HARBOR HEROES PARK'S LIFEGUARDS TAKE TOP PRIZES.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

VALENCIA - Lifeguards at Hurricane Harbor added a little more color to their red swimsuits: red, white and blue ribbons, and bronze medals.

Eight lifeguards from two teams won first and second places in the Jeff Ellis and Associates Western Regional Competition on Sunday and will now go on to the national event in Texas.

``I was really, really nervous,'' said Darleen Bajgrowicz, 16, of Canyon Country, whose team took first. ``We were trying to set our minds off the competition.''

As a member of the Canyon High School swim team, Bajgrowicz, who also swims on a city team, thought being a lifeguard would be good experience.

``I wanted to improve my skills,'' she said. ``I've been swimming all my life. I thought lifeguarding would be fun.''

Bajgrowicz is one of about 220 lifeguards who provide a constant watch over the adults and children who tackle the Valencia water park's thrill-seeking rides, fun-in-the sun water playgrounds and the relaxing pools, making sure that no one gets too far over their heads.

``We're always looking out,'' Bajgrowicz said. ``Something could be happening. You always have to be ready.''

The park opened in 1995 adjacent to Magic Mountain and offers more than 135 attractions, including 12 water slides. Its deepest attraction is 6 feet. At any given time, the park has 80 to 100 lifeguards and continually refilters and recycles 1.4 million gallons of water.

``We staff our park so that every inch of water can be seen by a lifeguard,'' said Nate Tischler, park supervisor. ``Every slide has lifeguards protecting them.''

Dressed in candy-apple red swimsuits, lifeguards are required to wear white caps reading ``lifeguard.'' Each lifeguard also carries a fanny pack containing latex gloves, bandages and a rescue mask.

Stephen Delbagno, 17, of Valencia, who also was on the first-place team, is working his second season as a Hurricane Harbor lifeguard.

``I had a lot of fun last year,'' Delbagno said. ``It just got me excited about being a lifeguard.''

The Saugus High senior tried out for the position after attending a job fair.

During his first year, Delbagno was selected by the water park to attend a special training program that encouraged him to continue as a lifeguard.

Though he's having fun and learning a lot, Delbagno said that he sees the lifeguard duty as only a summer job. His aspiration is to become an Air Force pilot.

But competing in Sunday's event and in the coming national competition makes his lifeguard job and duties that much more exciting.

``We're all competitors,'' Delbagno said. ``I think we'll do well.''

The four-hour event hosted by the local water park consisted of three events - two emergency scenarios and one relay.

Team members simulated a first aid incident where a victim was suffering from heat stroke and another patient was unconscious following a near-drowning.

``It's a demonstration of their skills to manage an event,'' Tischler said. ``They presented their confidence to the judges.''

Team members underwent a series of four tryouts before being selected. The training lasted a month, two hours a day for five days a week.

With medals, plaques and a trophy in hand, the two teams will now head to the Aug. 5-6 national competition at the Fiesta Texas water park in San Antonio, also run by Six Flags, which operates Hurricane Harbor and Magic Mountain.

``We're expected to win,'' Tischler said. ``We want to win it.''

The two teams again will compete in a three-event competition against 21 other teams from across the U.S. Last year, teams came from Brazil and Canada.

No experience is required for Hurricane Harbor lifeguards, but applicants are taken through a training program.

Once hired, lifeguards are given a choice of further training as shallow- water lifeguards or special facilities lifeguards who work in water more than 4 feet deep.

``It's an immersion in lifeguard training, technique and professionalism,'' Tischler said. ``It's an intense course.''

Twenty-four hours of training are conducted mostly in the water, though there is instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Lifeguards are certified if they pass a written test, a basic skills test and a practical exam that includes real-life scenarios trainees evaluate and manage.

Upon completion, lifeguards will receive a lifeguard license, which is only good to work at the water park for the one season. Starting pay for a Hurricane Harbor lifeguard is $7 an hour.

This year's lifeguards range in age from 16 to 30 and include several who worked there the last year.

CAPTION(S):

4 photos

Photo: (1 -- 2 -- color) Hurricane Harbor lifeguard Wes Behar, a three-year veteran, watches over the frothy frolicking at the Forgotten Sea Wave Pool, above. Below, award-winning lifeguard Darleen Bajgrowicz helps a youngster get out of the deep end of the pool.

(3 -- 4) Hurricane Harbor lifeguards show off their plaques and medals from the Ellis and Associates Western Regional Competition, above, in which the local teams won first- and second-place honors. At right, lifeguard Miguel DeLatorre watches guests go down one of the park's numerous slides.

David Sprague/Staff Photographer