Smith Point Wins the 2025 L.I. Lifeguard Championship

Lifeguard competitions are exciting and challenging events where trained lifeguards from local beaches and agencies come together to showcase their lifesaving skills and physical endurance.

But first the 2025 Long Island Lifeguard Championship kicked off with a few award presentations. The first award of the morning was the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to Jim McAllister. Second award of the morning was the Lifetime Achievement Award in Lifesaving – Presented to John Ryan Sr. The third award of the morning was the 2025 New York State Lifeguard of the year – Tim Cabasino. The fourth and fifth award of the morning was the 2025 Smith Point Lifeguard Hall of Fame presented to Michael Brocki and 2025 Smith Point Lifeguard Hall of Fame presented to Kevin Konarski.

Our local competitions test both individual ability and teamwork through a variety of intense and fast-paced events. Athletes participate in distance swims, run-swim-run relays, beach sprints, surfboard paddles, landline rescues, and mock emergency simulations that mirror real-life rescue scenarios. Each event is designed to measure vital qualities like speed, agility, strength, teamwork, and the ability to make smart, split-second decisions under pressure.

Beyond the competition, these events foster camaraderie and sportsmanship among guards, encouraging mutual respect and sharing of techniques. They serve as a powerful tool for improving performance and building team morale, while also raising awareness of the critical importance of water safety. Lifeguards push their limits not just to win, but to refine the skills that save lives.

With that said, we would like to thank the members of the The 106th Rescue Wing, a unit of the New York Air National Guard stationed at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach, Long Island for their presence at our L.I. Lifeguard Championship. Over the years, 25 of our own lifeguards have joined the ranks of the 106th Rescue Wing!

Today’s Long Island Championship was no exception. The day was filled with fierce competition, impressive displays of athleticism, and strong team spirit. Whether on the beach or in the water, each competitor gave their all. The results are in – Smith Point Wins! … and they reflect the hard work, training, and dedication that define the lifeguard profession.

Distance Swim: Jones Beach 1st, Smith Point 2nd, East Hampton and Fire Island 3rd, Long Beach 5th, Westhampton 6th

2K Run: Smith Point 1st, Jones Beach 2nd, East Hampton 3rd, Westhampton 4th, Fire Island 5th, Long Beach 6th

Double Yoke Rescue: Jones Beach 1st, Smith Point 2nd, Westhampton 3rd, Fire Island 4th, East Hampton 5th, Long Beach 6th,

Board Relay: East Hampton 1st, Jones Beach 2nd, Smith Point 3rd, Long Beach 4th, Fire Island 5th, Westhampton 6th

Landline sponsored by C4: Jones Beach 1st, Long Beach 2nd, Smith Point 3rd, Westhampton 4th, East Hampton 5th, Fire Island 6th. (Thank you to C4 for generously sponsoring the Landline event. We appreciate your commitment to safety, athleticism, and community, thank you for a being a partner in this competition.)

4 x 100: Smith Point 1st, Long Beach 2nd, East Hampton 3rd, Westhampton 4th, Jones Beach 5th, Fire Island DQ

Run-Swim-Run: Jones Beach 1st, Smith Point 2nd, East Hampton 3rd, Long Beach 4th, Fire Island 5th, Westhampton 6th

Beach Flags: Smith Point 1st, Fire Island 2nd, Westhampton 3rd, Jones Beach 4th, Long Beach 5th, East Hampton 6th

Final Score: Smith Point 44; Jones Beach 43; East Hampton 27.5; Long Beach 22; Westhampton 20; Fire Island 18.5