PROFILE PETER GEAL
PROF
My Story
ILE
Peter Geal International Lifeguard
P
eter Geal, 26, traded in his desk job in the UK to become an international lifeguard. Now he travels the world working some of the best beaches in the world and enjoying a nomadic ocean lifestyle. Peter shares his story with LIFEGUARD.
I grew up in Cornwall, a peninsula surrounded by the ocean in the south-west of the UK. With plenty of coastline there are loads of surf options throughout the year. It’s one of the most popular holiday destinations in England, so the beaches are packed in the summer, which keeps the lifeguards busy! Growing up on the rugged Cornish coastline has instilled in me a passion for the ocean and wild places. Conversely, spending cold, damp and dark winters in Cornwall has given me the drive to get on the road and explore new places. Throughout, surfing has always been a consistent driving force in my life.
LIFEGUARD'S TIPS FOR WORKING ABROAD • Research all the opportunities to get a good idea of what’s out there • Talk to someone who has been and done what you’re thinking of doing. • Get to know the country you are about to visit beforehand, it’ll help you settle in. • Make sure you tag on some travel before or after (or both!) your work to really appreciate the country. • Don’t expect the service you work for to be the same as where you work now, you will have to adjust to the working culture of your new service. • Feel free to offer advice from your own experience, but don’t act like a know-it-all. • Remember you are representing Australia, so acting professionally is a must. • Enjoy every minute of your adventure, make new friends and build industry relationships which will last forever.
International lifeguard opportunities in brief
After my contract was up, I went travelling and wanted a way to sustain a surfing lifestyle, lifeguarding seemed like the most logical conclusion at the time and I haven’t looked back. I started lifeguarding with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in the Restormel district in Cornwall, UK. It's one of the busier areas, and includes the popular coastal resort of Newquay. It was the first town in the UK to have lifeguards, and has had a long history of Australian guards coming over to work there, which gives it a strong international feel. The beaches can get upwards of 2,000 people in peak season, so we have our work cut out for us. I’ve also spent the past three Australian summers working in south-west Australia, for the Australian Lifeguard Service. It’s a relatively new service that has seen a lot of change and expansion over the past few seasons. It’s been great to be involved in the opening of patrolled beaches and I’ve been incredibly lucky to live and work in such a beautiful place.
UNITED KINGDOM
UNITED STATES
DENMARK
[Operators] The main operator is the Royal National Lifeboat Association (RNLI).
[Operators] Various lifeguard agencies.
[Operators] Surf Life Saving Denmark (or TrygFonden KystLivredning).
[Season] Early May to late September. [Applications] International lifeguards apply for jobs the same as locals. Online application process. [More info] rnli.org.uk
50 lifeguard magazine
I didn’t start lifeguarding until I was 22, after going down the university route I spent some time working at a local university and design agency. The work was interesting but I found the whole office scene, with its water cooler gossip and weekend dreaming, a tad stifling.
[Season] Some all year round. Main season May to September. [Applications] You will need to contact the lifeguard agency independently for more information. [More info] usla.org
[Season] June to August. [Applications] Contact Surf Life Saving Denmark for more information. [More info] svoem.dk