Lifeguards spend all day, all week on the beach, and when it’s time to relax, many go right back
OCEAN CITY – Summer at the Jersey Shore is an exciting time for many, bringing joy and adventure to people from all walks of life.
For children, it’s the signal that school is out. Tourists from Pennsylvania, New York and beyond flock to the shore, eager to soak in the sun, sandy beaches and refreshing ocean waves, even in this final week before school begins again.
For the locals, summer signifies the arrival of the best days, filled with sunny skies and warm waters.
However, while summer is a period of rest and relaxation for many, it’s the busiest season for the lifeguarding community of southern New Jersey.
Lifeguards must remain vigilant and undergo extensive training to keep their skills sharp and ensure the safety of beachgoers.
Some come from the surrounding area, but many also come from out of town for the summer. Their schedules are packed, from week-long shifts to the much-anticipated beach patrol races each week.
Working at the beach all week might seem like a dream job, but it can also be exhausting, with hours spent in the sun watching bathers and gauging their risk level.
So, what do lifeguards do on their days off?
Ocean City Beach Patrol rookie Brynn Gallagher shared her perspective.
“On my off days? I’m right back at the beach. It’s where I’m at home,” she said. “There’s no better place to be, especially in the summer. If I’m not guarding the beach, I’m surfing the waves,”
Gallagher, a dedicated surfer raised in Ocean City, is entering her junior year at Ocean City High School. Over the past year, she has competed in several prestigious surfing competitions, including the Ron Jon Roxy Pro, the Barbados Surf Pro and the U.S. Air Force SuperGirl Pro.
When she’s not lifeguarding or riding the waves, she’s usually catching up on some much-needed rest.
Gallagher isn’t the only OCBP lifeguard who loves the beach. Second-year guard Summer Dewitt is entering her senior year at Egg Harbor Township High School. An avid swimmer on the EHT Eagles swim team, Dewitt is passionate about the beach.
“I’ve been swimming since I was 4 years old, and I’ve always loved the beach. Being able to be a lifeguard has been the best part of the summer. My dad and my brother also did it, so you could say it runs in the family,” she said.
With senior year approaching, Dewitt is focused on college and trying to enjoy the summer with friends and family.
“Lately, when I’m not guarding, I’ve been looking at colleges. I definitely want to swim and probably somewhere in North Jersey,” Dewitt said. “Besides that, I like to relax or hang out with my friends and just chill.”
Chloe Care, a senior at OCHS and a member of the track and field team, has been a dedicated member of OCBP for two years. Her quick feet have led to many OCBP wins in beach patrol races. When not working on the beach or training, Care shared what her summer looks like.
“I try to hang with my friends a lot during the summer, even with work it’s still when we have the easiest time seeing each other. Whether I’m competing in the beach patrol races or not, I still try to come to the majority of them to support my friends who are competing,” Care said. “I love the beach, though, that’s why I love my job so you can probably find me there even on my off days.”
While some OCBP lifeguards prepare for high school and college athletics, many are already working on the next step of life. Such as OCBP veteran Andrew Shaw, who is in his 11th year lifeguarding. When not protecting the beaches of Ocean City, Shaw is running his own tutoring business.
“I have a private tutoring business in St. Augustine, Fla., during the offseason that takes up a lot of my time. I love it down there; it really is a passion of mine that I’ve turned into a full-time offseason gig,” Shaw said. “As for off days during the summer season, it’s nothing special. I just relax, hang with some of my friends who live up this way, that kind of thing.”
Aside from the OCBP’s finest, other patrols’ lifeguards have a similar way of spending their downtime.
Margate City Beach Patrol’s (MCBP) Sofia Day is a rookie but is making waves for herself this year by winning several lifeguard race events. Day is a senior at Mainland Regional High School who has been running track and field and cross country since her freshman year. When not on the beach training, Day likes to take it easy.
“There’s already enough training during the school year and during the week; I try to relax on my off days,” she said. “I’ll just hang out with friends, maybe grab food somewhere with them, but honestly it’s nice to just lay at home and watch a movie sometimes too.”
Another MCBP lifeguard who appreciates his down time is Zach Vasser. In his fourth year on the MCBP, Vasser is a former MRHS swim team member and now swims for Columbia University. A sophomore pursuing a degree in economics, Vasser balances his academics with training.
“College definitely takes up my time during the offseason. During the summer, though, I try to take it easy. I’m in the water pretty much every day. I kind of just sit there, relax, might go out to meet some friends or family but usually it’s at the beach. It doesn’t bother me, working at it either, I’m always going to love it,” Vasser said.
Brothers Jack and Joe Savell, members of the Brigantine Beach Patrol, are lifeguarding veterans. Both were born in Pennsylvania and spent extensive time in New Jersey, especially during the summer. Both attended Haddon Township High School and now study at Cornell University, where they are members of the rowing team.
Joe, a sophmore, and Jack, a senior, must balance their academics with vigorous training during the semester, but during the summer they take things easier.
“During the summer, I feel like we take all the breaks we can get. There’s so much to do during the semester that sometimes it feels like you can’t catch a break,” Joe Savell said. “Honestly, on our off days we might work out a little but usually we just relax and play video games. My brother and I play Fortnite and Roblox a bunch; it’s a great stress reliever.”
Matt Hoffman, in his third year on the BBP, comes from a family of lifeguards, including his father, brother and sister. A graduate of OCHS and former member of the cross country team, Hoffman will attend Saint Joseph’s University in the fall to pursue a degree in business. His brother and sister have both been lifeguards and his family has a deep love for the beach.
“I grew up on the beach, so this seemed like the perfect gig. So many of my family did it and I mean, lifeguarding kind of runs in my blood,” Hoffman said. “I try to relax on my off days but honestly, with college coming up that takes up a lot of my free time too, just kind of mentally preparing myself for the first semester.”
Ella Culmone, a member of the Upper Township Beach Patrol, likes to spend her time surfing the best breaks on the Jersey shore. When not surfing, she is studying to become a certified EMT.
She hopes to be UTBP’s beach medic next year. She is also an avid surfer who also creates art pieces on commission as a passion project.
“I’ve really been working on getting my EMT certification. Last year, we had a really bad rescue and a few personal events in my life made me rethink some things. It really made me want to be more involved with health and help avoid the type of tragedies that can be prevented,” Culmone said. “If I’m not working on that, I usually am working on art commissions for my side business — it’s a passion of mine.”
The lifeguards of southern New Jersey are more than just beach protectors. Off duty, they pursue passions, education and relaxation, each finding their unique way to balance the demanding yet rewarding role of safeguarding the shore.
– STORY by EDDIE D’AMICO/For the Sentinel
– PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff