Junior Lifeguards Hit Beach for Taplin Relays

Venice Beach's Junior Lifeguard program will participate in the "Super Bowl" of all summer competitions Friday – the annual Taplin Relays at Dockweiler Beach in Playa del Rey.

Local lifeguards-in-training will compete against teams from other Southern California beaches, including Zuma, Santa Monica, Will Rogers, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, North Hermosa, South Hermosa, Redondo, Torrance, Cabrillo and Avalon.

Competition will begin at 8:30 a.m. and last until 1:30 p.m. between Lifeguard Towers 50 and 51.

The Taplins have been part of the Junior Lifeguard tradition for many years and require the ultimate in teamwork and unity. Instructors select an 18-person team consisting of six runners, six paddlers and six swimmers. Teams from each beach race against each other in a relay format.

The "C" Division (ages 9-11) competes first at 9 a.m., followed by the "B" Division (ages 12-13) at 10 a.m. and the Boys/Girls "A" Divisions (ages 14-15) at 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. 

There will also be a six-person "Junior" Taplin Relay for the "A" and "AA" (ages 16-17) levels on Saturday at 7 p.m., just before the start of the Lifeguard Taplin Relay.

Click here for more information and directions.