Top Lifeguards across the nation will compete at Huntington Beach this weekend as the 2025 American Lifesaving Association national championships return to Surf City for the first time in 15 years.
The annual event will test rescue and marine skills for elite competitors from coastal communities across the country to challenge engaging surfing. The championship is open to the public for free and the competition continues Friday and Saturday from 7am to 5pm.
Organizers say a return to Huntington Beach is important for both the sport and the community. Because the event spins between locations and does not visit the city every year. The Southern California lifeguard is considered one of the country’s most powerful competitors thanks to daily training in challenging situations.
“This beach has a very strong flow that pulls you to the side,” said Coral Kemp, LA County Lifeguard, who has been competing in the event since 2012.
Friday’s feature event will be followed by the International Ironman Competition, a three-part race that includes surfski legs using kayak-like crafts designed for the waves, followed by a paddleboard race and a final ocean swim.
Competitors from across the country, including Delaware, New York City and Long Island. For many East Coast lifeguards, the 4- to 5-foot summer surf in Huntington Beach brings an unusual challenge.
“Many lifeguards from the East Coast will not train this type of surf unless there is a hurricane swell,” Kemp told KTLA. “For us, this is just a normal summer surfing.”
The Championship also highlights the Junior Lifeguard program, which has nearly 4,000 participants in LA County alone. Many competitors began as junior lifeguards before moving on to national and international teams.
The California team wants a strong show this year. According to Kemp, the state’s lifeguards have not won nationals in the “yearly” but are good to compete for the title in 2025.
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