SWIMMING : Top U.S. Lifeguards Converge in Hawaii

Paul Donohue and Mark Valance spend their weekends competing against California’s best lifeguards in the Bud Light Ocean Festival Series.

The Thousand Oaks residents will step up a class at the National Lifeguard Championships in Hawaii on Aug. 5-7. Donohue qualified by placing first overall in the 1,000-meter swim after eight weeks of Festival competition. Valance placed third overall in both the “ironman” event, which combines swimming, paddling and rowing, and the 1,000-meter paddleboard to qualify.

Donohue, an L.A. County firefighter, and Valance are part of a 30-member L.A. County Lifeguard team, the largest ever to qualify for the nationals.