You won’t see lifeguards running in slow motion... what you will see when you visit the beaches of Huntington Beach (HB) are focused, dedicated and experienced lifeguards stationed at 22 towers along a 3.5 mile stretch of sand, making the beaches of Huntington Beach some of the safest in the world. Considered among the best in the country, HB lifeguards undergo hundreds of hours of training: They rely on this training and their instincts to predict beachgoers’ behavior, spotting trouble before it can happen. These are self-disciplined professionals whose average length of employment for full-timers is about 25 years! For close to 100 years, lifeguards of Huntington Beach have diligently provided safety service in their idyllic beach setting. Get a firsthand “actuality” look at life as an HB lifeguard during the remaining episodes of the new series, Ocean Force: Huntington Beach, OC (formerly Beach Patrol) on truTV (formerly Court TV). One of the benefits of documenting the city’s busiest summer on record is that the footage captured will be used for future training purposes. The footage highlights the professionalism of the permanent Marine Safety Officers and seasonal lifeguards, dispelling the unfortunate lifeguard stereotypes instilled by Baywatch.

Savvy travelers tend to seek the advice from locals about what to see, do and where to eat; in Surf City USA some of our locals’ suggestions include:

A beach bonfire – Huntington Beach is one of the few coastal communities that allow visitors to experience this beach town tradition. Scores of free public fire pits dot the 8.5 miles of sand where visitors can gather with family and friends to roast hot dogs and toast marshmallows.

Catch a grunion – One of the more offbeat activities that locals pursue is the grunion “run.” A species of marine fish found only along the coast of Southern California and northern Baja California, these small, silvery fish are known for their very unusual mating ritual. Two to six nights after the full and new moon, the female grunion comes up onto the beaches and digs her tail into the sand to lay her eggs; a male then wraps himself around the female to deposit his sperm. For the next two weeks the grunion eggs remain hidden in the sand, but at the next set of high tides the eggs hatch and the young grunion are washed out to sea.

During the “run,” which occurs March 31 through June 1, locals are allowed to fish for grunion using only their bare hands to capture the fish.

Grunions are moderately fatty and taste similar to smelt. They may be sautéed, deep-fried, barbecued, or broiled. For best results it is recommended they be rolled in a mixture of flour and yellow corn meal to which a little salt has been added and deep-fried until golden brown. Although bony, they have a very delicate flavor and provide excellent table fare when prepared fresh.

Play a round of Disc (a.k.a. Frisbee®) Golf - Disc golf is a recreational sport for everyone, regardless of age, gender, or ability. The object of the game is to traverse a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of the disc. The winner is the player who completes the course with the lowest score. There are more than 2,500 courses throughout the United States, of which 120 are in California. Huntington Central Park is home to one of the more challenging courses. Disc Golf is one of the greatest lifetime fitness sports available and since it’s easy to learn it is a terrific activity for visitors to experience and explore the outdoors of Surf City USA®.

Eat at Dwight’s – A local institution since 1932, Dwight’s continues to feed hungry beach-goers. The most popular menu item remains cheese strips, a mouth-watering blend of tortilla chips and cheddar cheese topped with secret sauce. In fact, the sauce is so popular that Dwight’s sells it by the quart and gallon!

Throughout the year Huntington Beach is host to events that are not only “special,” but to some a bit quirky (maybe even ducky!).

March
If it hauled a board, buddies or babes to the beach it's a beach cruiser. From station wagons, sedan deliveries, and convertibles, to VW transporters, nomads, woodies, and pick-ups, car enthusiasts and fans of the era will get their kicks at this nostalgic event, the Annual Wavecrest Beach Cruiser Meet.

TRIVIA - in 2006 the Huntington Beach City Council voted the “woody” the official car of Surf City USA.

May
Visitors walk, run, waddle and fly to the Annual Duck-A-Thon and Festival at the Huntington Beach Pier. Thousands of rubber duckies are launched into the Pacific Ocean, and the first duckie to shore wins the “race” and prizes for his owner. Corporate ducks take home the coveted "Golden Duck Perpetual Trophy." The festival includes a wine tasting, food, local artists and more. The 16th annual event benefits a local non-for-profit charitable organization.

Monthly
And they're off... the Dachshund Races in Huntington Beach’s Old World Village. Since 1993 the swift-four-legged contestants have been running a 22-yard course, where upon a signal from the referee, a gate is lifted and the race begins! Fans cheer above the thunder of paws as owners lure their dogs toward the finish line with colorful toys and food. Wiener dog races continue to grow in popularity - the annual Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals draws thousands of fans to the nearby Los Alamitos Race Course. The race to claim the title of "Fastest Wiener in the West" is a fundraiser for a local animal shelter.

From beach cruisers and racing wiener dogs to a rubber duck race, Surf City USA is a year-round destination for those seeking the not-so-ordinary special event!

To request additional information, to receive a Huntington Beach press kit or to discuss a personal press trip, contact Wendy Haase at 714-969-3492 or wendy@surfcityusa.com.

Also, visit our newly revised media section www.surfcityusa.com/media for press kit materials, high-resolution images, calendar of events, press releases, past issues of the media e-newsletter and, when your travel itinerary allows, a visit to Huntington Beach – Surf City USA, to complete a media hosting request form.