2021 California Gold Team
Outside of lifeguarding in the summers Peyton teaches high school computer science and music, works as a swim coach and sings in his own band. Peyton is a “craft” specialist. He specializes in the surfski and surfboat, which tagged along with his swimming abilities he enjoys competing in the American and International Ironman. Peyton ranked 3rd in the American Ironman at 2021 Nationals. Peyton is participating in The California Gold “to support the Ben Carlson Foundation and show lifeguards across the country that there are so many people who share their love for the job and sport of lifesaving”.
Peyton Ouano - Monmouth County Lifeguards, New Jersey
Sam grew up with a love for the water from swimming, playing water polo AND following her dad’s Olympic footsteps in Sprint Kayaking. Sam started competing for sdckt in Sprint Kayaking at the age of 7, and now at the age of 24 she has represented the US National Team 7 times, including the 2019 World Championships. Sam is currently studying Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management at San Diego State University. Fun Fact: This past summer Sam worked as a whitewater rafting guide in North Carolina! So if you’re looking for an Olympic caliber rafting guide, you now know who to contact! Sam is participating in the California Gold to “raise awareness of drowning and compete with top surf racing athletes”.
Sam Barlow - San Diego City Lifeguards, California
Ben is a lifeguard for both LA County Lifeguards and Cal State Lifeguards at Mugu State Beach. Born and raised in Malibu, California Ben became involved with the junior lifeguard program at an early age, where he started competing in surf racing competitions. Ben has been a member of the USLA Surf Racing national team in 2015 in Australia and 2017 in New Zealand. Not only is Ben a stellar athlete, but he is also a talented violinist! Fun Fact: Ben played at Carnegie Hall with his high school orchestra. Ben said he is looking forward to participating in The California Gold to challenge himself and help raise awareness of drowning and water safety through the Ben Carlson Foundation.
Ben Tran - Los Angeles County Lifeguards, California
Nick is a lifeguard for both Huntington Beach Lifeguards and LA County Lifeguards . He also works as a water safety instructor for the US Marine Corps. Huntington Beach is Nick’s “backyard” and is where his lifeguarding career began. He has always dreamed of competing in Australia’s Coolangatta Gold, so when The California Gold was created he was AMPED to participate. Nick is a run-swim-runner at heart. Locally, he is known for his stellar performance in The Mega (9mile run and 4000m swim along Huntington Beach). He has been The Mega champion 5 times and has had 8 other top 3 finishes. Nick was bodysurfing the wedge on the day Ben Carlson passed away. The event impacted him and he is looking forward to racing in Ben’s memory.
Nick Sullivan - Huntington City Lifeguards, California
Jack is a big wave surfer, paddler, and junior lifeguard instructor from Santa Cruz, California. Last year Jack launched the Central Coast Waterman’s Association to bridge the gap between surf lifesaving and surfing. CC Waterman teaches youth ocean education and fundamentals to minimize risk, understand the tides and swells, and build up physical and mental strength to deal with the adversity the ocean sometimes brings. Jack is also a Buell Surf Lifesaving rep and athlete.
“Pushing myself mentally and physically to the limit for a good cause and in memory of a legendary waterman and lifeguards is as fulfilling as an experience one can hope for”.
Jack Akrop - Capitola Lifeguards, California
Nate has been a lifeguard for Monmouth County Usla at Long Beach Island, New Jersey for 17 years! Nate recently moved to San Diego, California to coach at sdckt . He is a surfski and board specialist who has had multiple podium finishes at USLA Nationals, and also competes on the USA Sprint Kayaking National Team. This past year Nate won The Chattajack 31 mile surfski race with Olympic Gold Medalist Greg Barton in Tennessee! Fun Fact: Nate grew up land locked in Pennsylvania and saw the ocean for the first time at the age of 17 when his high school swim coach brought him to New Jersey to try out to become an ocean lifeguard! As a lifeguard, Nate appreciates putting his fitness to work helping people and is always eager for a race in the waves!
Nate Humbertson - Monmouth County Lifeguards, New Jersey
Coral has worked as an Ocean Lifeguard for the LA County Fire Department for the past 15 years. Coral played Water Polo for Cal Berkeley where she studied French. Besides being a strong swimmer Coral is a “Board Specialist”. With multiple National Team appearances and top finishing performances at the regional and national level, Coral has recently earned an appointment to the USLA U-19 National Team coaching staff. Coral’s daily life revolves around the ocean. She says, “My day isn’t complete unless my skin either sweats chlorine, I taste like salt, or sand shakes out of my hair.”
“Lifesaving sport is so inspiring to me because of its humanitarian purpose. What other sport directly influences the training of lifeguards and promotes drowning prevention? My main motivation for competing in the California Gold is to spread awareness of lifesaving sport and encourage growth among professional and junior lifeguards.”
Coral Kemp - Los Angeles Lifeguards, California
Peter is a lifeguard at Riis Park in New York City where he studied exercise science at Brooklyn College and competed on their swim team. Peter started out surfing at a young age and then got into triathlons before discovering surf lifesaving. Peter specializes in surfski and paddleboard. At 2021 nationals he ranked 5th in the Surfski and 11th in the Board Race. Peter loves endurance races and got 3rd in the 2021 Cape May Surfski Paddle. He is looking forward to The California Gold and we are looking forward to having him on this year’s Cal Gold Team!
Peter Ebert - Riis Park, New York
Josh has worked as a lifeguard for Cal State Lifeguards for 21 years! He lifeguards at Huntington State Beach but has also worked at Refugio State Beach and El Capitan while studying at UC Santa Barbara. Outside of lifeguarding, Josh works as an Aerospace Engineer Program Manager. Josh is a “craft” specialist. He jokes around saying he “specializes in fun”, but he is a doryman, surfski paddler and enjoys racing prone paddleboards. He has completed more than 10 Channel Crossings and in 2019 won the Catalina Dory Crossing Race. “Crossing the channel under your own power is a very special experience that I try to complete every year in some craft”. Josh says he is participating in the California Gold “to raise awareness of beach and water safety and give back to the ocean and lifeguarding community that has given me so much in my life from friends and life lessons. Water safety is close to my heart as I have enjoyed most of my life close to and in the water. I believe that everyone should be given the ability to enjoy and be safe in the water. The California Gold will be one of my most ambitious endeavors and I am excited to share this experience with competitors, family, and friends”.
Josh Usher - Huntington State Lifeguards, California
As a “military kid”, Tyler grew up in many different places, but the place that had the greatest impact on him was Hawaii, where he lived for 7 years before moving to California. Tyler is an overall WATERMAN! He has paddled the Molokai Channel in Hawaii 13 TIMES (2x Paddleboard, 2x SUP, 1x surfski, 8x outrigger)! He also has competed internationally where his outrigger team won the race around the island of Hong Kong. Tyler moved to California 2 years ago to pursue a career in lifeguarding. He currently lives in San Diego and also trains with The San Diego Canoe and Kayak Team!
Tyler Jaggers - San Diego City Lifeguards, California
Renae currently works as a lifeguard for both Huntington State Beach and La County Fire. Renae holds 7 national titles and has represented the United States on 6 National Teams between surf lifesaving and sprint kayaking, including the recent 2019 Lima PanAmerican Games. As a collegiate rower Renae got hooked into the sport of lifesaving when she started rowing surfboats in 2015. From there, she picked up the discipline of surfski and hasn’t stopped since. Inspired by Ben Carlson, Renae stated “Sean and I wanted to use this race to bring together lifesavers from around the world in memory of those that we lost, and to promote a cause we deeply care about - Drowning Prevention”
Renae Jackson - Los Angeles County Lifeguards, California
Tom is a seasoned vet in the sport of lifesaving. He is a 10x USLA National Champion in multiple swimming and run-swim-run events, and has competed on multiple National Teams in Japan, Netherlands, and Australia, where he has also served as Team Captain. Tom graduated from The Ohio State University where he studied math and computer science. Outside of lifeguarding in the summers, Tom teaches High School AP Math and Computer Science. Tom also just had his first kid in September! Tom says he is competing in The California Gold “to test myself in a long distance Ironman format comparable to The Coolangatta Gold, to support The Ben Carlson Foundation and represent what Ben stood for”.
Tom O’Neil - Riis Park, New York
Patrick is an Ocean Lifeguard for the LA County Fire Department and a paramedic firefighter for the Manhattan Beach Fire Department. Patrick was born and raised in Santa Cruz, California where he was a junior lifeguard for 9 years. Patrick then swam and played water polo for UC Davis before playing on the Australian National League where he won the The 2007 Championship. Patrick is known for his strong paddleboarding skills. He consistently ranks top in the US and has finished multiple Catalina Channel Crossings. Fun Fact: Patrick got into Lifeguarding after following his wife Kristen’s footsteps. They met in college when she was already working as an Ocean Lifeguard for LA County which inspired him to do the same. Kristin still works for LA County as well, and her and Patrick have 3 kids: Olivia, Kaya and Jasper, who serve as a solid support crew while racing throughout the summers.
Patrick Jacobsen - Los Angeles County Lifeguards, California
Michael lives in Dana Point and works as a full time lifeguard for OC Lifeguards where he also runs the OC Lifeguard Association and helps coach them in surf lifesaving. Michael grew up surfing, snowboarding and mountain biking. He recently got into surf lifesaving competitions when getting promoted to a full time lifeguard position. Fun Fact…Michael once snowboarded Saddleback Mountain! (Which if you know Orange County…you would know that mountain does NOT normally have snow on it!) Michael says he is competing in the California Gold “to support the Ben Carlson Foundation, represent Orange County Lifeguards, and participate in this style of surf endurance racing”. Michael always has a smile on his face and brings along an amazing attitude!
Michael Cara - OC Lifeguards, California
Deon was born and raised in South Africa where he began competing in lifesaving at the age of 9 for the Amanzimtoti Surf Lifesaving Club. After finishing his studies at the university of Natal, Deon moved to California where he began lifeguarding for Solana Beach. Deon lives for racing! He competed as a professional triathlete for 22 years where he completed more than 40 Ironman’s and finished top 20 in the World Duathlon Championships. Deon also loves lifesaving, whether racing on a paddleboard, swimming or surfski. He has completed multiple Molokai and Catalina Channel Crossings and in 2014 he got a silver medal at ISA World Championships while competing for the USA Paddleboarding team. Deon also was competed in the Tahiti Ironmana invitational in 2018 which takes places over 5 days where he ranked top 10 and received the most inspirational award. Deon works as the head coach for Westview High School Swim/Dive team, and has also worked with New York Breakers Swim Team and some Olympic swimmers.
“I love to compete and setting goals so finding events that I can train for and compete in against the best motivates me. I love doing events that have a purpose like raising money for Cancer, raising money for Challenged Athletes, raising money for MS and now racing in memory of Ben. It always makes racing, going hard, outside of your comfort zone so much more worth it!”
Deon Lourens - Solana Beach, California
Hunter was born and raised on the island of Oahu, Hawaii and currently lives in San Diego, California where he studied real estate and finance at the University of San Diego. Hunter is a paddleboard specialist but growing up in Hawaii he is an overall waterman. Hunter has competed in more than 20 Molokai and Catalina Channel Crossing and is also a 2x ISA Prone Paddleboard World Champion. Fun fact: Hunter won his first World Championship Title in prone distance paddling at the young age of 21! Hunter has also represented the U19 lifesaving national team in Australia in 2015 and Netherlands 2016. In 2020 Hunter was studying abroad in Australia where he was lifeguarding for North Bondi and had plans to compete in the Coolangatta Gold when he got sent back to the US after the covid pandemic took off. Hunter’s dad was a Newport Beach Lifeguard which inspired him to participate in The California Gold race in memory of Ben Carlson. “I want to participate to set an example for the next generation to have ambitious goals and face great challenges. It is no secret that the Australian's dominate this sport, so to inspire some of the younger kids to get into ocean sports would be great.”