It’s uni winter break and no sooner than putting down pens from semester 1 exams, the call of the northern hemisphere summer beckoned – some going straight from the exam hall to the airport, jetting out for offshore adventures.
Portsea has two different groups of patrolling members donning the lifeguard uniforms on northern hemisphere beaches. The largest group, 13 in total, has travelled to the “Danish Riviera” beaches, an hour’s drive north of Copenhagen. Living together in a farmhouse, along with other international guards, those on duty ride bikes to the beaches stretching along the northern coastline facing the Kattegat Sea. Put Frederiksværk into google maps and you’ll see where in the world they are hanging out. The beaches are a constellation of traditional fishing villages that have morphed into summer hotspots for beach goers and festival lovers.
Arriving to the European heatwave, with temperatures in the 30’s even up in Scandinavia, it was straight into bikinis and boardies to soak up the summer rays with a day and night in Copenhagen catching up with Nick Flockart and Max Ritchie who were also there on a European vacation. Some headed straight north and onto beach patrol duty day one – sunlight being the best way to get over jetlag and onto the local time zone. Tip is to bring an eye mask for sleeping. The sun sets close to midnight and rises at 4am!
Our first Portsea lifesavers to work on the Danish beaches in 2023 paved the way and had such an amazing time that the next group pencilled in their 2026 trip. Denmark allows for ‘paid volunteering’ so our members can patrol the beaches and be re-imbursed for airfare costs. On tour currently we have Cha Mahon, Mackie Hunter, Emmie Young, Katie Kerr, Frankie Dever, Annabelle White, Arabella Mitchell, Gemma Woolrich, Charlie Paynter, Fred Morley, Paddy Murray, Rafe Wilson and Lachie Johnson. The guards work solo, stationed in huts along the stretches of beach, then come together for BBQ’s or lifeguard parties at night, to share stories of their days, whilst planning trips to Copenhagen, Berlin, Barcelona or beyond on their days off.
Our second group of lifeguards are in Costa Rica, at the Santa Teresa Beach, (Instagram santateresalifeguards). Back in 2024, Oscar Hunter, Charlie Flockart and Elliot Nicoll were nearing the end of their Central America surf safari adventure when they heard about the call for lifeguard volunteers at Santa Teresa. They stopped into the beach for five days reconnaissance, made connections and put out feelers for a Portsea return.
Two years later and Elliot is back, with Flynn Chable and Sophie Courtney in tow. The set up in Costa Rica is similar to a big surf club – a compound where the beach meets the jungle. There are bunkrooms, kitchen, a gym and ‘hang out’ areas. Our Portsea trio are volunteering for four weeks, on a beach that looks like Lorne but with surf conditions to rival Portsea – it’s not for the faint-hearted. Shifts are busy with many rescues. Flynn was clocking up rescue stats by his second shift. Lifeguards work either the morning or afternoon shift, with the rest of the day to enjoy the town and its beautiful environment. Sophie’s arrival highlight was the number of local bikini shops – meaning you’ll never spot her twice in the same pair next summer! The town is totally reliant on tourism and the cohort of international volunteers is highly valued. The lifeguards are looked after by local restaurants and supply free meals to keep the workforce well-nourished for duty.
The Costa Rican weather is steaming hot all the time, 30 degrees with crazy humidity. The standard of lifeguarding is very high. ‘Tube and fins’ is the only mode of rescue, even if the patient is 200m out the back on a massive day. All the lifeguards are extremely fit and strong swimmers. Group training sessions are held at 7am sharp every Tuesday and Friday – consisting of rigorous fitness exercises, mock rescues and practicing extraction and resuscitation techniques. The lifeguard compound is under the jungle canopy and the local wildlife is abundant. The day’s wakeup call is the scream of the howler monkeys who think it’s fun dropping mangoes on the tin roof, or a giant iguana hissing as it sneaks into your bunkroom. For those who love a wave, Elliott reports excellent surf conditions!
We’ll keep you updated as news of their adventures comes in. To our younger members, keep your skills up and know that your turn is coming and global experiences, making lore with your Portsea clubbie mates await you!