The legendary "Duke" Paoa Kahanamoku of Hawaii served as the honorary event Chairman. The event was held on Novemand drew an immense crowd of 115,000 spectators. Don Gustuson, Team Manager Harry Shaeffer, Team Coach Tom Shaeffer, Tom Moore, Tom Zahn, Dan Durego, Tim Guard, L. of Los Angeles City (LACity), Tad Devine (Santa Monica City), Bob Burnside (LACO), Mike Bright (LACO), Greg Noll (LACO), Dave Ballinger (LACO), Chick McIlroy (LACO), Paul McIlroy (LACO), Sheridan Byerly (LACO), and Roger Jensen (LACO). Team members from the SLSA included Team Captain Rusty Williams of Los Angeles County (LACO), Team Coach Kirby Temple (LACO), Team Manager Herb Barthels, Sr. This was the first American lifeguard association of its kind, even if its name was a bit grand considering its narrow scope. The California lifeguards organized themselves under the banner of the Surf Life Saving Association of America (SLSA), although they were solely from the Los Angeles County and Los Angeles City lifeguard agencies. Both teams were required trained and awarded, "The Australian Surflifesavers Medallion," so as to meet the international competition standards required for the event. California lifeguards and a contingent from the Territory of Hawaii decided to participate. The Honorable Judge Adrian Curlewis of Australia appointed Arthur Parkens, an Australian lifesaving instructor, to solicit participation from the United States. When Australia was chosen to host the 1956 summer Olympics, lifesavers there decided to hold an invitational lifesaving competition to be known as the Australian Olympic International Surf Championships at Torquay Beach, outside Melbourne, Victoria.
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