The United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) is sending a group of high-performing professional and junior lifeguards to the 2015 International Surf Rescue Challenge (ISRC). The national team and the youth team are each composed of eight males and eight females who will represent the U.S. in the international competition, Sept. 3-6 in Australia.
The 2015 International Surf Rescue Challenge will be held at Maroochydore Beach on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Participating countries include Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Korea, New Zealand, the USA and Japan.
“The members of the national and youth national teams are a select group of individuals who have demonstrated, at a very high level with consistent success, their unique skills against the best competition in the United States,” said National Teams Director, Skip Prosser. “The ISRC will be a tough challenge, and we are confident in our athletes and we are excited to see them perform at their peak.”
The national and youth national teams, competing in the bi-annual International Life Saving Federation (ILS) sanctioned event, were chosen by a USLA selection committee based on a variety of criteria, including: USLA membership, past performances at national events and endurance and versatility in the pool and on the beach.
“The USLA is proud to be the sole Full Member of the International Life Saving Federation and the sanctioning body for lifesaving sport in the USA, thus empowering us to select the U.S. Team,” said USLA President, B. Chris Brewster. “Lifesaving sport is recognized by the International Olympic Committee with the ILS being the global sanctioning body and we are thrilled to select the athletes that represent our country in Australia.”
The competition, which is held every two years, is a gathering of the world’s top lifesavers. It began in 1939 as the Trans-Tasman Series between Australia and New Zealand.
The national and youth national team rosters follow:
About the USLA
The United States Lifesaving Association is America’s nonprofit professional association of beach lifeguards and open water rescuers. The USLA works to reduce the incidence of death and injury in the aquatic environment through public education, national lifeguard standards, training programs, promotion of high levels of lifeguard readiness, and other means. There are more than 100 chapters of the USLA, each affiliated with local lifesaving services and beach patrols, and composed of employees, alumni, and junior lifeguards of these organizations. For more information or if you would like to donate to the U.S. National Lifesaving team, please visit www.usla.org.
About the ILS
The International Life Saving Federation (ILS) is the world authority for drowning prevention, lifesaving and lifesaving sport. ILS leads, supports and collaborates with national and international organizations engaged in drowning prevention, water safety, water rescue, lifesaving, lifeguarding and lifesaving sport.
Swimming News is courtesy of USLA.
So proud of you Eva Porter!!!!!
Almost half of the two teams (men and women) are from sunny California !!
Go Hayden Hemmens !! A really nice guy ! Smart, and handsome too !
Yay to Mom and Dad Hemmens. Good Work