The office scenery doesn’t get any better: The glistening ocean, while watching beachgoers enjoy the surf and sand.
But lifeguarding is no easy task, having to watch over the crowds who flock to the area’s coastline and be ready to race into action at any sign of trouble.
Four lifeguard hopefuls stretch before trying out in Huntington Beach for a summer job on the sand. Like other agencies, Huntington Beach is looking to fill the tower slots earlier as recruiting continues to be a challenge. This tryout was on Saturday, January 28, 2023. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
There were four lifeguard hopefuls trying out in Huntington Beach Saturday for a summer job on the sand. Like other agencies, Huntington Beach is looking to fill the tower slots earlier as recruiting continues to be a challenge. This tryout was on Saturday, January 28, 2023. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Huntington Beach lifeguard Derek Peters goes of the course that the lifeguard hopefuls from left to right, are Dewey Clark, Riley Sterzer, Samson Rakhshani. will run and swim while trying for a summer job on the sand. From left to right, Derek Peters, Dewey Clark, Riley Sterzer, Samson Rakhshani. Like other agencies, Huntington Beach is looking to fill the tower slots earlier as recruiting continues to be a challenge. This tryout was on Saturday, January 28, 2023. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Lifeguard hopeful, Dewey Clark starts the home stretch while trying out in Huntington Beach for a summer job on the sand. Like other agencies, Huntington Beach is looking to fill the tower slots earlier as recruiting continues to be a challenge. This tryout was on Saturday, January 28, 2023. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Lifeguard hopeful, Dewey Clark sis on the home stretch while trying out in Huntington Beach for a summer job on the sand. Like other agencies, Huntington Beach is looking to fill the tower slots earlier as recruiting continues to be a challenge. This tryout was on Saturday, January 28, 2023. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Nicole Salerno was the first one of the lifeguard hopefuls trying out in Huntington Beach for a summer job on the sand to come out of the water. Like other agencies, Huntington Beach is looking to fill the tower slots earlier as recruiting continues to be a challenge. This tryout was on Saturday, January 28, 2023. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
While Huntington Beach lifeguard Derk Peters records their times, the lifeguard hopefuls try to catch their breath. Like other agencies, Huntington Beach is looking to fill the tower slots earlier as recruiting continues to be a challenge. This tryout was on Saturday, January 28, 2023. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Dewey Clark was one the lifeguard hopefuls trying out in Huntington Beach Saturday for a summer job on the sand. Like other agencies, Huntington Beach is looking to fill the tower slots earlier as recruiting continues to be a challenge. This tryout was on Saturday, January 28, 2023. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Three of the four, from left to right, Dewey Clark, Nicole Salerno and Riley Sterzer were some of the lifeguard hopefuls trying out in Huntington Beach Saturday for a summer job on the sand. Like other agencies, Huntington Beach is looking to fill the tower slots earlier as recruiting continues to be a challenge. This tryout was on Saturday, January 28, 2023. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
“I think it gives most of our team a sense of purpose, and making a difference in the community is not a bad way to make a living,” said Huntington Beach Marine Safety Capt. Derek Peters.
Lifeguard hopefuls showed up at the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday, Jan. 28, sprinting on the chilly sand and racing in the body-numbing waters to earn their spot this summer in one of the beach towers dotting the coast.
Huntington Beach, like many of the other lifeguard agencies across the region, are holding tryouts earlier and more frequently than in past years as recruitment has been a challenge.
Longtime lifeguards speculate several reasons for the hiring woes, everything from a need for higher, more competitive wages to conflicts with other sport schedules that don’t allow high school or college students the same flexibility they once had.
Huntington Beach started its tryouts in October, with two more in November. An earlier tryout this month was pushed to this weekend due to the storms, and their last tryouts is scheduled for Feb. 25.
“We decide to offer more employment opportunities with more tryouts,” Peters said, noting the city beach has about 35 part-time seasonal positions available.
Ocean experience is preferred, but not mandatory, said Peters, who comes from a surfing background.
“We’ll take a person with a lot of ocean experience into strong consideration,” he said. “(But) we’re really focused on looking for applicants with our core values: humility, integrity, social awareness, passion, exceptionality and legacy.”
