The Candidate Pool Shrinks

After two grueling days of training with the Seasonal Rookie Ocean Lifeguard Academy (SROLA), only half the original tryouts remain.

“I thought the first weekend would be a little easier,” lifeguard cadet said after the March 26-27 sessions. “It turned out to be the closest thing to hell I can think of.”

Silvers survived the trial by water, but some of his peers were less fortunate. “After the first event on Saturday, I didn’t see my friend for a while,” he said. “It turns out he came in second-to-last, became super-hypothermic and was strongly advised to drop out, which he eventually did.”

The tryouts began March 5 with , a field that withered to 46 that day and now stands at just 34.

The goal is to land a job as paid professional lifeguard in Laguna Beach. The training lasts 100 hours over the course of four weekends, making for strenuously long days. Luckily for the cadets, the competition isn't purely physical.

“Generally, there are three physical events and approximately six hours of instruction [per day] on lifesaving techniques, including ocean rescue and basic life support,” said Marine Safety Lt. Kai Bond, who heads up the SROLA program.

But trainees are kept in the dark about scheduling. After Cadet  and her colleagues finished assorted physical and classroom portions of the program on March 26, she breathed a sigh of relief. “We thought the day would be done, but they took us back to the beach at 3:30 pm and we had to do another swimming event.” 

Mother Nature also kept trainees on their toes. Windy conditions made swimming much more difficult, Shusko said: “There were some big wave sets on Saturday and I got pounded a few times.”

The next day, water and air temperatures dropped. “When we rolled up to the white tower on Main Beach, it was drizzling hard and we had to get in Speedos and do a 2-mile-long swim right off the bat,” cadet said.

Silvers added: “The water dropped 2 degrees, which is very dramatic when you're swimming. It feels like a whole new world out there.”

All three of our cadets made it through Round 2, although not unscathed. Shusko injured her ankle the first day and had to sit out several drills. "There are some hidden holes where the surf hits and I twisted my ankle," she said.

When asked to predict her fate in the next round, her confidence wavered slightly. “I think I will be able to get through it,” she said. “My brother [who is currently a lifeguard] always says it's about getting through the first weekend, so I think I will be able to tough it out.”

Silvers and Wellsfry both forecast success ahead. “I definitely think I can continue,” Silvers said. “I’m exhausted from it, but it’s manageable.”

Lt. Bond described SROLA as highly competitive and demanding. Cadets are timed and rated against each other in physical challenges and must score at least 90 percent on all written and physical exams. The Marine Safety Department typically fills 15 to 20 vacancies per year.

Check back with Laguna Beach Patch later this week to see who was strong and determined enough to persevere the next round.