LA County lifeguards team up to compete at International Surf Festival
Lifeguards compete in the Judge Taplin relay during the International Surf Festival at Hermosa Beach on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Holly Maine prepares to compete in the Judge Taplin relay during the International Surf Festival at Hermosa Beach on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Lifeguards compete in the Dory boat rowing portion of the Judge Taplin relay during the International Surf Festival at Hermosa Beach on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Mazen Abouelela of team Long Beach competes in the Judge Taplin relay during the International Surf Festival at Hermosa Beach on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Lifeguards compete in the Judge Taplin relay during the International Surf Festival at Hermosa Beach on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Jr. Lifeguards cheer for each other during a mixed open relay at the International Surf Festival in Hermosa Beach on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Sean Yuch of team South Bay B visualizes his paddle before competing in the Judge Taplin relay during the International Surf Festival at Hermosa Beach on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Lifeguards compete in the Dory boat rowing portion of the Judge Taplin relay during the International Surf Festival at Hermosa Beach on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Lifeguards compete in the Dory boat rowing portion of the Judge Taplin relay during the International Surf Festival at Hermosa Beach on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Lifeguards compete in the Dory boat rowing portion of the Judge Taplin relay during the International Surf Festival at Hermosa Beach on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
From left, Megan Seth and Dylan Read of team South Bay B compete in the Dory boat rowing portion of the Judge Taplin relay during the International Surf Festival at Hermosa Beach on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Jr. Lifeguards compete in mixed open relay during the International Surf Festival at Hermosa Beach on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Lifeguards compete in the Judge Taplin relay during the International Surf Festival at Hermosa Beach on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Lifeguards compete in the Dory boat rowing portion of the Judge Taplin relay during the International Surf Festival at Hermosa Beach on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Carlyn Lee of team Cal State competes in the Judge Taplin relay during the International Surf Festival at Hermosa Beach on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Jr. Lifeguards compete in mixed open relay during the International Surf Festival at Hermosa Beach on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Jr. Lifeguards compete in mixed open relay during the International Surf Festival at Hermosa Beach on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Spectators cheer as Jr. Lifeguards compete in the mixed open relay at the International Surf Festival in Hermosa Beach on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
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Lifeguards compete in the Judge Taplin relay during the International Surf Festival at Hermosa Beach on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
During summer days, LA County Lifeguards are busy patrolling beaches.
But on one evening in August each year, it’s time to show off their competitive edge. And, they do it in a dark, foreboding ocean.
The county life savers, along with teams from other states and nations, participated Saturday night, Aug. 3, in the Judge Irvine Talpin Relay. Each team consisted of four swimmers, four paddleboarders and four two-man Dory boat teams.
The prowess test — dubbed the most prestigious of its kind in the U.S. — is a tradition at International Surf Festival, in its 61st iteration this year in the beach cities.
The winning llfeguard team holds the “Taplin Bell” trophy until the following year’s race. The names of all 16 wnning team members are engraved on the perpetual trophy to mark their place in history.
The ISF began on Wednesday with a kickoff dinner, with the actual competitions — which include surfing and beach volleyball competitions — beginning Friday.
The five-day festival also features pier-to-pier swimming and paddleboarding.
