Tryouts put Newport Beach lifeguard hopefuls to the test

More than 80 people hoping to be summer ocean lifeguards for the city of Newport Beach turned out Sunday morning for tryouts at the lifeguard headquarters near the Newport Pier.

Applicants for 30 available spots competed in a 1,000-meter swim and a 1,000-meter run-swim-run, with top finishers invited for interviews. Candidates who pass the tryouts, interviews and physical and background checks will enter a mandatory, 100-hour training academy in lifeguarding skills that will be held on weekends this spring. Lifeguard trainees are paid $9 per hour.

Once on the job, seasonal lifeguards earn $17.10 per hour to start.

—Rob Vardon