Century City
Updated on Apr 26 2024 8:17am
July 31 - August 4, 2024
The 61st International Surf Festival, hosted in 2024 by the vibrant City of Hermosa Beach, celebrates the coastal culture and athleticism of the South Bay beach cities, spotlighting the exceptional lifeguard services and fostering physical well-being among its diverse participants, spanning from 8-year-olds to seasoned enthusiasts in their late 80s. Attracting thousands, the festival's hallmark events, including the Judge Taplin Lifeguard Medley Relay, the Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier Swim, and the revered Charlie Saikley 6-Man Volleyball Tournament, showcase the region's competitive spirit. Alongside thrilling surfing and bodysurfing competitions, the festival offers an array of engaging activities such as beach runs, paddleboard races, and dory races, catering to all ages. Notably, the festival serves as a global platform, welcoming international lifeguard teams, including those from as far as Victoria, Australia, fostering camaraderie and cultural exchange. Commencing with the kick-off dinner preceding the renowned volleyball tournament and the Lifeguard Intracrew competition, the festival honors bravery and excellence with the prestigious Los Angeles County Fire Department Lifeguard Medal of Valor award ceremony, embodying the festival's ethos of community, athleticism, and coastal pride.
Schedule subject to change
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
The King Harbor Yacht Club is set to host the ISF Youth Sailing Event, continuing a tradition of nurturing young sailors in the King Harbor community that spans over half a century. Held in King Harbor Basin #3, sailors will navigate between Joe’s Crab Shack and the Sports Fishing Pier, racing a series of five exhilarating races culminating at the King Harbor Yacht Club. The event features Optimists, single-sailor dinghies, and FJ's (Flying Juniors) with two-person crews, showcasing a range of sailing skills. While racers are required to provide their own boats, the King Harbor Youth Foundation extends a courtesy to participants with a limited supply of Optimists available on a first-come, first-served basis. With entries due by July 29th, the ISF Youth Sailing Event promises a thrilling display of youthful talent and maritime prowess in the serene waters of King Harbor.
Friday, August 2, 2024 at 7:30 pm
The Bud Stevenson Intracrew Medley Relay, held under special night lights on the north side of the Hermosa Beach Pier, is a thrilling showcase of the Los Angeles County Ocean Lifeguards' skills and camaraderie. This prestigious race, featuring two runners, four swimmers, four paddlers, one surf ski paddler, and four two-person dorys, offers lifeguards the chance to compete for coveted bragging rights within their esteemed service. Representing beaches operated by the Los Angeles County Fire Department, teams from Cabrillo-Torrance-Redondo, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, and others showcase their ocean skills and physical conditioning in a fun-filled and fiercely competitive atmosphere. Preceding the Bud Stevenson Intracrew relay, the lifeguards also engage in a series of thrilling events, including the 6-lifeguard run relay and the 4-lifeguard shallow water sprint relay, culminating in an action-packed evening of coastal athleticism and community spirit.
Friday & Saturday, August 2 - 3, 2024
The Charlie Saikley 6-Man Beach Volleyball Tournament stands as the premier 6-man beach volleyball event in Southern California, attracting a staggering crowd of over 50,000 spectators annually. Renowned for its electrifying atmosphere and fierce competition, this tournament has become a highlight of the region's sporting calendar. In a bid to enhance accessibility and accommodate the growing interest, the event has been strategically shifted to Friday and Saturday, ensuring greater convenience for team participation. This move not only amplifies the tournament's reach but also reinforces its status as a vibrant celebration of beach culture, athleticism, and community spirit, solidifying its position as a must-attend spectacle along the Southern California coastline.
Saturday, August 3, 2024
The Oceans 7 Paddleboard Race, scheduled for Saturday, August 3rd at Torrance Beach, promises a thrilling morning of competition and camaraderie. Starting promptly at 8:00 am and concluding with the last paddler's finish or at 11:00 am, the race kicks off with a pre-race safety meeting and course review at 7:30 am. Participants will embark on a challenging course, commencing with a water start straight out from Torrance Beach, navigating north to the iconic Hermosa Beach pier where they'll round a buoy before sprinting back for a beach finish. Paddlers can refuel with coffee, breakfast burritos, and enjoy swag provided by the event organizers. Recognition awaits the top three finishers of each division, ensuring a rewarding experience for all participants of this exhilarating paddleboard race.
Saturday, August 3, 2024
The Dick Fitzgerald 2-Mile Beach Run, a beloved fixture of the Surf Festival, offers participants a thrilling challenge against the picturesque backdrop of Hermosa Beach. Starting and finishing at the iconic Hermosa Beach Pier, runners brave the soft sand on the first leg, passing behind lifeguard towers and around the turn-around marker, before pushing through the hard-packed sand on the return trip. While demanding, the race rewards participants with the invigorating sea breeze, providing a welcome respite amidst the exertion. With its scenic route and invigorating atmosphere, the Dick Fitzgerald 2-Mile Beach Run offers both a test of endurance and an opportunity for fitness enthusiasts to kickstart their Surf Festival experience with a memorable dash along the shoreline.
Saturday, August 3, 2024
The International Bodysurfing Championships, set against the picturesque backdrop of the north side of the Manhattan Beach Pier, offer a thrilling showcase of aquatic prowess and skill. With divisions catering to both men and women, the event promises spirited competition across eight categories, ensuring a dynamic and inclusive atmosphere. Ahead of the contest, age groups will be determined to ensure balanced competition, with a maximum limit of 108 male and 36 female contestants. Each division will feature approximately three preliminary heats, with six contestants vying for the top two spots to advance to the championship heat. As contestants ride the waves and showcase their bodysurfing mastery, spectators can anticipate an exhilarating display of athleticism and determination at this esteemed championship event.
Saturday, August 3, 2024
The SBBC Summer Surf Off, hosted on the south side of the Manhattan Beach Pier, stands as a cornerstone event in the South Bay's surfing calendar. Renowned as one of the region's premier surfing locales, the venue offers ideal conditions for riders to showcase their skills and compete for glory. Originating in 1962, this surf contest holds a special place in the history of the International Surf Festival, embodying the festival's enduring legacy of celebrating coastal culture and athleticism. As surfers carve through the waves and vie for top honors, the SBBC Summer Surf Off promises an exhilarating display of talent and passion, continuing its tradition as a highlight of the surfing season in the South Bay.
Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 7:00 pm
The Judge Irvin Taplin Medley Relay, an annual lifeguard event held under the night lights, stands as the pinnacle of lifeguard competitions in the United States. Consisting of four swimmers, four paddlers, and four 2-man dory teams, this prestigious relay has been a fixture since 1936, interrupted only during World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. The race, illuminated by spotlights, allows lifeguards to balance safeguarding the beaches by day with the exhilaration of competition by night. Lifeguard teams from across Southern California converge to vie for the honor of holding the revered "Taplin Bell" perpetual trophy until the next year's race, with the names of the winning team's sixteen members engraved on the trophy, ensuring their place in lifeguarding history.
Saturday, August 3, 2024
The Paul Matthies Dory Race, a highlight of the Hermosa Beach Pier events, offers an exhilarating test of skill and endurance for competitors and a thrilling spectacle for spectators. Beginning on the south side of the pier, 2-man dory crews row through the surf, circumnavigate the pier, and return to the starting point, completing three laps of this challenging course. A unique element of the race involves crew members exiting their dory to run across a flag line on the beach, known as an 'exchange,' before rejoining their partner to continue the race. This demanding event, beloved by fans, showcases the dedication and teamwork of dory racers. Following the race, the Doryman’s Relay adds to the excitement, with individual team members rowing their dories through the surf, around a buoy, and back, demonstrating their prowess and camaraderie in this lighthearted yet competitive affair.
Saturday, August 3, 2024
Youth Swims & Paddles, a cornerstone of the International Surf Festival, invites the young surf enthusiasts of the South Bay to showcase their aquatic prowess on the north side of the Hermosa Beach Pier. With a diverse array of events catering to boys and girls in various age categories, including rough water swims, boogie board races, and surfboard races, the festival ensures an inclusive and thrilling experience for all participants. While participants must provide their own boogie boards and surfboards, limited to soft boards with a maximum length of 9'6", boards for the tandem race are provided. Free and open to experienced swimmers within the specified age groups, Youth Swims & Paddles epitomizes the festival's commitment to fostering the next generation of surfers and water sports enthusiasts in the vibrant coastal community.
Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 7:00 pm
The Judge Irvin Taplin Medley Relay stands as the pinnacle of lifeguard competitions, comprising four swimmers, four paddlers, and four 2-man dory teams. Renowned as the most prestigious lifeguard event in the United States, this annual race has been a fixture since 1936, with only interruptions during World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Held under the glow of spotlights at night, the race allows lifeguards to maintain beach safety during the day while showcasing their skills in the evening. Lifeguard teams from across Southern California vie for the esteemed honor of holding the "Taplin Bell" perpetual trophy, with winning team members forever etched into history on the trophy, commemorating their achievement and legacy in the lifeguarding community.
Sunday, August 4, 2024
Celebrating its remarkable 61st anniversary, the Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier Swim continues to hold its status as one of the most sought-after long-distance swims in the United States. In 2023, an impressive 1350 swimmers conquered the challenging two-mile course, a testament to the event's enduring popularity and the enduring spirit of its participants. Commencing on the south side of the 10th Street Lifeguard Tower, just south of the iconic Hermosa Beach Pier, swimmers embark on their journey, navigating around the pier and then parallel to the shore before rounding the Manhattan Beach Pier and triumphantly concluding their swim on the sandy shores. This iconic event not only tests the physical endurance of its participants but also serves as a celebration of community, athleticism, and the enduring allure of coastal adventure.
Sunday, August 4, 2024
Introduced to the International Surf Festival in 2015, the Manhattan Beach Junior 6-Man Beach Volleyball Tournament swiftly became a resounding success, captivating young athletes and spectators alike. Open to boys and girls of all ages, the event features divisions tailored to each gender as well as co-ed teams, fostering inclusivity and spirited competition. Adding an extra layer of fun, participants are encouraged to don their most creative costumes, with prizes awaiting the most standout ensembles. For further details and registration, interested parties are invited to contact 310-802-5448, ensuring an unforgettable experience at this vibrant showcase of youthful talent and beachside camaraderie.
Sunday, August 4, 2024
This year's CBVA Volleyball tournament, slated to take place on the north side of the pier in Hermosa Beach, promises an exhilarating showcase of athleticism and camaraderie. Established in 1965, the California Beach Volleyball Association, Inc. (CBVA) has been a stalwart supporter of beach volleyball, serving as a vital hub for nurturing and promoting the sport for nearly four decades. As a non-profit organization, the CBVA plays a pivotal role in scheduling, rule-making, and promoting amateur outdoor volleyball across California, embodying the spirit of grassroots development and fostering the continued growth of this dynamic and beloved sport.
Sunday, August 4, 2024
The Velzy-Stevens Paddle, presented by the South Bay Boardriders Club, emerges as a highlight of the International Surf Festival, capturing the fervor of paddleboard racing enthusiasts amid the sport's rapid growth. With paddleboarding gaining traction as one of the fastest-growing sports, this event garners heightened anticipation and participation each year. The course, featuring a water start off the Manhattan Beach Pier, challenges paddlers to navigate south parallel to the shore, rounding the iconic Hermosa Beach Pier before culminating in a thrilling finish on the sandy shores just south of the pier. As a testament to the festival's commitment to showcasing diverse coastal pursuits, the Velzy-Stevens Paddle stands out as a thrilling testament to athleticism, endurance, and the enduring allure of ocean-bound competition.