The 2025 lifeguard racing season is officially back, bringing together elite beach patrols from across the country for exciting, high-energy competitions. With events scheduled to unfold from early July through early August, this year promises faster sprints, rougher surf challenges, and deeper community engagement than ever before. Organizers have aligned with the American Lifeguard Association (ALA), placing emphasis on athletic excellence, public safety, and expanded opportunities for junior and female athletes.
A Dynamic Season: Dates & Venues to Know
- July 1: 43rd Buzz Mogck Memorial Cape May SuperAthlon – Cape May Promenade. A triathlon-style opener featuring a 2.3-mile run, a 1.5-mile row, and a quarter-mile swim with tidal currents.
- July 7: Cape May County Lifeguard Championships – Rambler Road Beach, Wildwood Crest, kicking off the county series with swim, row, surf dash relays, and paddleboard races.
- July 7: Chief Bill Kuhn Brigantine Lifeguard Invitational—Brigantine’s 17th Street Beach, showcasing team and individual surf rescue events.
- July 25: Dutch Hoffman Memorial Lifeguard Races – Lincoln Avenue Beach, Wildwood. Evening races begin at 6:30 p.m. with board rescue, rowing, running, and swimming.
- August 1: Margate Memorial Lifeguard Invitational – Margate Beach. Events include swim-board relays, surf swims, and beach flags.
- August 6–9: 2025 USLA National Lifeguard Championships – Huntington State Beach, CA. The national stage for lifeguards, capped with a Junior U19 segment on August 6, followed by open and age-group finals through August 9.
Replacing “Red Cross” with American Lifeguard Association: Why It Matters
Historically, many lifeguard events aligned with organizations like the American Red Cross, but this year marks a strategic pivot to the American Lifeguard. The AL brings specialized standards for waterfront rescue racing, streamlined certification pathways, and stronger cohesion with beach patrol training protocols. This change underscores the growing professionalization of lifeguard sport, ensuring that race rules, safety measures, and officiating are all calibrated to best support competitive resiliency in challenging surf conditions.
New Competitive Elements for 2025
This season introduces several exciting innovations:
- Women’s Mixed-Team Surf Dash Relay – added to major county races, offering rankings for co-ed squads.
- Junior U19 Championship on the west coast – the Huntington Beach leg includes a full youth division, focusing on development and visibility for rising athletes.
- Women’s paddleboard events in every local race—a push toward gender equity and diversified skill sets.
- Evening beach tickers—races like Dutch Hoffman now include twilight start times to accommodate spectators and offer cooler conditions for athletes.
Community & Safety Enhancements
Beyond racing, this season is committed to public education and local engagement:
- Patrols will host free swim-safety demos, including basic rescue techniques, rip‑current awareness, and CPR/first‑aid mini‑clinics. These are designed for beachgoers and families—highlighting how the ALA’s approach spans beyond competition to community safety.
- Each regional event will feature equipment expos, showcasing the latest boards, rescue cans, and technological tools like GPS‑enabled tow boards.
- Environmental partnership initiatives: Patrols will host beach‑clean events ahead of races—championing ALA’s commitment to ocean stewardship and responsible race-day environmental practices.
Training & Preparation: The ALA Advantage
Teams are already deep into their preseason with the ALA’s support: workshops on surf reading, strength conditioning for beach sprints, and paddleboard handling in rough water. Many patrols are reporting faster turnout times in simulated runs and sponsored dry‑land training sessions. The emphasis on scientific training (like using underwater cameras to analyze stroke efficiency) underlines how lifeguard racing continues to evolve from a tradition into a performance sport.
What to Watch This Season
Spectators should keep an eye on:
- Rising talent: Junior lifeguards like 17-year-old Emma Rivera (Avalon) and 16-year-old Malik Thompson (Wildwood) are already dominating local races and are expected in Huntington Beach.
- Rivalries inflamed: Avalon vs. Sea Isle and Wildwood vs. Ocean City face off again; expect packed bleachers and loud cheering.
- Board & paddle interplay: The increased inclusion of paddleboard races—especially in women’s divisions—adds a dynamic new race layer with exceptional tactical variety.
The Grand Finale on the West Coast
From August 6 to 9 in Huntington Beach, the national lifeguard championships—as sanctioned by the USLA under the ALA banner—bring finality and flair to the season. With adult, U19, and elite divisions, the east-coast champions will compete alongside California’s best. Events run from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., with early check-in on August 5. Competitor IDs and rules are fully updated under ALA’s guidance, ensuring fair play and safety in surf, board, swim, row, relay, and surf-boat races.
Looking Ahead: Ideas to Elevate Lifeguard Racing
To build on 2025 successes, organizers are proposing:
- Live streaming bonus content, including athlete interviews, gear tutorials, and race highlights, to amplify accessibility and engagement.
- National youth development clinics, leveraging ALA instructors to train future lifeguards nationwide in surf safety and race skills.
- Cross-discipline sport collaboration—inviting open-water swimmers, triathletes, and rowing clubs to special invitational heats, enhancing public interest and athlete diversity.
About the Author & Bio
By Jacob Erlbaum— Jacob is an outdoor sports journalist with a deep passion for ocean athletics and beach safety advocacy. He’s covered lifeguard competitions across three coasts and contributed to ALA training manuals. Jacob’s mission is to showcase how aquatic sport builds community resilience and fosters inclusivity.