Smith Point Wins 2026 Long Island 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.
(Thank you to C4 for being a partner in this competition.)
Just as in the years past, 2026 Long Island Lifeguard Championship kicked off with a few award presentations. The first award of the morning was the 2026 New York State Lifeguard of the year – Mike Scanlon. The second award of the morning was the 2026 Smith Point Lifeguard Hall of Fame presented to John Cuomo.
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, again, 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 Lifeguard Championship was no exception. The day was filled with fierce competition, outstanding displays of athleticism, and team spirit. Whether competing on the beach or in the water, every lifeguard gave their best effort. The results are in—Smith Point Wins! The victory reflects the hard work, many hours of training, teamwork, and dedication that define the lifeguard profession.
Distance Swim: Jones Beach 1st, Smith Point 2nd, East Hampton, Robert Moses 4th, Long Beach 5th, Fire Island 6th, Westhampton 7th
2K Run: Smith Point 1st, Westhampton 2nd, East Hampton 3rd, Jones Beach and Long Beach 4th, Robert Moses 6th, Fire Island 7th
Double Yoke Rescue: Smith Point 1st, Jones Beach 2nd, Robert Moses 3rd, Fire Island 4th, East Hampton 5th, Westhampton 6th, Long Beach 7th.
Board Relay: East Hampton 1st, Westhampton 2nd, Long Beach 3rd, Jones Beach 4th, Robert Moses 5th, Smith Point 6th, Fire Island 7th
Landline sponsored by Crossfit Undertow: Smith Point 1st, Jones Beach 2nd, Westhampton 3rd, Robert Moses 4th, East Hampton 5th, Fire Island 6th, Long Beach 7th (Thank you to Crossfit Undertow for generously sponsoring the Landline event. We appreciate your commitment to safety, athleticism, and community, thank you for being a partner in this competition.)
4 x 100: Long Beach 1st, Smith Point 2nd, Westhampton 3rd, Fire Island 4th, East Hampton 5th, Jones Beach 6th, Robert Moses 7th
Run-Swim-Run: Jones Beach 1st, East Hampton 2nd, Smith Point 3rd, Robert Moses 4th, Long Beach 5th, Westhampton 6th, Fire Island 7th
Beach Flags: Smith Point 1st, Westhampton 1st, Fire Island 3rd, Jones Beach 4th, Long Beach 5th, Robert Moses 6th, East Hampton 7th (Thank you to C4 for generously sponsoring the Beach Flags event. We appreciate your commitment to safety, athleticism, and community, thank you for being a partner in this competition.)
Final Score: Smith Point 1st (50); Jones Beach 2nd (41.5); Westhampton and East Hampton 3rd (34); Long Beach 5th (27.5); Robert Moses 6th (25); Fire Island 7th (20)
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