Huntington Beach contingent competes in San Diego

Huntington Beach will be represented today as the city’s Jr.

Lifeguard program will send a contingent to San Diego to compete at the

2000 United State’s Lifesaving Association’s National Lifeguard

Championships.

The four-day event will be held at Pacific Beach along San Diego’s

historic Crystal Pier.

Approximately 100 youngsters from the Huntington Beach Jr. Lifeguard

program are in San Diego for the competition, which will be held in four

separate divisions: A (ages 16-17), AA (14-15), B (12-13), and C (9-11).

Events, which begin with the 9 a.m. Beach Run and conclude with a 3:30

p.m. Swim Relay and Rescue Race, also include a Paddleboard Race,

Distance Swim, Run-Swim-Run, and Beach Flags.

Gordon Duff, on of Huntington Beach’s Jr. Lifeguard instructors, says

the city is sending a formidable contingent to San Diego.

“We’re sending a pretty strong group of kids down there,” said Duff,

who has competed in past national championships in Hawaii, Chicago,

Texas, and California. “It’s a great competition for the kids to get

involved with, because they’ll see some other top city programs in

action.”

The Jr. Lifeguard competition will not be scored by chapter (city);

however, the top three finishers in each competition will be

acknowledged.

San Diego will host the USLA National Lifeguard Championships for the

third time, and Chris Brewster, the Lifeguard Chief for the City of San

Diego, says the 2000 event should be better than ever.

San Diego hosted bot the 1997 and 1980 national championships.

“This competition pits the best against the best,” said Brewster,

himself a former competitor. “This is the single competition each year

that bring the best lifeguard athletes together in one place. It’s a

great weekend of competition.”

Today’s Jr. Lifeguard competition kicks off the weekend, which also

includes a four-day Lifeguard competition, that begins with today’s

preliminary competitions, and concludes with Sunday’s finals.

The 2000 USLA National Lifeguard Championships will have a televised

special featured on MTV at a later date.