Though all the cool kids were wearing orange and green caps, Chris Flattum, refused to bow down to peer pressure!

At the Balboa pier in Orange County, California, they have a open water race for Junior Lifeguards called the Monster Mile. Kids ages 9-15 who have gone through the Junior Lifeguard program compete.

It's the moral equal for these kids of getting your "black belt in "swim fu."

I am loving what these kids can do with colored zinc oxide: Some made it look like war paint, clown makeup, cat makeup, 'Lord of the Flies' makeup, it's all great.

At the Daily Pilot, there is a gallery of the event on the right hand side of the page.

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