Surf and rescue : George Freeth and the birth of California beach culture / Patrick Moser.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Moser, Patrick (Patrick J.), 1963- author.

Contributor:

Rosengarten Family Fund.

Series:

Sport and society

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Surfers--Hawaii--Biography.

Surfers.

Swimming--Coaching.

Swimming.

Lifeguards--California--History.

Lifeguards.

Lifesaving--California--History.

Lifesaving.

Beaches--California.

Beaches.

History.

Manners and customs.

California--Social life and customs.

California.

Freeth, George, Jr., 1883-1919.

Freeth, George.

Hawaii.

Genre:

Biographies.

History.

Physical Description:

xiii, 216 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Urbana : University of Illinois Press, [2022]

Summary:

"The mixed-race Hawaiian athlete George Freeth brought surfing to Venice, California, in 1907. Over the next twelve years, Freeth taught Southern Californians to surf and swim while creating a modern lifeguard service that transformed the beach into a destination for fun, leisure, and excitement. Patrick Moser places Freeth's inspiring life story against the rise of the Southern California beach culture he helped shape and define. Freeth made headlines with his rescue of seven fishermen, an act of heroism that highlighted his innovative lifeguarding techniques. But he also founded California's first surf club and coached both male and female athletes, including Olympic swimming champion and "father of modern surfing" Duke Kahanamoku. Often in financial straits, Freeth persevered as a teacher and lifeguarding pioneer--building a legacy that endured long after his death during the 1919 influenza pandemic. A compelling merger of biography and sports history, Surf and Rescue brings to light the forgotten figure whose novel way of seeing the beach sparked the imaginations of people around the world"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note: 1. A Pacific Ocean Childhood

2. Renewing a Royal Sport at Waikiki

3. A Waterman in Los Angeles

4. The Rescue

5. Amateur Troubles

6. A Gold Life-Saving Medal

7. Return to the Islands

8. From Competitor to Mentor

9. Coaching Duke

10. A New Beginning in San Diego

11. Chief Lifeguard

12. Last Breath.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Rosengarten Family Fund.

Other Format:

Online version: Moser, Patrick (Patrick J.), 1963- Surf and rescue

ISBN:

9780252044441

0252044444

9780252086526

025208652X

OCLC:

1266354666

Publisher Number:

99990871976