Courtesy: United States Lifesaving Association
The United States Lifesaving Association will send 12 elite lifesaver athletes to compete against the world’s best November 22, to 26, 2018 in Adelaide, Australia. After a record setting third place finish in New Zealand last November at the International Surf Rescue Challenge, Team USA hopes to continue their climb to the top of international lifesaving competition.
The team consists of proven competitors at the international level as well as some traveling for the first time as members of TEAM USA. The women will be led by recent US Nationals High Point Award Winner Jenna Solberg (LA County) and veteran surf racer Hallie Petersohn (Volusia). The men are led by 2016 World Surf Ski Champion Tim Burdiak (LA County) and rising star on the international scene Hayden Hemmens (Newport Beach).
The Lifesaving World Championships occur every two years bringing the worlds best in events that include running, swimming, paddling and surf skis. The team will compete over four days in lifesaving individual and relay events occurring half in the surf and half in the pool. Head Coach Tom McGibney remarked about the team, “this collection of talent, and experience individually is outstanding, but together this group has the potential to be one of the US’s strongest teams ever”.
In addition to McGibney, the team will be led by Manager Dr. Mike Barrows and Assistant Coach Luke Turner.
Women
Casey Francis – Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue, FL
Renae Jackson – LA County Surf Lifesaving Association, CA
Josie Nixon – Dewey Beach Patrol, DE
April O’Gorman – Volusia Surf Lifesaving Association, FL
Hallie Petersohn – Volusia Surf Lifesaving Association, FL
Jenna Solberg – LA County Surf Lifesaving Association, CA
Men
Tim Burdiak – LA County Surf Lifesaving Association, CA
Hayden Hemmens – Newport Beach Ocean Lifeguard Assoc., CA
Nader Golshahr – Jones Beach State Park, NY
Drew Modrov – Riis Park, NY
Thomas O’Neill – Riis Park, NY
Ryan Paroz – Hampton Lifeguard Association, NY