Junior Lifeguards Pier Jump – A Californian Rite of Passage

I had a frantic call from my friend Thelma this morning.  Her daughter, who is a Junior Lifeguard, was doing the Pier Jump.  I rushed down to Balboa Pier to see her jump and off she went, no hesitation, straight into the water.

The Junior Lifeguard program runs for eight weeks during the summer.  As soon as school ends, the kids start the program, dressed in their distinctive red bathing suits.  The program runs up and down the coast, if you live in a beach community, the Guards are a familiar sight each morning cycling along the boardwalk ready for the 9am start.

The Junior Lifeguards learn all about ocean awareness and safety and complete a number of challenges such as the Pier Jump, the Pier Swim – when they swim to the end of the pier and back, the Monster Mile – run a mile and swim a mile and the Speed Drop, when they jump off the back of the boat while it’s traveling at high speed.

I was so envious of all the kids on the pier today.  I would have loved to participate in such a great and challenging program when I was growing up.  There was a great atmosphere on the pier.  The instructors don’t tell the parents when the Pier Jump is happening for fear of them turning up and getting on at their child if they don’t make it.  But as soon as it was clear that today was the day, phones started ringing and the parents started gathering.

The program starts when the kids are nine years old and there were a few little ones who were nervous, a few in tears.  It was great to watch the instructors bending down and talking to them, giving them the confidence to make the jump.  And for those who were a little nervous and took a little bit longer to step off the pier, a huge cheer would erupt when they finally jumped.

The parents were so proud of their children; this was a big day, a real Californian rite of passage.  I’m hoping my boys take part in Junior Guards next summer, I’m starting the nagging early and at the moment they’re not too sure.  But I’m working on them, next year, I hope I’m posting photos of their Pier Jump (no pressure!)