Date, Tide, Temperature, Conditions

Del Mar in the 70’s, Part 1

Del Mar, circa the Seventies. View from Sea Grove Park. Photo by Jim Lischer.

Date: Summer, 1978
Tides: Low 6:26, High 1:20
Temp: Air 70, Water 68
Conditions: 5–6 Perfect

As he straddled his bright pink surfboard, legs dangling into the water on either side, eyes fixed on the horizon, Jon had a split-second decision to make. A swell was forming, a big one, but it would break left. Taking a left at his current position would mean crossing into the no-surf zone — an area marked on the beach by a yellow flag with a black ball. And this particular black ball flag sat directly in front of the lifeguard tower under the careful watch of a lifeguard named Mike. Mike’s eyes squinted, his hand hovered over his bullhorn.

Surfing was a way of life in Del Mar. But so too was lifeguarding. Far more than a summer job, lifeguarding was the town’s version of working at a local mine, factory or university. A job deeply intertwined with the city itself.

Del Mar Lifeguards in the 70’s. Photo by Jim Lischer.

Jon went ahead and took that wave, straight into the swim zone. He knew the consequences, but did it anyway. Not because he wanted to risk the safety of children…