Lifeguard 4 Life

Diving with Giant Stingrays

2011-10-17T16:23:00.000-07:00

20 Years of the Quest

2011-08-04T07:59:00.000-07:00

The Quest, started by Larry Moore, starts at the end of San Clemente Pier and ends at Balboa Pier. It took our group of 24 9 hours to complete the 26 miles of coastline.

Matuli Freshwater Surfing

2011-08-01T01:00:00.000-07:00

Joe Matulis surfing Lake Michigan in Fall 2010

Joe Matulis got hooked on surfing while lifegaurding in Southern California, and moving back to Michigan for the school year wasn't going to stop him from fueling his new addiction.

"Waves are more common in Michigan then you might think," Joe said. "You just need to know where to look."

Joe's favorite place to surf back home is on the lake. Lake Michigan is surrounded by private beaches and secret surf breaks.

"The lake is best to surf in the fall. The water is warm and the wind brings in the best surf," Joe said.

The falling air temperature over the warm lake water makes a strong wind the blows across the lake to form waves. Most of the waves on Lake Michigan are 1 to 2 feet, but Joe has surfed it as big as 6 feet.

"When you surf Michigan, you aren't looking for the biggest waves, but for the cleanest. It's an adventure to find where to go. It takes a long time to learn all the breaks and what conditions make them good," he said.

Joe Matulis surfing Lake Michigan in the winter

After years of exploring the Michigan coastline, Joe has finally gotten a good feeling for where the best surf is. The breaks are kept a secret within the surfing community to keep the crowds down. Once you prove yourself in the water, local surfers will to share their secrets.

The best waves might be in the fall, but winter storms can bring surfable waves from time to time. When they do, Joe is there. Not even the chunks of ice floating on the lakes surface stop him from getting in a surf session.

The spring showers might not bring waves on the lake, but it doesn't leave surfers stranded. The heavy rain combined with snow melt floods the Red Cedar River to make a secret spot. Right in the middle of Michigan State University, a few days a year, the river forms a standing wave against the rocks.

Joe learned about the standing wave by Pat Caldwell, a national champion body boarder.

"I didn't believe Pat at first but after looking at it [the river] every day before class I finally saw it!" Joe said.

Joe spent the next few days studying the wave before trying it out. The fast moving water and rocky bottom make the wave tricky and dangerous to surf. It would be easy to get wedged underwater against a rock and drown.

"One time my board purled and got caught against the rocks. I had to dive into the water and pull as hard as I could before it freed itself."

After studying the wave, Joe grabbed his board and became the first person ever to surf the Red Cedar River. People had kayaked and even body boarded the standing wave before, but never had anyone attempted to surf it.

Joe Matulis and Remi Hamel wake surfing

When the wind is dead and the rainy season is over surf a boat wake. As long as the lake isn't frozen, a boat wake can make for a fun workable ride.

Keep checking the local surf because the season is coming up fast and if you see the Matuli paddling out you know you came to the right spot.

Great White off North Beach

2011-07-28T08:07:00.000-07:00

During a whale watching trip out of Dana Point Harbor, the group got something a little extra. A mile off the coast at North Beach in San Clemente a 12-foot great white shark came up to the boat.

Lifeguard Taplin Relay (Preview)

2011-07-23T01:00:00.000-07:00

City of San Clemente 2010 Taplin Relay Team

The 2011 Lifeguard Taplin Relay is coming up on Saturday July 30, at the Hermosa Beach Pier. The event begins at 7 p.m. with a U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter and Los Angeles County Lifeguard Demo and lifeguard competitions followed by the Judge Taplin Three-mile Lifeguard Medley Relay.

Last summer the City of San Clemente team raced in the Taplin relay for the first time in years. Although we didn't finish first, we finished with pride. Excited with out first completed Taplin under our belt, we are now ready to come back strong and give the other teams a run for their money. This isn't our first rodeo anymore.

The Lifeguard Taplin relay is the most prestigious lifeguard event in Southern California. Named after Judge Irving Taplin, a former Municipal Court Judge in L.A. County, the Taplin relay was started in 1936. It has run every year since with the exception of 1942 to 1945 when the race was suspended due to World War II.

Judge Irving Taplin
Medley Relay Throphy Bell

Competing for a chance at taking home the Taplin Bell, teams from around the world show up in numbers with team caps, paddle boards, and dory boats. The bell is past down from year-to-year to the winners of the race. Each team is made of 16 ocean lifeguards; four swimmers, four paddlers, and four 2-man dory teams in an effort to have the best over all time. All 16 names of the winning team are engraved onto the bell to remind everyone of their win.

Come to the Hermosa Beach Pier at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 30 to watch the most competitive race in Southern California, and see who will be taking home the bell. Make sure to come early, the stadium seating fills up fast.

Untitled from MatuliSurfboards on Vimeo.

Teddy Goes Big In SC

2011-07-15T20:45:00.001-07:00

Teddy Goes Big In SC from MatuliSurfboards on Vimeo.

S.C. King and Queen of the Beach Race Series

2011-07-05T19:20:00.000-07:00

Lifeguard4Life will be holding its second beach race held in San Clemente.

The next race, 5k beach run, starts this Wednesday, July, 6th, 2011 at 7p.m. starting at City lifeguard tower 3 (just south of the San Clemente Pier)

This is the first race in the Wednesday night series. Other races will involve water elements. Think Ocean Festival events.

The event is free and open to anyone with a little competitive spirit.

Update: San Clemente Dory Boat Destroyed

2011-06-29T00:09:00.000-07:00

On June 14^th the San Clemente City Surf Lifesavings Association’s dory boat was found destroyed. With out delay, the National Doryman's Association donated a used boat in need of some work. Some City lifeguards have been spending their off duty time working to get the new boat in ship shape.

Rescue

2011-06-27T08:08:00.000-07:00

Rescue at tower one Saturday

Photos from Inside the Barrel

2011-06-27T01:00:00.000-07:00

More Waves at the Pier This Weekend

2011-06-27T00:40:00.000-07:00

Tube ride with Teddy at the San Clemente pier Saturday Afternoon

906

2011-06-26T14:19:00.000-07:00

Nick Hagen starts summer 2011 off making rescues at tower 3 on Saturday

Surfing San Clemente June 25

2011-06-25T01:13:00.001-07:00

Morning Tube Ride

2011-06-24T16:04:00.000-07:00

Tube ride with Jeff Marder at the San Clemente pier this morning.

San Clemente Sand Replenishment Program

2011-06-23T01:00:00.000-07:00

Here are a few videos of what the San Clemente Sand Replenishment program could look like with the dredged sand being pumped onto our beaches.

S.C. King and Queen of the Beach Race Series

2011-06-22T09:41:00.000-07:00

To kick off the summer, Lifeguard4Life will be holding the first weekly beach race held in San Clemente.

The first race, 5k beach run, starts this Wednesday, June, 29, 2011 at 7p.m. starting at City lifeguard tower 3 (just south of the San Clemente Pier)

This is the first race in the Wednesday night series. Other races will involve water elements. Think Ocean Festival events.

The event is free and open to anyone with a little competitive spirit. Future races will have prizes to the winners of the event.

Chasing Sea Snakes

2011-06-22T01:00:00.000-07:00

A clip Jeff Marder shot in Fiji using the flat lense housing and the expandable mono pod provided by Eye of Mine with his GoPro HD Camera

San Clemente Waves

2011-06-21T01:00:00.000-07:00

Photos from Jeff Marder of waves in San Clemente

Crumblin' Down at the SC Pier

2011-06-20T01:00:00.000-07:00

San Clemente Dory Boat Destroyed

2011-06-14T18:59:00.000-07:00

San Clemente Lifeguard dory boat found destroyed
in the surf early Tuesday morning.

The morning of Tuesday, June 14 should of started off with a morning workout for the lifeguards of San Clemente Marine Safety in their competition dory boat. Instead it started with hauling the boat out of the water piece by piece.

The dory boat has been a part of San Clemente for 30 years. It has brought the San Clemente Lifeguard Competition team to victory multiple times in the annual Ocean Festival and the Great Catalina Dory Race.

The team was just about to start the new race season when it was cut short by beach vandals.

Sometime during the night, someone pushed the boat from the lifeguard parking lot into the water. The waves and the high tide tore the fiberglass boat into pieces. Lifeguards arrived to find the pieces washed up on the shore.

Reported by Fred Swegles with the Orange County Register "It would cost thousands of dollars to have a new boat built, lifeguards said. A used one might be considerably cheaper. "It might not be the fastest boat out there, but at least it's a boat," lifeguard Ryan Buckley said."
Click here for full story and Slideshow

Lifeguards are now working towards finding a new boat before the race season starts. Every bit of support is appreciated and anyone that knows anything about the vandals that pushed the lifeguard boat into the water is encouraged to call San Clemente Marine Safety at (949) 361-8219

Scooter Adventures

2011-06-14T01:00:00.000-07:00

Allan Bayer and David McErlean
ready for a day of scootering around OC
Photo by David McErlean

How many miles can you go for less than $5 in gas?

If your in a car that probably means that you can't go much further than the gas station to your house. With a Yamaha Vino 125, the places are limitless.

Ok maybe not limitless. You can't go anywhere that requires a freeway but scooters can go anywhere else.

With 96 miles per gallon, the Vino is the perfect summer transporter for anyone staying close to home or traveling alone.

With this unstable economy, the price of gas is changing faster than Lady Gaga's costumes so every gallon counts. With the Scooter you don't have to worry because you don't need much fuel to fulfill your transportation needs.

After a 70 mile ride around Orange County, Allan Bayer of San Clemente only had to buy .7 gallons of gas to top off his tank. Take that Prius!

Bayer first became the proud owner of a Vino in 2008. He paid a thousand dollars for his 49cc bike. This machine tops out at 45 miles an hour.

He has since upgraded to the Vino 125. The Vino 125 is faster, quieter and gets better gas milage.

An econ major from Santa Barbara, Bayer loves the cost effectiveness and the convenience of being able to park anywhere when he rides his scooter.

"Buying a scooter is the best decision I have ever made in my life," said Bayer.

Next time you are at the gas station having to swipe your card twice because your Chevy Tahoe takes more than the $75 limit to fill the tank, think about getting a scooter.

How to Spot a Drowning

2011-06-13T01:00:00.000-07:00

Lifeguard rescues a girl from a rip current
Photo by David McErlean

This is a story from the National Sea Rescue Institute on what a person looks like when they are drowning. It is written by a former Coast Guard rescue swimmer in the Coast Guard's On Scene Magazine.

"The new captain jumped from the deck, fully dressed, and sprinted through the water. A former lifeguard, he kept his eyes on his victim as he headed straight for the couple swimming between their anchored sport fisher and the beach. "I think he thinks you're drowning," the husband said to his wife. They had been splashing each other and she had screamed but now they were just standing, next-deep on the sand bar. "We're fine, what is he doing?" she asked, a little annoyed. "We're fine!" the husband yelled, waving him off, but his captain kept swimming hard. "Move!" he barked as he sprinted between the stunned owners. Directly behind them, not four meters away, their nine-year-old daughter was drowning. Safely above the surface in the arms of the captain, she burst into tears, "Daddy!"

How did this captain know - from 20 meters away - what the father couldn't recognize from just four? Drowning is not the violent, splashing, call for help that most people expect. The captain was trained to recognize drowning by experts and years of experience. The father, on the other hand, had learned what drowning looks like by watching television. If you spend time on or near the water (hind: that's all of us) then you should make sure that you and your crew knows what to look for whenever people enter the water. Until she cried a tearful, "Daddy," she hadn't made a sound. As a former Coast Guard rescue swimmer, I wasn't surprised at all by this story. Drowning is almost always a deceptively quiet event. The waving, splashing and yelling that dramatic conditioning (television) prepares us to look for, is rarely seen in real life.
Click Here to read more of the story

Matuli Wave Storm, Episode 6, The Doyle

2011-06-09T01:00:00.000-07:00

Lifeguard 4 Life Comic

2011-06-08T01:00:00.000-07:00

Written by Thomas Dollar

Click on comic to enlarge

Random Wind Swell

2011-06-07T01:00:00.000-07:00

Unexpected Wind Swell from David McErlean on Vimeo.