CITY FOCUS:

For seasonal lifeguards Jesse Heydorff and Alex Scurr, traveling abroad is nothing new; they toured Europe together.

But for their next trip, the longtime buds will journey in another direction, crossing the Pacific Ocean to the shores of Northern New Zealand as the next participants in the California/New Zealand Lifeguard Exchange.

Now until the spring, Scurr, 23, a resident of Costa Mesa and Heydorff, 24, of Los Alamitos, will piggyback the best Kiwi lifeguards all along the coast, learning new techniques and even getting their hands on some new technology.

“It’s the equivalent of going from Santa Cruz to San Diego and hitting every lifeguard station on the way down,” said Heydorff, who has been with Huntington Beach State Lifeguards for the better part of a decade.

Scurr, a seasonal guard with Newport Beach since high school, plans on getting certified on the inflatable rescue boats used in New Zealand. The flat crafts are ideal for maneuvering through the reef-laden coastline, Scurr said.

While abroad the two plan on surfing often, as the sun doesn’t set until 9 p.m. Also on the itinerary: spending the off hours bungee jumping, rock jumping, training in helicopter rescues and competing in lifeguard contests.

That’s a huge aspect of New Zealand’s lifeguard world, Scurr said. Competitions between the various cities are an integral part of the lifeguard culture.

A trip across the globe does not come for free. For instance, the plane ticket alone cost $2,400.

Patagonia, Hobie, Viperfins, the Silvers Family, Ocean & Earth, the Newport Beach Lifeguarding Assn., Architectural Woodworking Company and the California Surf Life Saving Assn. pitched in.  

Heydorff, a history graduate from Cal State Long Beach, has studied up on the island he plans on calling home from now until April.

“They have 4 million people and 60 million sheep, all the high offices in government are held by women (that’s cool), and actually I’ve read they’re pretty generous and open about having you to their house for dinner,” Heydorff said. “But if you get invited to a house, you need to bring a dish or wine, can’t come empty-handed.”

Heydorff has already left to do a little extended travel before the exchange begins but Scurr leaves Dec. 20.

Both will return at the beginning of April as they have to give a presentation on their trip to the organization just days after returning.

“We hope to come back and interpret their style with ours,” Scurr said.

For information on how to sponsor Scurr and Heydorff send e-mails to al [email protected] or [email protected].