, and the wave would swamp the boat, tumble it, sink it, and throw the two rowers around like leaves in a strong wind.
The new self-bailing dory's were fantastic, because the Dorymen could be more aggressive in the surf, and take more chances with the waves, both busting out through the waves, and Surfing them in! You could still get tumbled by the waves, but it was really nice to have the ocean water spill out of the scuppers along the side of the boat, and be able to keep rowing. Rowing a dory required strength, good equipment (the boat, oar locks, and oars), and skill and timing in and out of the waves. Obviously the bigger the waves (huge power in big waves), the more skill and caution was needed. Small waves, no problem, take off on any small wave and ride it in, with a good stern man steering, bowman pulling, and both Dorymen having fun. Even if you broached sideways, the boat was big, and you still had some control. A Schock dory was 20 ft. long, and a minimum of 300 lbs. (standard NSLSA). Some dory's were heavy for many reasons, but if you could tune your dory down to 301 lbs., you could make them glide, and fly over the water. Heavy boats sat deeper in the water, so you had to pull more water to move them.
In the early and mid 70's there were many Lifeguard crews from L.A. City, L.A. County, Santa Monica, San Clemente, Long Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, and San Diego that got their boats fine tuned and very competitive. The NSLSA (national surf lifesaving association) and the Doryman’s association, set standards, and organized races up and down the SoCal coast during the summer for competition between the lifeguard crews...What Fun! Get weekends off (to represent your Beach and Crew), and travel up and down the coast all summer racing, and having a ton of fun at a different beach every weekend, all summer.
So the art of going through the surf, and riding the waves into the beach became highly competitive, all for trophies, representing your crew, and drinking beer with your mates, and camaraderie with fellow Southern California lifeguards. The result was a true "family" of athletic, professional, lifesavers all along the southern California Coast.
The trick was... to not get yourself seriously injured! Big waves have tremendous power, and a 300 lb. boat, with four 10 ft. oars flying around were dangerous articles. I rowed a big summer swell one late afternoon at Will Rogers Beach Summer '72, with my good friend Tim Mooney, and coming in on a 6-8 ft. wave we broached, the bow dug in, we flipped, a shore side oar caught between the boat oarlock and the sandy bottom, it snapped, and the loose shard (~4 ft. long with sharp splinter end) went through Tim's left triceps, Ouch! He came up surprised, but smiling, walked into shore where I pulled it out of his arm, and sent him off for some stitches. I gathered up the boat and gear and went to the "barn" under the light house headquarters, with repairs needed the next day.
Pismo beach winter 1975 was a big surf day (8-10 ft. waves), and you had to use a lot of skill to get out through the surf, and ride the waves back in, and stay in one piece. So we went out and practiced. Rowing out required good timing between the two Dorymen; you have to have momentum to hit a peaking wave. The bigger the wave, the more momentum you need, and when your boat hits a rising wave, you want to have your bow split the crest, and you have to "set" all four oars in the wave. You have to pull your boat through the wave, and you can only do that if your oars are digging in the water as you go up and through the wave. If your oars are not set, and you are not pulling through the wave, then the wave picks you up, and throws you back toward the beach with power and thousands of pounds of water crashing all around you. Hold your breath and duck, because you are in for washing machine type of ride, with the boat, and all the oars flailing about. It is also a good idea to get out through the waves between sets, easier, but not always available to you during races.
So, the point of getting out through the waves, is to ride a wave back in! Riding a wave in a 20 ft., 300 lb. dory can be a lot of fun; it takes a bit of skill, because if you screw it up, it is possible to get hurt or maimed. Riding a wave into shore in a dory requires timing dropping in, and some momentum so you have some speed when you catch the wave, and you want to be going straight. If you drop into the wave at an angle, you will most likely broach the boat and tumble, not a good practice. Drop in straight, the boat is big enough to handle a lot of white water crashing around you, and the Bowman, being out in front of the wave, can dip one oar, and pull with the other to steer, and stay straight into shore. The Stern man, ships his oars (gets them out of the water so they do not fly up and hit you), steps up and off his thwart, and goes and sits on the stern. Great position; the stern may is sitting on the back end of the dory, with a view going into the beach. He can help call out to the Bowman, a little pull to the right, a little dip on the left. You wind up on shore, you made it! And not dead!
Now, one might wonder why anyone would want to ride waves with a 20 ft. dory. Well, one really good reason is it can be instrumental in winning a surf dory race! Dory racing is an exciting sport and a very exclusive event for Beach Lifeguards. Riding waves with your partner in a dory provides plenty of thrills; with the Dorymen, the boat, and the waves all in sync, good fun. In a dory race, add a Pier out into the water which you row around two or three times, and twelve to twenty other boats, then it becomes a spectacle event. The boats are lined up on the inshore shallow water (two oar lengths between each), the bowman is in the boat holding it steady, the Stern men are on shore, and all run down to the boats at the starting gun.
Dorymen are now all in the boats, pull! The boats are off and into the surf with short, strong strokes, the stern man sets a fast pace. Get the boat moving, and hit the waves, pull through, inside waves (don't get tangled up with the dory next to you), then to the bigger outside waves. Don't let up, keep pulling and get through the waves (so you don't get hit and tumbled!). Finally through the waves, lengthen out your stroke, and pull to the far turn buoy, or around the pier... then into the waves going back to shore. If you can drop into a wave with your dory, and ride into shore, you gain a lot of distance, and can win a race. A minor problem with riding into shore in a dory race....you have timed it right, got momentum getting into the wave, dropped in, kept the boat straight, you’re out in front of the wave, life is good......... then a dory comes down that same wave at an angle, and rams into you! X0#%! you crash, both boats tumble, you wind up on shore with oars all over the place, the bowman is running around pick up the oars and straightening out the boat and gear, the stern man runs up the beach tags the turn flag, and runs back, out you go again! Three times around the Pier!
Why does the Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce invite the "Dorymen" to the annual Pismo Clam Festival each year, because OMG what a spectacle! The Pismo Beach Pier is crowded with cheering spectators, as are all the other piers down the So. Cal Coast, where cities host festivals, and Lifeguards race surf Dory's 16-18 times each summer. The crowds love it, and the lifeguards have a blast. Modern day gladiators?
What do the lifeguards get for their effort, $50-$100K prize money like triathletes? Nah… maybe a trophy, a lot of fun, definitely staying in great shape, and drinking beer with your friends and other lifeguard mates every week.
The Pismo Beach Clam Festival was all of that, plus the boys of '75 & 76 brought their Hobie Cats to challenge the surf with as well!
Aloha, Tom Allen Sena, L.A. City and L.A. County Lifeguard
March 24, 2013
---
"Rowing the Surf Dory's...1970's", by & Copyright Tom Sena 2013. All Rights Reserved. Published here with permission.
*** Wow! Tom! That was Spectacular! Thank you so much! The gauntlet has been thrown and your dory contemporaries are going to have to put up too! We are very hopeful of more dory stories because of your wonderful effort. Tom also asked us to mention that he got some very good information and help on this article from his lifeguard buddies and fellow dorymen, Jimmy Doman and Randy Steigely. So we want to include a shout out to Jimmy and Randy for their participation.
Editor's note: Tom didn't mention that if you won the Pismo Beach Clam Festival Dory Race, back in the day, that you also got to kiss the Festival Queen who was always a good looking young local bathing beauty!
---
*** Lifeguard Trivia: In the background in the photo above is a Classic VW Van with a surfski on its roof rack AND according to Jimmy Doman both belonged to Ron Richmond.
10-4
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. ***
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 | ||||
Photo above shows Tom Sena, in the stern, and Ralph Collins, in the bow, during the Oct. 1975 Pismo Beach Clam Festival Dory Race. Photo courtesy of Tom Sena. Photo by Bob Howe.
Rowing the Surf Dory’s… 1970’s, by Tom Allen Sena
The surf dory has been used in Life Guard Services up and down the Southern California Coast as lifesaving equipment for many decades. With a crowded summer day on the beach, with bigger surf causing "rip" currents, and dragging groups of people in the near surf areas out into deeper water, a surf dory was very good for rowing out and bringing people into the boat, or letting them hang on the gunnel, until it was safe to bring them back in. A two man dory allowed the stern man to control the boat with his oars, and the bowman to ship his oars, and help the people in the water needing assistance. Older dory's were modeled off the east coast lobster dory's, and the original boats on the west coast used by the lifeguards were the Peterson wood dory. This was a two person craft, ~20 ft. long, and weighing ~ 350-400 lbs. with two thwarts to sit on, and a double set up of oar locks bolted to the wood gunnel. These boats provided good service to the lifeguard crews in Southern California for many years, with guards from the 40's, 50's, and 60's like L.A. City guards Myron Cox, Bud Clark, Ed Perry, Bob Williams, Don Rohrer, Ed Hoffman, and Jerry Balonich, using the dory's for surf rescues and as a work out to stay in shape, and be strong and ready for big surf days. The experienced Lifeguards would teach the new guards dory technique, and the tradition lived on.
Modern dory's evolved in the late 60’s with the new "Schock" dory, molded out of fiberglass, with a false bottom installed just above the water line. This was an outstanding new design, because it made the dory "self-bailing". The Peterson dory did a good job of breaking through the waves to get out through the surf, but would invariably get water into the boat, so you had to bail the water out at some point. Hit the wave wrong, and the wave would swamp the boat, tumble it, sink it, and throw the two rowers around like leaves in a strong wind.
The new self-bailing dory's were fantastic, because the Dorymen could be more aggressive in the surf, and take more chances with the waves, both busting out through the waves, and Surfing them in! You could still get tumbled by the waves, but it was really nice to have the ocean water spill out of the scuppers along the side of the boat, and be able to keep rowing. Rowing a dory required strength, good equipment (the boat, oar locks, and oars), and skill and timing in and out of the waves. Obviously the bigger the waves (huge power in big waves), the more skill and caution was needed. Small waves, no problem, take off on any small wave and ride it in, with a good stern man steering, bowman pulling, and both Dorymen having fun. Even if you broached sideways, the boat was big, and you still had some control. A Schock dory was 20 ft. long, and a minimum of 300 lbs. (standard NSLSA). Some dory's were heavy for many reasons, but if you could tune your dory down to 301 lbs., you could make them glide, and fly over the water. Heavy boats sat deeper in the water, so you had to pull more water to move them.
In the early and mid 70's there were many Lifeguard crews from L.A. City, L.A. County, Santa Monica, San Clemente, Long Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, and San Diego that got their boats fine tuned and very competitive. The NSLSA (national surf lifesaving association) and the Doryman’s association, set standards, and organized races up and down the SoCal coast during the summer for competition between the lifeguard crews...What Fun! Get weekends off (to represent your Beach and Crew), and travel up and down the coast all summer racing, and having a ton of fun at a different beach every weekend, all summer.
So the art of going through the surf, and riding the waves into the beach became highly competitive, all for trophies, representing your crew, and drinking beer with your mates, and camaraderie with fellow Southern California lifeguards. The result was a true "family" of athletic, professional, lifesavers all along the southern California Coast.
The trick was... to not get yourself seriously injured! Big waves have tremendous power, and a 300 lb. boat, with four 10 ft. oars flying around were dangerous articles. I rowed a big summer swell one late afternoon at Will Rogers Beach Summer '72, with my good friend Tim Mooney, and coming in on a 6-8 ft. wave we broached, the bow dug in, we flipped, a shore side oar caught between the boat oarlock and the sandy bottom, it snapped, and the loose shard (~4 ft. long with sharp splinter end) went through Tim's left triceps, Ouch! He came up surprised, but smiling, walked into shore where I pulled it out of his arm, and sent him off for some stitches. I gathered up the boat and gear and went to the "barn" under the light house headquarters, with repairs needed the next day.
Pismo beach winter 1975 was a big surf day (8-10 ft. waves), and you had to use a lot of skill to get out through the surf, and ride the waves back in, and stay in one piece. So we went out and practiced. Rowing out required good timing between the two Dorymen; you have to have momentum to hit a peaking wave. The bigger the wave, the more momentum you need, and when your boat hits a rising wave, you want to have your bow split the crest, and you have to "set" all four oars in the wave. You have to pull your boat through the wave, and you can only do that if your oars are digging in the water as you go up and through the wave. If your oars are not set, and you are not pulling through the wave, then the wave picks you up, and throws you back toward the beach with power and thousands of pounds of water crashing all around you. Hold your breath and duck, because you are in for washing machine type of ride, with the boat, and all the oars flailing about. It is also a good idea to get out through the waves between sets, easier, but not always available to you during races.
So, the point of getting out through the waves, is to ride a wave back in! Riding a wave in a 20 ft., 300 lb. dory can be a lot of fun; it takes a bit of skill, because if you screw it up, it is possible to get hurt or maimed. Riding a wave into shore in a dory requires timing dropping in, and some momentum so you have some speed when you catch the wave, and you want to be going straight. If you drop into the wave at an angle, you will most likely broach the boat and tumble, not a good practice. Drop in straight, the boat is big enough to handle a lot of white water crashing around you, and the Bowman, being out in front of the wave, can dip one oar, and pull with the other to steer, and stay straight into shore. The Stern man, ships his oars (gets them out of the water so they do not fly up and hit you), steps up and off his thwart, and goes and sits on the stern. Great position; the stern may is sitting on the back end of the dory, with a view going into the beach. He can help call out to the Bowman, a little pull to the right, a little dip on the left. You wind up on shore, you made it! And not dead!
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| OL's Randy Allen and Mike Kent surfing a wave. Photo courtesy of Tom Allen Sena. Photo by Bob Howe. |
Now, one might wonder why anyone would want to ride waves with a 20 ft. dory. Well, one really good reason is it can be instrumental in winning a surf dory race! Dory racing is an exciting sport and a very exclusive event for Beach Lifeguards. Riding waves with your partner in a dory provides plenty of thrills; with the Dorymen, the boat, and the waves all in sync, good fun. In a dory race, add a Pier out into the water which you row around two or three times, and twelve to twenty other boats, then it becomes a spectacle event. The boats are lined up on the inshore shallow water (two oar lengths between each), the bowman is in the boat holding it steady, the Stern men are on shore, and all run down to the boats at the starting gun.
Dorymen are now all in the boats, pull! The boats are off and into the surf with short, strong strokes, the stern man sets a fast pace. Get the boat moving, and hit the waves, pull through, inside waves (don't get tangled up with the dory next to you), then to the bigger outside waves. Don't let up, keep pulling and get through the waves (so you don't get hit and tumbled!). Finally through the waves, lengthen out your stroke, and pull to the far turn buoy, or around the pier... then into the waves going back to shore. If you can drop into a wave with your dory, and ride into shore, you gain a lot of distance, and can win a race. A minor problem with riding into shore in a dory race....you have timed it right, got momentum getting into the wave, dropped in, kept the boat straight, you’re out in front of the wave, life is good......... then a dory comes down that same wave at an angle, and rams into you! X0#%! you crash, both boats tumble, you wind up on shore with oars all over the place, the bowman is running around pick up the oars and straightening out the boat and gear, the stern man runs up the beach tags the turn flag, and runs back, out you go again! Three times around the Pier!
Why does the Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce invite the "Dorymen" to the annual Pismo Clam Festival each year, because OMG what a spectacle! The Pismo Beach Pier is crowded with cheering spectators, as are all the other piers down the So. Cal Coast, where cities host festivals, and Lifeguards race surf Dory's 16-18 times each summer. The crowds love it, and the lifeguards have a blast. Modern day gladiators?
What do the lifeguards get for their effort, $50-$100K prize money like triathletes? Nah… maybe a trophy, a lot of fun, definitely staying in great shape, and drinking beer with your friends and other lifeguard mates every week.
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| Brothers, Lifeguards, Dorymen: L2R: Tom Allen Sena and Randy Allen. Photo courtesy of Tom Allen Sena. Photo by Bob Howe. |
The Pismo Beach Clam Festival was all of that, plus the boys of '75 & 76 brought their Hobie Cats to challenge the surf with as well!
Aloha, Tom Allen Sena, L.A. City and L.A. County Lifeguard
March 24, 2013
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"Rowing the Surf Dory's...1970's", by & Copyright Tom Sena 2013. All Rights Reserved. Published here with permission.
*** Wow! Tom! That was Spectacular! Thank you so much! The gauntlet has been thrown and your dory contemporaries are going to have to put up too! We are very hopeful of more dory stories because of your wonderful effort. Tom also asked us to mention that he got some very good information and help on this article from his lifeguard buddies and fellow dorymen, Jimmy Doman and Randy Steigely. So we want to include a shout out to Jimmy and Randy for their participation.
Editor's note: Tom didn't mention that if you won the Pismo Beach Clam Festival Dory Race, back in the day, that you also got to kiss the Festival Queen who was always a good looking young local bathing beauty!
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| Top Photo: L2R: Tom Allen Sena and his dory mate, Ralph Collins, receive the First Place Trophy from the Pismo Beach Clam Festival Queen; Bottom Photo: Tom lays a big swooping kiss on the Festival Queen in classic style! Photo courtesy of Tom Allen Sena. Photo by Bob Howe. |
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*** Lifeguard Trivia: In the background in the photo above is a Classic VW Van with a surfski on its roof rack AND according to Jimmy Doman both belonged to Ron Richmond.
10-4
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. ***
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Gabe Campos' Four Point Winter Workout Regimen
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| OL Gabe Campos, aka, The Mayor, on duty at SMN Tower #1550. Photo by Will Maguire. |
Here it is!
Gabe Campos' Four Point Winter Workout Regimen:
1. From the day after Labor Day (Sept.) through Dec. 31st:
• 1,500 yards of swimming, 4 days per week.
2. From Jan. 1st thru the end of February:
• 2,000 yards of swimming, 4 days per week.
3. For the month of March:
2,500 yards of swimming, 4 days per week.
4. April and May/June:
A. 4 days a week, Gabe swims with the Masters Swim Team at Mt. SAC College.
and
B. 4 days a week, Gabe also does 1 hour of cardio at the Mt. Sac College Fitness Center/Gym using one of three machines: treadmill, stationery bike, elliptical.
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Per Gabe, staying in shape to be an LACo County Ocean Lifeguard requires year round fitness training, esp. for our baby boomer corp. of veteran beach lifeguards.
10-4, Gabe! We really appreciate you sharing your experience and commitment to excellence and for your continued service to the County, esp. to the multitudes who visit and swim north of the Santa Monica Pier. As the designated mayor of SMN #1550 and SMN #15, those who know Gabe understand and appreciate that Gabe is the reason that there is crowd control north of the pier. When he talks on the megaphone, patrons listen and hear the word in two languages. There is no ambiguity.
FYI: In the off season when Gabe is not on schedule all summer long on Santa Monica North, for the past 23 years, Gabe has worked full time at Mt. SAC College, where he is the Athletic Equipment Tech and also serves as a part time Professor teaching Lifesaving, First Aid and CPR.
-----
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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Tuesday, March 19, 2013
On To Pismo...
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| Per Tom Allen Sena: "dory surf play...one of the boats in the big waves, and doing good." Pismo Beach Clam Festival Dory Race, Feb. 26, 1975. Photo by Bob Howe. Used here with permission. |
"Back in the day"... as Veteran LACo Recurrent, Chuck Locko, would say... there were winter dory races (circa 1970's) that our beach lifeguard - warrior class would participate in. One such event were the dory races around the pier during the annual Pismo Beach Clam Festival. "County Recurrent" was told of this event by lifeguard story spinmaster, John Thomas, recently. It captured our attention and enthusiasm and we just had to write about it and share it with our brothers and sisters. JT rowed with Bill Powers in 1975 at the Clam Festival Dory Race and his recollection of that race is a story for the ages and he is currently in the process of transcribing that event. In the meantime...
Where to start... Some Google searches got us thinking it was in October. Turns out "back in the day" the Clam Festival was held in February. This was the case in 1975 when huge surf and cold water caused the powers that be to cancel the dory races because of the extreme conditions and the reasoned opinion that there could be substantial injuries. Nevertheless, the majority of the dory crews voted to race anyways... doesn't that just sound like a boatie?!... A couple of teams said "No way!"... but the rest of the lot which included teams from L.A. City, Santa Monica City, L.A. County and a few others went ahead and battled the ocean with some very exciting and disastrous results.
Do we have your attention now?!... :-)
So we interrogated John Thomas and got the names of other lifeguards who participated or attended this dory debutante-not weekend, and heard some infamous names, including but not limited to, Jimmy Doman, Bill Powers, Tom Allen Sena and his brother Randy Allen, Ralph Collins, Tom Snyder, Randy Steigely, Bob Howe, Charlie Acker, Steve Saylors, Ron Richmond, Tom Kiesewetter, Bill Barker, Richard Mark, Terry Flanagan, Guy Wells, Steve Snyder, Paul Matthies, and others..... Phil Topar says he wasn't there but Tom Kiesewetter swears he rowed with Topar at Pismo that year... so the jury is out, though we think Topar is repressing the whole thing... In other words, a massive and incredible congregation of testosterone fueled Southern California lifeguards!
--- To Be Continued! ---
:-)
OK, just kidding! We've received some replies to our email pleas for details so we will whet your appetites, as follows:
• Per Terry Flanagan:
"I was there but I did not row. Huge waves and really dangerous. Check with Mark Thompson, Jim Doman, or JT."
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• Per John Thomas:
"YEA, I ALWAYS THOUGHT TOPAR WAS AT EVERY ONE OF THOSE THINGS.... BUT LOOKING BACK, HE MAY STILL HAVE BEEN A STATE GUARD THEN. BEFORE HE JOINED LA COUNTY.... NOW I REMEMBER STEIGLEY /SNYDER, I RECALL CHARLEY ACKER AND RANDY ALLEN.... TOM ALLEN WAS THERE AS WELL WITH DOMAN ( I HAVE HIS PICTURE TAKEN THERE) BILLY BARKER AND BOB HOWE WERE THERE AS WELL..."
Also, Per JT, regarding Ron Richmond rowing with Steve Saylor at Pismo:
I WAS SPEAKING TO RON RICHMOND RECENTLY AND WE WERE TRYING TO RECALL WHO HAD WON THE RACE. HE CANT REMEMBER IF HE AND STEVE SAYLORS MIGHT HAVE WON.... HE REMEMBERED THEIR WARM UP.... HE AND STEVE ROWED OUT AND TRIED TO MAKE IT THROUGH A TEN FOOT SET, THE DORY WENT UP THE FACE OF A WAVE AND WAS PITCHED/HURLED THROUGH THE AIR. RON REMEMBERS BEING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT FLYING THROUGH THE AIR FOR A LONG TIME BEFORE IMPACTING THE WATER. IT TOOK HIM AND STEVE QUITE A TIME TO GET THE BOAT TURNED OVER IN THE FIVE TO EIGHT FOOT OF WHITE WATER. BY THE TIME THEY GOT THE BOAT TO THE BEACH AND COLLECTED THE OARS, THEY WERE HYPOTHERMIC FROM THE 52 DEGREE WATER. THAT WAS THEIR WARM UP. RON ALSO WON THE PADDLE BECAUSE HE WAS THE ONLY GUY TO MAKE IT OUT. WHEN THE RACE STARTED, HE RAN DOWN TO THE PIER AND PADDLED OUT UNDERNEATH THE PILINGS. HE AVOIDED THE IMPACT OF THE SURF BY HIDING BEHIND THE PILES, LETTING THEM TAKE THE BRUNT OF THE IMPACT. THE SURF WAS SO LARGE IT WAS FILLING UP ALL THE SPACE UNDERNEATH THE PIER AND CRUSHING RON UP AGAINST THE BOTTOM. HE RECALLED THINKING, "OH SHIT, I'M PROBABLY GOING TO DIE " BUT HE MADE IT OUT FAR ENOUGH TO CUT OVER AND CLEAR THE TOPS OF THE OUTSIDE SETS. EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE RACE WAS EITHER WASHED BACK UP ON THE BEACH OR HOLDING ONTO THE THEIR BOARDS ON THE INSIDE GETTING THE SHIT POUNDED OUT OF THEM.... I'M TELLIN YA IT WAS HELL OF A DAY...
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• Per Ralph Collins (who rowed with Tom Allen):
"I remember the festival very well. I rowed there a couple of years and one of them had tremendous surf. I rowed with Tom and the day before the dory race we practiced ins and outs. The waves were steep shorebreaks and if you got caught in the wrong position you would have terrible end over end wipeouts. This happened to us on several occasions but there was one that I will never forget and we had a horrible wipeout. This spooked the shit out me. Thankfully, we learned to back off the peaking waves and ride the whitewater. It was impossible to prevent the boats from broaching.
I recall this same afternoon was when Powers and Barker wiped out in the Hobie Cat. I can still see it. I thought the Hobie belonged to Powers and he was not happy with all the damage. They were lucky not to have been seriously injured.
Editor's note: Just in from Bob Howe, who took the three photos below showing the surf and the waves that the described Hobie Cat encountered that day in 1975. Per Bob Howe: "(that) was Bill Powers and Bill Barker trying to sail Bill (Powers) Hobie thru the surf without enough wind and getting nailed by a wave overturning the boat in the surf line."
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| Photo by Bob Howe. Used here with permission. |
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| Photo by Bob Howe. Used here with permission. |
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| Photo by Bob Howe. Used here with permission. |
Maybe the others will remember the crowd of 'yahoos' that arrived from Bakersfield the day of the race. There was almost a riot when a couple of girls (who I won't name) took their tops off and flashed the crowd. Great mammories...
Who was the person that brought the kites?? Does anyone remember how he spooked the horse while flying the kite?
Doman should remember....
Kind regards: R. Collins"
---
• Per Bill Barker:
Hi Will,
Yes I remember it well. Bob Howe and Bill Powers brought their Hobie 16's up to Pismo for the early season dory races. Bob Howe and I were going in and out of the surf in the morning when the wind was still blowing strong. The surf was pretty good size and was breaking out far enough so you could pick your spot on where to punch out through the surf without getting killed. It was great fun until the wind started to back off and that made going in and out of the surf a bit more fun... Powers decided that he wanted to go out through the surf a few times just as the wind almost dropped off completely and the surf got bigger. I was Powers deck hand in the Hobie destruction pictures. I remember telling him that it wasn't good going out without a strong wind but he still wanted to and so we went....We got out about half way when one of the outside clean up waves hit us. I looked up to see the wave breaking half way up the mast and then the Hobie went back over the falls, breaking the rudders and the mast off. It was a lot of fun.
Later,
Bill Barker
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• Per Tom Kiesewetter:
"I remember being at Pismo and I could swear I rowed with Topar but Phil, by his statement below, doesn't seem to remember. What is that old saying? If you remember the 60's then you didn't live them."
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• Per Phil Topar:
"In regards to Pismo Beach, I never rowed there, but Steve Saylors/Ron Richmond, Randy Allen/Charlie Acker, Steigley/Snyder.....rowed there in huge, rolling surf in the mid 70's."
---
• Per Mark Spyder Thompson, Ph.d:
"I have no recollection of the day, other than a vague memory of a splintered dory, stopping to clean up the Lizard's puke in the well behind the front seat of T's bug, the aforementioned destroyed Hobie, and large, very large (12'+) surf...."
• Per Tom Allen Sena:
"The year of the big surf was 1975... The highlight was beautiful big surf, sunny weather, lots of good friends there for the weekend..."
 |
| Per Tom Allen: "This is a photo of myself (stern) and Ralph Collins (bow), bustin' out through the surf. This appears to be during the race." Photo courtesy of Tom Allen and used here with his permission. Photo by Bob Howe. Feb. 26, 1975. |
"Why does the Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce invite the "Dorymen" to the annual Pismo Clam Festival each year, because OMG what a spectacle! The Pismo Beach Pier is crowded with cheering spectators, as are all the other piers down the So. Cal Coast, where cities host festivals, and Lifeguards race surf Dory's 16-18 times each summer. The crowds love it, and the lifeguards have a blast. Modern day gladiators?
What do the lifeguards get for their effort, $50-$100K prize money like triathletes? Nah, maybe a trophy, a lot of fun, staying in great shape, and drinking beer with your friends and other lifeguard mates every week.
The Pismo Clam Festival is all of that, plus the boys of '75 & 76 brought their Hobie Cats to challenge the surf with as well!"
---
Additionally, "County Recurrent" sent a research request for which we forked over $60 to the San Luis Obispo (SLO) County Library to do some microfiche research of the local newspaper and the research librarian struck gold when she discovered that the Clam Festival was held in February "back in the day" rather than in October as we had thought. Check out the photos that the librarian provided us with.
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| Photo courtesy of SLO Library. This photo is from Page 9 of the Five Cities Times-Press-Recorder, February 26, 1975 |
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| Photo courtesy of SLO Library. This photo is from the cover of the Five Cities Times-Press-Recorder, February 26, 1975 |
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| Photo courtesy of SLO Library. Per Lynn Wiech, Research Librarian at the SLO County Library: "This (photo) was out of a special "edition" included with the Feb. 26, 1975 Five Cities Times-Press-Recorder entitled "Clam County Clam Festival Souvenir Edition Part 1 Feb.22,23 [1975]". As such, that picture was probably taken the year before." |
That's it for now, folks! We want to thank each of the above-referenced and quoted lifeguards for their participation and a special thanks to Research Librarian, Lynn Wiech, of the SLO County Library for her research skills and findings.
10-4
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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