Surf Festival Sponsors Activities at Beaches This Weekend

The 34th annual International Surf Festival to promote healthy living is offering more beach activities than ever this year.

The three-day event, sponsored by the Manhattan Beach-based Beach Cities Health District and Body Glove, began Friday with a surfing competition at the Manhattan Beach Pier and will continue throughout the weekend with events in Hermosa, Manhattan and Redondo beaches.

“This is a great opportunity for residents to get involved with all these fitness opportunities,” said Charlotte Lesser, community events coordinator for the health support agency. “There’s so many different things they can do.”

This year’s events include a two-mile swim and walk from the Hermosa Beach Pier to the Manhattan Beach Pier, a volleyball tournament, sandcastle design contest, fishing derby, body surfing contest and a health fair at the Hermosa Beach Pier today from 9 a.m. to noon.

As part of the festival, Los Angeles County lifeguards will compete against lifeguards from Australia and Orange County in a rescue event at Manhattan Beach Pier tonight.

Information booths at Hermosa and Manhattan Beach piers list the activities which are open to the public today, 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.