Top lifeguards from across the United States are competing in Huntington Beach this weekend as the 2025 United States Lifesaving Association National Championships return to Surf City for the first time in 15 years.
The annual event draws elite competitors from coastal communities nationwide to test their rescue and ocean skills in challenging surf. The championships are free and open to the public, with competition running from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Organizers say the return to Huntington Beach is significant for both the sport and the community, as the event rotates between locations and does not visit the city every year. Lifeguards from Southern California are considered among the strongest competitors in the country, thanks in part to daily training in challenging conditions.
“This beach has a really strong current that pulls you to the sides,” said L.A. County lifeguard Coral Kemp, who has competed in the event since 2012. “Much like in real-life rescues, you have to know where to enter the water so you can reach someone as quickly as possible.”
Among Friday’s featured events is the International Ironman competition, a three-part race that includes a surfski leg – using a kayak-like craft designed for waves – followed by a paddleboard race and a concluding ocean swim.
Competitors hail from across the country, including Delaware, New York City and Long Island. For many East Coast lifeguards, Huntington Beach’s 4-to 5-foot summer surf presents a rare challenge.
“Many lifeguards from the East Coast don’t train in this kind of surf unless there’s a hurricane swell,” Kemp told KTLA. “For us, this is normal summer surf.”
The championships also highlight the junior lifeguard program, which in L.A. County alone has nearly 4,000 participants. Many competitors began as junior lifeguards before advancing to national and international teams.
California teams are hoping for a strong showing this year. According to Kemp, the state’s lifeguards have not won nationals in “a chunk of years” but are well positioned to contend for the title in 2025.
The post National lifeguard championships hit Huntington Beach appeared first on KTLA.
