Lifeguard hopefuls hit the sand in Huntington Beach and San Clemente on Saturday, Jan. 29, for the first of many tryouts along the Southern California coast that put aspiring summer guards to the test.
It was no easy task for this job interview, with applicants having to brave a strong swell and currents, not to mention the chilly, toe-numbing water.
“It’s a perfect testing ground,” said Huntington Beach Marine Safety Battalion Chief Eric Dieterman.
An estimated 80 to 100 people signed up for the tryouts, held two weeks earlier this year to try to catch college-age applicants home for the holidays.
Dieterman said the draw to serve, at least in Huntington Beach, is the strong connection between public safety and lifeguards, with many seasonal guards using the experience as a stepping stone into different lifesaving careers with police or fire departments. Some enjoy the beach scenery and lifesaving action in the surf so much they make being a lifeguard a full-time career.
“You’re working at the beach. The office is a nice place to be,” Dieterman said.
State Parks held its tryouts for San Clemente-area beaches on the same day, like Huntington Beach using a mix of swim and run tests before picking out the top performers to move to the next round of testing, which includes interviews and training.
State Parks spokesman Kevin Pearsall said for the past two years there have been more applicants than ever before because of interest in the job’s outdoor setting.
A new trend in recent years is the number of police officers looking for a change, he said. At State Parks, park rangers are often a mix of lifeguards and police, using both badge and buoy.
“I’ve been doing this for 23 years, I’ve never had so many inquires from fully sworn police officers and sheriffs,” he said.
There’s also an increase in the number of surfers who want to transition to lifeguard duty – often a good fit because they understand the dynamics of the ocean, Pearsall said.
State Parks has several more tryouts scheduled at other beaches, including Huntington State Beach and Crystal Cove, and applicants can pick at which beach they prefer to work.
While being outdoors and being part of public safety is appealing to many, another reason people are signing up is the comradery aspect – forming friendships on the sand with other like-minded lifesavers, Pearsall said.
“They all get to know each other, interact with each other,” he said. “They loved the team atmosphere, working together and getting to know and meet more people.”
Tryouts at various Southern California beaches, held by the agency responsible for that stretch, continue through February and March. For a list of dates, go to cslsa.org