Locals shine on opening day of National Lifeguard Championships | Local Roundup – Santa Cruz Sentinel

2022-09-03 16:14:36 By : Ms. Nancy Xu

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Several locals won titles at the United States Lifesaving Association’s National Lifeguard Championships in Hermosa Beach on Wednesday.

The National Junior Lifeguard Championships feature Junior Guard programs from every coast in the United States. The future lifeguarding hopefuls, ages nine-15, competed in various events in three age categories for individual titles. The Under-19 competition, comprised of both junior and professional lifeguards ages 16-18, also competed for medals.

Junior competitors from Capitola Beach Lifeguard Association, Sussex County, Del., LA County, Santa Cruz, California State, Hampton Lifeguard Assoc., Jones Beach, Volusia and others won individual titles on the opening day of competition.

In the Beach Flags event, Madalyn “Munchie” Price of Capitola Beach Lifeguard Association beat teammate and three-time national champion Ava Burke for the U19 girls title. Brady Meyer of Santa Cruz Surf Life Saving Association won the Boys C Group (9-11) beach flags title.

In the Beach Run, a 2-kilometer distance run, Walter Fitchen-Young of Santa Cruz won the Boys A Group (14-15), and Nico Van Der Meer of Santa Cruz won the Boys B Group (12-13) title.

In the Board Race, Sae Ackerstein of Santa Cruz won the Girls Under-19 (16-18) title, Finley Dobkin of Santa Cruz won the Girls B Group (12-13) division, and Meyer, of Santa Cruz, won the Boys C Group (9-11) title.

In the Run-Swim-Run, Van Der Meer of Santa Cruz won the Boys B Group (12-13) division, and Elizabeth Penny of Santa Cruz won the Girls B Group (12-13) title.

In the Board Rescue, Skye Davies and Zoe Ann Watson of Santa Cruz won the Girls Under-19 (16-18) title.

Kees Van Der Meer runs to second place in the Distance Run at the United States Lifesaving Association's National Lifeguard Championships in Hermosa Beach on Wednesday. (Michael Watson - Special to the Sentinel)

Kaden Smith exits the water at the United States Lifesaving Association's National Lifeguard Championships in Hermosa Beach on Wednesday. (Michael Watson - Special to the Sentinel)

Skye Davies and Zoe Ann Watson of Santa Cruz celebrate their win in the Girls Under-19 Board Rescue final at the United States Lifesaving Association's National Lifeguard Championships in Hermosa Beach on Wednesday. (Michael Watson - Special to the Sentinel)

Sae Ackerstein heads towards finish in surf ski race at the United States Lifesaving Association's National Lifeguard Championships in Hermosa Beach on Wednesday. (Michael Watson - Special to the Sentinel)

Zoe Ann Watson, Lily Pederson, Ruby Holmes, and Milan Golder share a moment after rescue race at the United States Lifesaving Association's National Lifeguard Championships in Hermosa Beach on Wednesday. (Michael Watson - Special to the Sentinel)

Santa Cruz Jr. Lifeguards compete at the United States Lifesaving Association's National Lifeguard Championships in Hermosa Beach on Wednesday. (Michael Watson - Special to the Sentinel)

Madalyn "Munchie" Price and Ava Burke compete in the Beach Flags final at the United States Lifesaving Association's National Lifeguard Championships in Hermosa Beach on Wednesday. (Michael Watson - Special to the Sentinel)

Reef Bennet battles to the finish in board race at the United States Lifesaving Association's National Lifeguard Championships in Hermosa Beach on Wednesday. (Michael Watson - Special to the Sentinel)

Owen Decossy, Riley Auble, and Jonah Suskind sprint up the beach during paddle race at the United States Lifesaving Association's National Lifeguard Championships in Hermosa Beach on Wednesday. (Michael Watson - Special to the Sentinel)

Outerknown Tahiti Pro: A lay day was called on the opening day of the World Surf League’s Outerknown Tahiti Pro on Thursday, Event 10 on the Championship Tour in Teahupoʻo, Tahiti, French Polynesia.

When action begins, Santa Cruz’s Nat Young, ranked No. 16 on the 2022 CT season, competes in Heat 3 of the Opening Round against No. 2 Jack Robinson of Australia and No. 28 Michel Bourez of France.

The competition window runs through Aug. 21.

Hole-in-one: Santa Cruz’s Frank Rosales aced the 113-yard 15th hole at Pasatiempo Golf Club on Tuesday with a 9-iron. It’s his fifth career ace.

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