{"id":368470,"date":"2019-05-13T13:00:47","date_gmt":"2019-05-13T20:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=368470"},"modified":"2019-05-13T10:52:11","modified_gmt":"2019-05-13T17:52:11","slug":"long-island-swimmers-bring-skills-to-state-beaches-as-lifeguards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/long-island-swimmers-bring-skills-to-state-beaches-as-lifeguards\/","title":{"rendered":"Long Island Swimmers Bring Skills to State Beaches as Lifeguards"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Ryan Klages, Swimming World College Intern.<\/em><\/p>\n

As another school year comes to an end and the summer season kicks off, people from all ends of the country will be making their way back to the beach. In Long Island, New York, the members of the Jones Beach Lifeguard Corps head back to work. The organization is made up of crew of over 500 lifeguards, and they protect the patrons of the eight different beaches across the Long Island region. A majority of the lifeguards are comprised of competitive swimmers who contribute their talents and abilities toward keeping people safe over the summer vacation.<\/p>\n

First Summer On Stand<\/h2>\n
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Photo Courtesy: Ryan Klages<\/p><\/div>\n

Nathan DeGuzman<\/strong> finished his first year with the JBLC last summer and raves about his time there: \u201cMy first year as a lifeguard at Jones Beach was truly and experience that I will never forget. Swimming is a sport that has been a part of my life since I was six years old. Becoming a lifeguard allowed me to put my swimming skills to the test.\u201d DeGuzman completed his senior year at Chaminade High School before becoming a lifeguard for the summer. He swam for his high school\u2019s varsity swim team, where he won two league championships.<\/p>\n

DeGuzman put those skills to the test at many points over the season. One afternoon during the summer, he sat on stand to actively guard patrons. “One patron had leaped off the diving board and immediately began to sink after attempting two strokes,” DeGuzman recalled. He blew his whistle to notify the other guards and jumped into the pool to make the rescue. “After bringing him to safety, he thanked me in the most gracious manner.”<\/p>\n

DeGuzman credits the friendliness of the work environment towards his decision to return to the beach again next summer.<\/p>\n

Competition Beyond the Blocks<\/h2>\n
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Photo Courtesy: Ryan Klages<\/p><\/div>\n

The spirit of competition burns bright in the JBLC. Once swimmers graduate and retire from the pool, the Jones Beach Lifeguard Corps<\/a> offers an athletic and competitive outlet. The lifeguards regularly compete at local and national competitions against some of the most talented lifeguards across the globe. Ultimately, the most anticipated competition comes toward the end of the season – the JBLC Inter-Beach Races. Beach crews compete against each other in a two-day series of 12 events, including the following: kayak and paddle races, pool and ocean swims, and rescue relays. Undoubtedly, the most contested and competitive event is called Beach Flags.<\/p>\n

Beach Flags is an event of skill, speed and timing. Competitors start on their stomach in the sand with arms crossed and hands folded on top of each other. The official signals the start, and the competitors place their chin onto their hands. Once the whistle blows, it’s an all-out sprint to capture the flag or stick 20 meters away. Beach Flags has many different rounds as competitors are eliminated musical-chairs style. Ultimately, as the competition is eliminated one by one, so too are the flags taken out until a champion is crowned.<\/p>\n