Cold war for lifeguard spots

Sure it’s always cold each year when the aspiring Newport Beach lifeguards jump into the ocean to compete for the summer job, but Sunday was a bit chillier than usual.

“I’ve been a junior lifeguard for six years and this is the coldest it’s ever been ? but it’s a good experience,” said Ryan Shaver, 17, of Huntington Beach.

Julia Relph, 18, of San Diego, said she got talked into competing Sunday by some of her friends.

“The water was freezing and my face is numb,” Relph said.

But then there were more stoic competitors like Brandon Hargraves, 19, of Newport Beach.

“I woke up today and felt like I needed to get in the water,” Hargraves said.

A hundred wannabe Newport Beach city lifeguards braved cold temperatures and frigid water in the swim-and-run competition at Newport Pier on Sunday.

With only a swimsuit and a cap between them and the 54-degree temperatures, 100 young competitors checked into the make-it-or-fail competition, and 89 made it back to shore unaided from the initial 800-meter ocean swim. After lining up to record their place in the race, arms clenched for warmth and spitting salt-water, they dried off and listened to directions for the second part of the competition. The swimmers ran another 1,000 meters and swam another 300 meters in a swim-run-swim competition to complete the race.

The city selected 38 of the fastest swimmers to go on to the training academy, where applicants compete further in physical and mental tests for any lifeguard openings available for the summer, said Jennifer Schulz, spokeswoman for the Newport Beach Fire Department, which manages the lifeguard program.

“It’s an excellent summer position, with good pay, fits their schedule and helps them stay in shape,” Schulz said.

Parents, friends and curious onlookers lined the sand and boardwalk to watch the competitors despite the weather and 8 a.m. start.

“We come every year because both our sons are lifeguards ? we think it’s a phenomenal program,” said Deb Pirdy, mother of lifeguards Travis and Spencer Pirdy of Newport Beach. “It’s one of the best lifeguard services in the world. They mentor the kids, they have a terrific command staff, and the group is very close-knit.”

The swimmers usually swim 1,000 meters in the first part of the competition, but the race was shortened to 800 meters Sunday because of the weather, Schulz said. Several lifeguards are on hand to help any swimmer who may get into trouble and cannot finish the race. No one was injured Sunday. And the weather wasn’t too unusual.

“It’s always choppy waters, heavy winds and cold for the competition,” Schulz said.

Many competitors come from the area swim teams, she added.

The tryouts are always early in the year to give the staff time to train and select applicants before summer, she said.

Swimmers check in as they complete each segment of the race, and the city selects the top competitors based on a combination of placement from both races, Schulz said.

These finalists will go on to attend all-day academy training classes beginning on April 22 and selected dates through May 21. Lifeguards must pass a physical examination and a drug and alcohol screen, be 16-years or older, and have 20-40 correctable in aquatic environment vision.dpt.13-lifeguard-1-dz-CPhotoInfoM71OSLVP20060313iw1f4gknPHOTOS BY: DOUGLAS ZIMMERMAN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Newport Beach Lifeguard hopefuls race from the starting line of the 1,000-meter swim into the ocean near Blackie’s just north of the Newport Pier on Sunday. The applicants braved the 51.5-degree water to win a trainee spot. dpt.13-lifeguard-2-dz-CPhotoInfoM71OSLVR20060313iw1fd3kn(LA)After completing the 1,000-meter swim, lifeguard hopeful Maura Priest bundles up in some warm blankets at the lifeguard station.