Back to the beach

SANTA ROSA BEACH, FL — Bent over at the shoreline with her hands on her knees, Whitney Winkel caught her breath and watched gentle, emerald-green waves dissipate into froth at her feet. 

She was among the 16 Walton County lifeguards-in-training who panted their way through various exercises Wednesday afternoon at Ed Walline Beach, just days before the beginning of lifeguard season, which started Saturday and runs through September. 

Terry Wallace, utility supervisor for the Navarre Beach, said six lifeguards started manning the two towers Friday. The construction of two more towers is expected to be completed in the next couple of weeks, he added. Six more lifeguards are expected to be hired this season. 

In Destin, lifeguards returned Saturday, said Joe D’Agostino, beach safety division chief with the Destin Fire Department. He said six lifeguards will patrol the 6.8 miles of beach from East Pass to the Walton County line. 

Five lifeguards work year-round on Okaloosa Island. But Tracy Vause, beach safety division chief for Okaloosa County, said starting March 14 — the official launch of spring break — 12 lifeguards will be stationed at the 10 towers and the flagwarning system will be activated at public accesses. 

The 31 Walton County lifeguards who will work the beaches this season were inducted this week during a ceremony at the Ed Walline Public Beach Access. 

Joe Serrato, a 22-year-old lifeguard who is returning for his fourth season, said the hardest part of the job is getting people to listen and pay attention to the red and yellow flags. 

“They want to argue, and you’ve gotta save them from themselves sometimes,” he said. “That’s hard to do when they’ve come down here and paid so much money to stay for a vacation and they can’t even go in the ocean.” 

Wise said the lifeguards’ ages range from 18 to 50, and the group was whittled down from a pool of 45 applicants. 

The beach safety program is funded by the Beaches of South Walton Tourist Development Council through bed taxes paid by visitors, and is implemented by the South Walton Fire District. 

Carley McMillian, the TDC’s customer services coordinator, said the agency spends almost $627,000 a year for the lifeguard program. Another $182,000 is spent to help market and promote safety messages and other warning systems. 

Kiosks where beachgoers can get information about safety conditions have been installed at all eight beach accesses, she said.