Long Beach rookies hit the pool

More than 30 potential Long Beach lifeguards took to the recreation center pool at 7 am on May 9, in hopes of snagging one of 10 open positions.

“Last year, because of the depletion of the guards [at the end of the summer], we had to take a little more than usual,” said Paul Gillespie, chief of lifeguards. This year, because of budget concerns, the rookie class will only consist of 10 guards instead of as many as 20 in years past.

Prospective guards had to do a series of tests that included a 200-yard swim in under 2 minutes and 55 seconds, a 50 yard swim in less than 35 seconds and a 2-mile beach run within 18 minutes.

Gillespie said that many of the would-be guards took part in the junior lifeguard program and he admitted that they take priority. “They put a lot of time into the program,” he said, adding that as the guards advance in the junior program, they already begin to learn how to guard, which makes training easier for older staff.

While mostly teenagers took the test, a few older guards came down to the pool, including 60-year-old board of education candidate Roy Lester, who had spent most of life working at Jones Beach.

Gillespie said that Jones Beach will not be hiring any new guards this season and the Town of Hempstead plans to hire only five ocean guards.