Lifeguards to do battle

Members of the Laguna Beach Lifeguard Assn. will put their competitive skills to the test against ocean lifeguards from throughout the state Friday and Saturday at the 31st annual California Surf Life Saving Championships and California Junior Lifeguard Championships at the south side of the Newport Beach Pier in Newport Beach.

The Junior Lifeguard Regional is Friday and the California Lifeguards competition is Saturday.

Nearly 2,000 competitors ranging in age from 8 to 17 will come from nearly 30 agencies in Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, San Diego, Long Beach, LA County, California State Parks, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz. The event includes ocean swims, beach runs and rescue paddleboard races. Junior guards will compete in their age groups individually and on their respective teams.

Scott Diederich of the Laguna Beach Lifeguard Assn. said the association has finished in third place at the regional championships the last two years. In each year, Laguna Beach (under 100 employees) has placed behind L.A. County Lifeguard Assn. (650 members) and California State Lifeguard Assn (350 members).

Diederich said Laguna Beach has previously won the B division (small teams) championship.

The two-day event will be held at the south side of the Newport Beach Pier between 18th and 20th streets.

— Mike Sciacca