A 29 Year Tradition Ended, that is Still Missed

Michael Sanders, Santa Monica Gymfest, September 7, 1992.
1992 would be the final year of this 29 year tradition.

Before my first year at UCLA, Russ Ideishi (my coach during my last year of high school) had me check out the annual "Beach Meet" (Santa Monica Gymfest). He trained for it about a week before the meet. I distinctly recall him on the floor at Redlands YMCA (after not tumbling since the two weeks before the previous Beach Meet) throw not only his double twist, but stylish passes in practice that I thought were a bit nuts at the time: A suicide back tuck where he did a long set and didn't pull into his tuck until gravity was pulling him back down; and a pretty full twist with arms held out to the sides like a plane.

Gymnastics is a small community. People from all over the world would come and converge on Labor Day Weekend for the Santa Monica Beach Meet. It was a place where gymnasts like Russ could see friends he hadn't seen since the previous year, like the annual family get-together on Thanksgiving or Christmas. It was a place where you also could find current collegiate and international competitors as well as up-and-comers.

Glenn Sundby began the Santa Monica Gymfest in 1963 "to have a fun competition where all could enjoy gymnastics without caring who won."

Al and Linda Luber took over the reins of running the Gymfest in 1974, with Glenn Sundby still providing sponsorship:

Al and his wife Linda took over the running of the Santa Monica Gymfest held every Labor Day weekend from 1974 to the early 1980’s. This very fun, low key competition in the sand was started by Glenn Sundby from Gymnast Magazine in the early 1960’s. It had an all-comers format and the prelims would allow novice gymnasts to participate along side Olympians.

I loved the laid back atmosphere where kids competed against old-timers and Olympians- didn't matter, your skills would speak for themselves regardless of age and experience; I seem to recall one competitor on floor chomping on a cigar; Chuck Gaylord would hold his planche and maltese on rings and then turn his head to the crowd with a grin, shades on and all.

There was no spring floor and no landing mats. You did all your dismounts onto sand. Throw and miss a release on high bar, and you could find yourself coming up, coughing up sand after hitting the ground.

Steve Butcher and Frank Endo and the coach from Glendale Y whose name escapes me, were judges I often remember seeing there. I remember once, Steve Butcher (I'm pretty sure it was him) was the judge on floor and while the competitor was going through his routine, Steve was checking out a beach babe walking by him and struck up a few words with her. I don't recall what he scored the guy on floor ex. It was that kind of care-free atmosphere.

Half-in half-out, Michael Sanders on rings, Santa Monica Gymfest 1992. Photo taken by Russ Ideishi. (I recognize Dan McCann, Art Shurlock, and Steve Hug in the background)

In 1992, after my last year of college eligibility, I competed and won rings. I also won rings in 1991, in which things seemed to be on the decline, with low turnout and failure to bring out actual competition equipment. We had to use the high bar, rings, and parallel bars that basically amounted to playground equipment. I remember us digging a grave under the steel rings to make them "higher" for dismounts.

A few people have been transferring old 8 mm films into digital format and uploading them to YouTube. Check out elfalcone2008's and ciscopimental's uploads.

You can see some of the real legends doing some really insane stunts. Examples:

First quad?



Some swinging rings:






Mark Davis' clown routine on rings (about 1:50 in):



Mark Davis' quad:



As Rick points out, Venice and Santa Monica beach have a long and rich history in acrobatics and muscle fitness that goes back, beyond the Santa Monica Gymfest; remnants of which can still be seen today, including more recent trends, like travelling rings.

The following is illegally pillaged from the pages of the October '74 issue of International Gymnast Magazine:













I had a conversation with Mike Cates at Broadway Gymnastics School at the beginning of summer, and he talked of reviving and sponsoring the Santa Monica Gymfest if he can find the right person to hire who is willing to take on the challenge of organizing and hosting and promoting....