Meet the Lifeguards
As Ryan and Will’s time on Ocracoke came to a close, Brandi Mattox and Katherine Walton’s week was just beginning.
Brandi and Katherine are both in their third year with Duck Surf Rescue. Katherine made the jump from pool guarding in Northern Virginia after her brother, Joe Walton, guarded for Duck Surf Rescue for a year.
“My brother actually got the job down here first and then the following summer Mirek (Dabrowski, Director of Surf Rescue for Duck and Southern Shores) was looking for guards,” Katherine said. “I swam in high school and he asked me to come down.”
Brandi has actually been in the Outer Banks for eight years. Before Duck, she beach guarded at Kill Devil Hills for five years, starting when she was 16 years old.
So what keeps Brandi in the OBX year after year?
“Everything,” Brandi said. “But mainly the people. You get so comfortable living here.”
Even though they’re both familiar with Duck and the surrounding areas, they say Ocracoke is completely different from the Outer Banks they know.
“It’s amazing how you can go two hours south and it’s just polar opposite,” Katherine said. “The beaches in Duck are much more narrow than these beaches and they’re much more crowded.”
And according to Katherine, the beaches aren’t the only difference.
“The people you meet are so different. The atmosphere down here is much more laid back, much more slow going,” Katherine explained. “It’s still slow paced in Duck, but it’s just night and day. This is a vacation from our vacation spot up there.”
“My favorite thing was meeting with the locals and talking with everyone on the beach,” Brandi said.
“Meeting the people has definitely been awesome,” Katherine agreed.
But Brandi and Katherine obviously weren’t just here to relax.
“We’re here to keep everyone safe and alive and happy,” Katherine said. “I know my family always looks for the lifeguarded beaches and my parents wouldn’t vacation somewhere that didn’t have a lifeguard, so guards are good to make people feel comfortable.”
Not only do the guards provide an important service guarding and saving lives, they are also there to educate the public about beach safety. According to Brandi and Katherine, what’s the topic asked about most?
“Rip currents,” they answered in unison.
“And these flags,” Katherine said. “They always ask about what the flags mean.”
The flags on either side of the guard stand mark the designated swimming area on the beach. Red flags mean no swimming and the guards will whistle anyone in from the water. Although Brandi and Katherine say they would go in for anyone in their eyesight, it is important to swim between the flags on Lifeguard Beach.
“That’s why we have the designated swimming area,” Katherine said. “It’s the only place with lifeguards on the beach, that’s why we do ask people to come swim here.”
Though the job is not in any way an easy one, it’s one that both Brandi and Katherine wake up eager to do each day.
“I love this job,” Brandi said. “Everyone says, ‘If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life,’ and it’s totally true with lifeguarding. We’re definitely thankful and honored to be here with you guys and helping everyone out.”
“What’s not to love?” Katherine added.
Brandi and Katherine say they had an amazing week guarding on Ocracoke. So would they come back for a vacation?
”Oh, heck yeah!” Brandi exclaimed.
“Absolutely!” Katherine gushed. “We love Ocracoke. We’re excited to come back down.”
And we’re excited to see the both of you back for a visit!
For more information about swimming safety and rip currents, visit: oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/ripcurrent.html
For the second summer in a row, Cape Hatteras National Seashore contracted lifeguard operations to Duck Surf Rescue, which will be sending two guards to serve the Lifeguard Beach on Ocracoke every week. "Meet the Lifeguards" will be a regular feature on the Current, so we can get to know the many guards that Duck Surf Rescue sends our way.
