If you have yet to experience a lifeguard competition, you should do yourself the favor and see one this summer. There are many that occur during the summer but one of the more popular events is the Lifeguard Taplin that is done during the surf festival in the south bay. This event is essentially a relay race that has four swimmers, four paddlers, and then four dory (pretty much a rowboat that goes through the surf) teams.
In terms of excitement, the swim portion of the relay is admittedly a little bit dull because there is not much to see. The paddle leg of the race gets pretty interesting if there is big surf. Next is the dories. These 300 plus pound rowboats operated by two brave men or women must get through the surf to round a flag that is in the water, and then come back into the shore to tag the next dory team. The trick to this leg of the event, is to get through the surf without flipping or crashing into another dory. Because of the carnage that normally comes with this leg of the event, it has easily become the fan favorite.
Last summer, a friend and myself decided that we wanted to be in the dory portion of the relay, mostly because of how fun it looks. We tried out and were the fifth fasted boat, so we became the fast boat in our agency's "B" team. Our team finished in the middle of the pack, but our "A" team got first. We were proud to be a part of the competition, and decided that we will try out again next summer, but work out more to get that "A" team slot and hopefully be a part of the winning team next year and get our names on the Taplin Bell.
Kyle A. (KIN 332I S3200)
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