Historical Timeline

Our historical timeline of the ION® Bridge to Breakwater® Events wouldn't be complete without highlights of the local, homegrown, personal athletic and business journey of Sports Executive and Event Founder Dave Behar.

1964-1979 » The First Fifteen Years

» Behar born at San Pedro and Peninsula Hospital
» Behar attends Seventh Street School. Designs first logo for school.
» Behar is All-Star Baseball player in all seasons at Friendship Park, Bloch Field and Fromhold Field
» Behar breaks 50-yard dash record at Dana Junior High School
» Begins 30+ years of surfing in West Coast, Australia and Hawaii. Royal Palms still one of favorites.
» Makes first appearance at LA City Track and Field Championships

1980-1995 » Right Turns

1980
» Behar earns All-Marine League Honors as a Pitcher
» Behar breaks 440 yd. High school record, which still stands today (440 eventually replaced by 400 meters)
» Behar leads league in punt and kickoff return yardage as SPHS B Team wins Marine League
» Makes second appearance at LA City Track and Field Championships

1981
» In addition to starting pitcher and center field duties for the Pirate Varsity Baseball team, Behar leads SPHS Varsity Track Team in the 100, 220, 440, anchors 440 Relay and Mile Relay
» Behar graduates San Pedro High School as a four-sport letterman, along with winning extensive design awards for Fore n aft Newspaper as Managing Editor and serving in Student Government, Knights

1983
» Behar expands Sixth Street Mixed Doubles Championships in Hermosa Beach, attracting several male and female pros

1984
» Behar enrolls at San Diego State University, joins Tau Kappa Epsilon

1985
» Behar becomes San Diego State University’s IFC Rush Chairman
» Behar creates merchandising company Team Greek – quickly capturing over 50% of the Fraternity / Sorority product market in San Diego County

1987
» Prior to graduating from SDSU, Team Greek is acquired and comprehensive plans are made in the underserved sport of Volleyball.

1988
Behar launches the I DIG Volleyball Brand in San Diego

1989
» Behar, along with his I DIG Brand, produce first ever Six Man Pro Beach Volleyball World Championships, featuring the top Professional and Olympic athletes
 
» As a player, places 5th in famous Estero Beach “Mex” Tournament with Pro Beach Legend Bob “Vogie” Vogelsang, from over hundreds of teams
 
» As a player, Behar plays backrow specialist for NBA Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain at the famous Manhattan Six Person Volleyball Tournament, along with several Olympic stars.

1990
» Behar creates “optic ball” revolution, introducing the “Pro Pink” Beach Volleyball. I DIG Volleyballs rise to quickly become the #2 Beach Volleyball ball brand behind Spalding Top Flite
 
» I DIG achieves distribution in 50 states and over 25 countries.
 
» Behar is integral in developing Pro Beach Volleyball in Australia, along with negotiating major sponsorships, including Nestle.
 
» Behar invents the first footwear made especially for Beach Volleyball
 
» Behar and Chris Marlowe produce high profile, nationally televised “Legends of Pro Beach Volleyball” at Hermosa Beach – noted by Hermosa Beach City Officials for being one of the best run large events ever in the Waterfront community.
 

1992
» High level acquisition of I DIG after successful pioneering of Volleyball niche
 
» Behar moves to San Francisco, later establishing Brand Development and Licensing Consultancy focused on sports and technology

1993
» Behar runs (and later volunteers time) in his first San Francisco Bay to Breakers Race – places in top 5%.
 
» Behar forms PAC-10 (winningest NCAA Conference) Licensing Unit from San Francisco offices – marries new Collegiate Merchandising initiatives with Apple’s eWorld, Fox Sports and ABC Telecasts
 
» I RUN brand becomes Official Merchandiser of the San Francisco Marathon

1994
» Establishes first of “Six in the Park™” Volleyball Tournaments in Golden Gate Park, benefiting Cystic Fibrosis

1995
» ION® Bridge to Breakwater® Race conceived by Behar as an LA alternative to SF Bay to Breakers (race between Vincent Thomas Bridge and Cabrillo Beach)
 
» PAC-10 Properties joint venture with FOX and Liberty Sports founded
 
» PAC-10 identity designed by Behar, effectively creates Conference “brand”
 
» Big West and West Coast Conference identity and “brands” designed by Behar
 
» Behar designs Official Merchandise for 1996 Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games, namely Basketball and Soccer products for Molten and adidas.

1996-2005 » Ten good years

1998
» 65 days prior to the event date, Behar’s Event team. saves Europa Festival from being cancelled, plugs in iFest – immediately attracting over five dozen artisan booths, 3 music stages (Siberian band Red Elvises introduced to San Pedro) and Interactive exhibits by Los Angeles Galaxy, Anaheim Angels, and Los Angeles Sparks. Over 12,500 attend. (Following year, San Pedro Chamber of Commerce takes over event and is discontinued after two years of attempts.)
» San Pedro SportsWalk Committee, 20th Anniverary Gala is staged for the first time at Warner Grand, honoring Jim Murray (posthumously), Don Newcombe, Sinjin Smith and others.
» Behar negotiates Farmer’s Market’s return to Downtown San Pedro “Business Improvement District” (BID)
» Bridge to Breakwater® website goes live

1999
» Positive Ions, Inc. is founded, to feature over 1000+ Internet Channels and Stores, including ionSports (150+ Channels) and. Key clients, products, partners later to include top technology, auto, music, sports, apparel companies
» Behar leads staging of largest First Thursdays event ever – honoring City Champion San Pedro Pirate Football Team

2001
» ionNetwork, featuring the ionChannels, a network of 1,000 Internet Channels, in beta. ionSports Channels

2002
» bridgetobreakwater.com goes live
» Behar named to Founding board of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse Park Advisory Board
» cabrillobeach.org, underwritten by Positive Ions, to benefit the revitalization of Bathhouse and promote beach usage, launched. The Bathhouse is at the end of the race.

2003
» Positive Ions commits significant resources into developing enhanced version and participation in Bridge to Breakwater® race
» Behar voted Vice Chairman of Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse Park Advisory Board

2004
» ionFurniture featured in VIP lounge at first X Games at Staples Center in Los Angeles
» Along with Park Advisory Board, Behar creates Cabrillo Beach Sports Day for promotion of Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse and helps reinitiate non-profit Cabrillo Beach Boosters
» Ions.com Internet Search Network averages over one billion searches per month, ionSports Channels lead growth in Sports related searches

2005
» Bridge to Breakwater® Run, Walk, Ride, Skate and Row staged (dry run)
» Ions.com Internet Search Network averages over two billion searches per month, ionSports Channels lead growth in Sports related searches