You’ve probably never heard of surf lifesaving — but Santa Cruz is quietly becoming a national powerhouse at it, writes Dan Ackerstein, who manages the Westcliff Surf Lifesaving Club. Yes, we all saw lifeguard Ryder Williams get national attention for his heroic Seabright save, but what you might have missed is this year, six Santa Cruz-area athletes earned spots on the U.S. youth national team. That means 30% of the Americans headed to the world championships hail from the 831 area code.
Dan Ackerstein
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Junior Guards joy: Why making my daughter cry every day was one of the best decisions of my life
“The best day of 2023 came and went unnoticed by most of the city 13 days ago,” says Santa Cruz dad Dan Ackerstein. That’s because on June 12, the Junior Guards program to teach kids ages 6-17 water rescue skills began in the city of Santa Cruz. Similar programs exist in other parts of the county and propel kids to state, national and international competitions. Ackerstein calls Junior Guards “the most ridiculous, difficult, important and remarkable things about Santa Cruz. It’s basically a rite of passage for many families, including, now, mine.”
