O.C. lifeguards represent California in New Zealand

Standardizing lifeguard ranks and training methods dominated the discussion when Newport Beach lifeguards hosted the annual California Surf Life Saving Assn.’s board of directors meeting Thursday.

About 75 representatives from 28 lifeguard agencies from Santa Cruz to San Diego gathered in the Balboa Pavilion.

Three Huntington Beach Junior Lifeguards were honored at the meeting for their work saving a friend who suffered a major neck injury in the surf of San Onofre.

Kylie Cuccinotti, Paige Bisson, and Carley Zylsta were honored for assisting a Junior Lifeguard who seriously injured her neck. Due to their help, she is alive and walking.

The board also announced two local lifeguards chosen to represent the association in New Zealand as part of an exchange program.

Newport Beach Lifeguard Alex Scurr and Huntington State Beach Lifeguard Jesse Heydorff will visit Auckland for eight weeks in winter.

— Kelly Strodl