Make your hotel reservations now for this year's Int'l Surf Festival, presented by the Chambers of Commerce and Cities of Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Los Angeles County Fire Department and Department of Beaches and Harbors.
The 2016 host city for the 55th International Surf Festival is the City of Hermosa Beach. The event promotes the four South Bay beach cities, the world’s best lifeguard service, and physical fitness for thousands of participants. Participants range in age from 8 years old to the late 80’s. The three signature events for the festival are the Judge Taplin Lifeguard Medley Relay, the Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier Swim, and the Charley Saikley 6-Man Volleyball Tournament.
Other great events include:
- Charlie Saikley 6-Man Volleyball Tournament
- Velzy-Stevens Paddle
Paddleboard racing has been one of the fastest growing sports. The demand for races and the increased number of participants make this paddle one of the more popular events of the International Surf Festival. This years event will be presented by the South Bay Boardriders Club. - The course will be a water start which begins off the end of the Manhattan Beach Pier. Paddlers then paddle south parallel to shore, round the end of the Hermosa Beach Pier and finish on the beach just south of the pier.
- R10 Paddleboard Race
- Dick Fitzgerald Beach Run
The Dick Fitzgerald 2-Mile Beach Run will be held on Saturday August 6, 2016 at 8:00 a.m. The race starts and finishes at the Hermosa Beach Pier. Runners will run north behind the lifeguard towers past the Longfellow tower around the turn-around marker and then proceed back to the pier along the hard packed sand by the water.
This fun race is very challenging because of the soft sand on the first half of the race and the hard pack run on the return trip. The gentle sea breeze is a welcome relief to the runners . This is a great way to get some excercise and participate in one of the first events of the Surf Festsival. - Bodysurfing Championships
The International Body Surfing Championship will be held on the north side of the Manhattan Beach Pier. The event will consist of 8 men and womens divisions. Some age groups will be determined immediately before the contest begins and will be approximately equal in size. - Surfing Championships
- Bud Stevenson Intracrew Relay
- Judge Taplin Medley Relay
The Lifeguard Taplin relay consists of four swimmers, four paddlers, and four 2-man dory teams. This annual lifeguard event is the most prestigious lifeguard event in the United States. The Taplin relay has been held every year since 1936 with the exception of 1942 thru 1945, when the event was suspended during World War II. The race is held at night under the spot lights which allows lifeguards to safeguard the beaches during the day and race at night. - Paul Matthies Dory Race
The 3-Lap Dory Race will be held at the Hermosa Beach Pier. Competitors drop off your equipment at the beach entrance at 11th Street Hermosa. - Youth Swims and Paddles
The youth events for the International Surf Festival will be held on the north side of the Hermosa Beach Pier. What would a Surf Festival be without swimming and paddling events for the youth of the South Bay. There will be a boys and girls division for each event. - Sandcastle Contest
Contestants can use tools such as buckets, cans or small shovels to construct their sculpture and envi- ronmentally safe objects such as beads, shells, feathers, play cars or pebbles to decorate the castles. No bottles, glass or large shovels are allowed. No water may be hosed from outlets at the Pier. You may not use supports for your sculpture, it must be self standing. Contestants will be given a flag to be placed next to their sculpture in the allowed space.
For more information, surffestival.org!
