Surprise Winner Stuns at 2026 Dutch Hoffman Lifeguard Races

One of the biggest traditions of the summer season at Jersey Shore are the lifeguard competitions that are almost exclusive to Southern New Jersey.

For decades, the different community beach patrols from Brigantine to Cape May have gone head-to-head in swimming and boat races of different varieties. These are opportunities for lifeguards to display how athletic they are in real time.

Since 1963, the Wildwood Beach Patrol has hosted the annual Dutch Hoffman Memorial Lifeguard Races. Named in honor of long-time Wildwood Beach Patrol Captain Frank "Dutch" Hoffman, who was a key in the modernization of lifeguard patrols in The Wildwoods.

The 2026 edition featured The Locker Room with Billy Schweim live broadcast of the Lifeguard races with former Longport Beach Patrol Chief Dan Adams, former Avalon BP Lt. Erich Wolf, and former Ocean City BP Lt. Jack Brooks serving as analysts.

The Dutch Hoffman Memorial Lifeguard Races is the first of the traditional "Big Three" South Jersey LG Races each summer.

The first race featured a competitive Doubles Row in which Margate BP took an early lead, but on the row back, Avalon and Upper Township stormed back into the fray. With eight boats tightly contesting the competition, Atlantic City's Vince Granese and Nick Guidara took a late lead, and won the 2026 Doubles Row, with Upper Township Beach Patrol finishing in second place.

*Editor's Note: We have some, but not all, race results from this year's event as of 8pm on Friday Night. We can, and will, update this article as more information becomes available.

-Male Individual Swim Race is won by Atlantic City's Charles Schreiner, followed in a close second place by Upper Township's Logan Manning.
-The Women's Paddleboard Race was won by the defending champion from 2025, Brigantine Beach Patrol's Grace Emig.

-Women's Run Race was won by Margate Beach Patrol's Sofia Day wins, with Ocean City BP Chloe Care in second place, followed by Sea Isle City BP's third Grace Burns in third place
-Men's Paddleboard Race Cape May Clay Stevens.
-Women's Swim winner was Cape May's Madelyn Cassidy, with Longport's Jordyn Ricciotti finishing in second place

After the first five races, Brigantine Beach Patrol held the points lead, followed by Atlantic City BP, and Upper Township. But heading into the final race, Cape May Beach Patrol jumped ahead of Brigantine in the points.

The Single's Boat Race saw Cape May Beach Patrol and Cape May Point each take an early lead at the turn. A wild finish featured Cape May's Mike Fitzpatrick catching a big wave, giving him a clear road to the finish, passing both Atlantic City and Cape May Point BP.  Fitzpatrick told Erin Ewing from The Locker Room with Billy Schweim on 973 ESPN South Jersey that this is the first singles race he has ever won at this level of competition.

Cape May Beach Patrol are the overall points winners for the 2026 Dutch Hoffman Lifeguard Championships.