HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. (Aug. 11, 2016) – The United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) National Lifeguard Championships continued on Thursday as hundreds of the nation’s most elite lifeguards continued the four-day skills competition in Hermosa Beach.
Professional lifeguards from 55 USLA chapters around the country are competing for individual and team honors in water and beach course events that challenge their lifesaving skills. Heats in multiple disciplines in both the open and age group divisions were held on with age-group champions emerging in the Surf Boat Race, Surfski Race and American Ironman and American Ironwoman.
The USLA National Lifeguard Championships continue with more exciting action on Friday as the open and age group divisions continue the final rounds of competition in Surf Swim Race Board Race, Iron Man and Ironman/Ironwoman and Beach Flags.
USLA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS: Thursday, August 11, 2016
SURF BOAT RACE: Two-person surf boat teams row around the three outside buoy courses returning to shore where one member disembarks from the boat and runs up to touch the line. Once across the touchline, the member can return to their surf boat for a second lap, repeating the touch line run. At the finish of the third lap, one member must leave the boat and run up and across the finish line. Three lap races are approximately 2,000 meters with each lap approximately 665 meters.
Men’s 30-34
- Boki Corsovic, Jose Bolivar – Hollywood Beach, Fla.
Women’s 30-34
- Lindsey Gerkens – Wrightsville Beach, N.C.
Jillian Kenney – Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue, Fla.
Men’s 35-39
NO COMPETITORS
Women’s 35-39
NO COMPETITORS
Men’s 40-44
- Chris Hoch – Miami Beach, Fla.
Mitch McCrady – Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue, Fla.
Women’s 40-44
- Jennifer Noonan – Delray Beach Ocean Rescue, Fla.
Jo Wagenhals – Pompano Beach, Fla.
Men’s 45-49
- Michael O’Donnell, Tom Seth – LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Women’s 45-49
- Shelley Griffith, Sherry Griffith – Boca Raton, Fla.
Men’s 50-54
- Dane DeBoer, Dick DeBoer – California State Lifeguard Association
Women’s 50-54
NO COMPETITORS
Men’s 55-59
- Joeseph Taylor – Hallandale Beach, Fla.
John Gepp – Monmouth County, N.J.
Women’s 55-59
NO COMPETITORS
Men’s 60-64
- Dale Adama, Robert Tolin – California State Lifeguard Association
Women’s 60-64
NO COMPETITORS
Men’s 65-69
- Eldin Onsgard, Randy Steigley – Los Angeles County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Women’s 65-69
NO COMPETITORS
SURF SKI: Competitors steady their skis in line in knee-deep water about 1.5 meters apart. Competitors paddle their skis around the apex course marked by three buoys in a clockwise direction and return to finish when any part of the ski crosses the in-water finish line-ridden, gripped or carried by the competitor. Competitors may lose contact with their ski without necessarily being disqualified.
Men’s 30-34
- James Bray – California State Lifeguard Association
Women’s 30-34
- Lindsey Gerkens – Wrightsville Beach, N.C.
Men’s 35-39
- Rich Sprout – California State Lifeguard Association
Women’s 35-39
- Tandis Morgan – Los Angeles County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Men’s 40-44
- Shaun Gibson – Deerfield Beach, Fla.
Women’s 40-44
- Jennifer Noonan – Delray Beach Ocean Rescue, Fla.
Men’s 45-49
- Cris Dobrosielski – California Lifeguard Association
Women’s 45-49
- Sherry Griffith – Boca Raton, Fla.
Men’s 50-54
- Patrick Hemmens – California State Lifeguard Association
Women’s 50-54
- Patty Mackle – California State Lifeguard Association
Men’s 55-59
- Cliff Goulding – Half Moon Bay SLSC, Australia
Women’s 55-59
NO COMPETITORS
Men’s 60-64
- Dale Adama – California State Lifeguard Association
Women’s 60-64
NO COMPETITORS
Men’s 65-69
- Eldin Onsgard – Los Angeles County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Women’s 65-69
NO COMPETITORS
Men’s 65-69
- Ed Heinrich – Los Angeles County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Women’s 65-69
- NO COMPETITORS
AMERICAN IRONWOMAN: Competitors cover a 950 meter (approx.) course that includes a swim leg, a board leg, and a beach sprint finish. Swim clockwise around the two center swim flag buoys (red to green/yellow). Competitors will BOARD paddle clockwise around the swim flag buoys and the black/white buoys. The start will be at the left end of the coarse facing down the beach. The competitors will RUN down the beach 100 meters to a flag in the middle of the course. After rounding the center flag, the competitors enter the water for the swim.
Women’s 30-34
- Kelli Lyons – California State Lifeguard Association
Women’s 35-39
- Emily Hagen – California State Lifeguard Association
Women’s 40-44
- Jennifer Nononan – Delray Beach Ocean Rescue, Fla.
Women’s 45-49
- Shannon Delaney – California State Lifeguard Association
Women’s 50-54
- Patty Mackle – California State Lifeguard Association
Women’s 55-59
- Julie Moss – California State Lifeguard Association
AMERICAN IRONMAN: Competitors cover a 1400 meter (approx.) course that includes a swim leg, a board leg, a solo surf boat leg, and a beach sprint finish. The sequence of legs shall be determined by draw at the commencement of each competition, at least one hour prior to the race. SWIM clockwise around the two center swim flag buoys (red to green/yellow). BOARD paddle clockwise around all the swim flag buoys and the black/white buoys. ROW a surf boat clockwise around the three buoy apex course. Competitors must pass to the outside of all buoys.
Men’s 30-34
- James Bray – California State Lifeguard Association
Men’s 35-39
- Michael Vasta – Dania Beach, Fla.
Men’s 40-44
- Casey Graham – California State Lifeguard Association
Men’s 45-49
- Tom Seth – Los Angeles County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Men’s 50-54
- Mel Solberg – LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Men’s 55-59
- John Skudin – Long Beach, N.Y.
Men’s 60-64
- Dale Adama – California State Lifeguard Association
Men’s 65-69
- Eldin Onsgard – Los Angeles County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Hosted by the Los Angeles County Surf Life Saving Association (LACoSLSA), the USLA National Lifeguard Championships continue Friday at 8 a.m. PT on Hermosa Beach (1300 The Strand). Professional lifeguards from a number of USLA chapters across the country will compete for individual and team honors in water and beach course events that challenge their lifesaving skills including surf swims, beach runs, paddleboard races, landline rescue relays, taplin relay, board rescue races, beach flags, and Ironman and Ironwoman races.
Admission to the USLA National Lifeguard Championships presented by Toyota in Hermosa Beach is free of charge.
For more information on the USLA National Lifeguard Championships and full results from today’s National Junior Lifeguard Championships, visit http://www.uslanationals.org/.
This swimming recap is courtsey of USLA.