Visiting lifeguards bring experience, curiosity to Destin

13.08.2010

BothSara Gentin and Trent Maxwell had been to the United States as children, butnow as part of the Destin and Sydney Lifeguard Exchange Program, they hope totake home new memories and experiences.

"The only images I had of America came from Hollywood movies," saidthe 18-year-old Maxwell. "I didn't really expect to be coming to abeautiful town like Destin."

As part of the exchange program, Maxwell and Gentin, along with three othervisiting lifeguards, will be out battling the sun and patrolling Destin beachesfor the next three months.

"I was nervous at first," Gentin said of the trip to America. "Ihad heard different things from other people, and I didn't know what toexpect."

The 19-year-old Australian native is what they call a "lifesaver" onBondi Beach, which means she is a volunteer. She said she wanted to come toDestin to experience what it was like to be a lifeguard.

She said "while back home" she would help patrol the beachesalongside the lifeguards with a group of 10 other lifesavers.

"I am just thankful for the opportunity to be here," she told TheLog. "This is a great experience, and I am learning a lot about competinghere, which is something I love to do back home."

Maxwell, who is a professional lifeguard in Australia, said he is eager tolearn as much as he can about America and its culture.

"The best thing I have taken out of being here is working in thefirefighter environment," he said. "I have wanted to be afirefighter since I was three."

He said the opportunity to work in the fire station is a "dream cometrue," and even though he is not employed as a firefighter, "the boyshave let me ride along with them."

While he is in Destin for the next few months, Maxwell said he hopes toencourage the "guys and gals" back home come to Destin and learnsomething new.

Another newcomer for this season is Cian O'Sullivan, who spent what hedescribed as the "bones of a day" getting here.

O'Sullivan, 23, has come all the way from Ireland to experience Destin.

"I heard about this through one of the guys at the university backhome," he said. "I decided that I would like something more than amaximum of 59 degree waters we have during the summer."

When asked if he was enjoying everything so far, O'Sullivan said it was great,except for the fact that "it's too hot at the moment."

He did say he was looking forward to the challenges of working on unfamiliarbeaches though.

"I expected to see big waves at first, because I am used to the Atlanticwaves," he said, "so it will take a little while to get used tothings here — but I'm excited."

Although they are not newcomers, both Tom Trembath and Adriel Young, who arealso from Australia, are in Destin for their second go around.

Young and Trembath will be working specifically with the Junior LifeguardProgram this year.

"I am actually really looking forward to working with the youngerguys," Young said. "I want to help them learn and get themtrained."

Trembath added "we are able to share what we learned last year with theguys this year."

Destin Beach Safety Patrol Chief Joe D'Agostino said the Aussies bring"lots of experience" to the local beaches.

"Most of the kids we have coming over here are college-age kids, and theyare already more mature," D'Agnostino said. "We know they are notgoing to come over here and act like fools."