Skateboard entrepreneur James Spanton-Hopton, 14, made a custom skateboard for the Seal Beach Lifeguards to honor them for their work. James, a Seal Beach resident, has his own skateboard company, called Ternion Skate, and has been a part of the Junior Lifeguard program for four years. Shaped like the familiar rescue buoy, the skateboard was recently donated to Chief Joe Bailey and Michael Diller, the past Junior Lifeguard coordinator.
In third-grade, James tried out for the first time for the Lifeguard program.
He was nervous. Diller jumped in the water with him, gave him some tips, and he passed. Every year at the end of the summer, he said the same thing: “Mom, I don’t want JG to end!”
Diller liked the board so much, he ordered his own custom skateboard with the Seal Beach Lifeguard Association logo complete with Sharkwheels.
By the way, this wasn’t the first time James made a custom board for emergency personnel. Last year, James made a custom board for the Seal Beach Police Department to show his appreciation and love for local officers.
It is on display in the lobby at police headquarters.
Anna Spanton is James Spanton-Hopton’s mother.
