North Myrtle Beach to play host to Regional Lifeguard Championships

By: NEWS RELEASE | SCNow
Published: July 07, 2009

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH – Lifeguards vying to place No. 1 in the South Atlantic Lifesaving Association’s (SALA) Regional Lifeguard Championships will travel to North Myrtle Beach next week.

According to a news release, the two-day event, which is sanctioned by the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA), will take place July 15-16 on the beach near Main Street and Ocean Boulevard.

Sponsored by the North Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach Department of Public Safety and SALA, the competition is expected to draw 200 competitors from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Events are listed below and, although a small portion of the beach will be blocked off for championship events, the public is encouraged to watch, the release said.

SALA REGIONAL LIFEGUARD CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS

Wednesday, July 15 – Beginning at noon; ending between 4:30-6 p.m.

·Landline

·Board Rescue

·Rescue Race

·Beach Flags

·Taplin Relay

Thursday, July 16 – Beginning at 8 a.m.; ending between 4:30-6 p.m.

·Beach Run

·Surf Swim Race

·Beach Relay

·Rescue Race3

·Board Race

·Run Swim Run

·Board Rescue

·Landline

·Surf Ski

·Ironman/Ironwoman

According to the release, in last year’s competition, the team from the City of North Myrtle Beach took 3rd place in its division.

This year, the city team will have 30 competitors. Although a large number of city lifeguards will be participating in the championships, the city employs 90 lifeguards and all 54 lifeguard towers and four ATVs will be fully staffed. North Myrtle Beach lifeguards have both American Red Cross and USLA certifications.

For more information, please contact North Myrtle Beach Public Information Officer Nicole Aiello at (843) 280-5612.