To the average person, lifeguarding is a cool job. It’s a great way to get mom and dad off your back and earn a few bucks over summer vacation. Who wouldn’t want to work on their tan all day while telling people what to do, right? While the above may hold true while lifeguarding at your local 20-person-maximum kiddie pool, it certainly does not hold true on the North Shore of Oahu. To think the job of a lifeguard is all sunshine and rainbows simply undermines the heroism and courage of these brazen dudes and dudettes – especially those who risk their own lives by working on one of the most dangerous beaches in the world.
Near-drownings, fin gouges, dislocations, reef rashes, and broken necks are all things lifeguards seek to mitigate, but are simultaneously putting themselves in danger of. This is because they love their job. They get an extraordinary sense of satisfaction by helping others. And that, by definition, is the true meaning of a hero. F*ck Superman and Batman. The lifeguards of the North Shore are real life heroes. I’m kidding. Superman and Batman are totally awesome.
