Home
Posts Tagged ‘lifeguard certification’
Surfers, lifeguards eyeing motorized surfboards
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012
PONCE INLET — It is “the James Bond surfboard.”
That’s the most common first reaction to the motor-propelled surfboards made by WaveJet, said Kelly Virgulto of the San Diego-based company.
But WaveJet isn’t relying on its “Meet the Jetsons” flying-car flair.
The motorized board has military potential and is a possible game-changer for ocean rescues that’s attracted the attention of Volusia County’s Beach Patrol and other agencies across the country.
And to help mold the new company’s image, WaveJet has hired local surfers. Following the Surf Expo in Orlando, the company came to Ponce Inlet for a filming session last week.
Cory Lopez of Daytona Beach Shores is one of two pro surfers WaveJet is sponsoring, and Patrick Eichstaedt of New Smyrna Beach is producing a video.
Mike Railey, WaveJet’s inventor and CEO, said the WaveJet can push a 250-pound surfer at 7 mph. Lopez tested WaveJet’s speed on a shortboard against New Smyrna Beach’s No. 137 ranked surfer in the world.
“I raced Eric Geiselman the other day and I didn’t even paddle. I was going faster than he could paddle,” Lopez said. “It’s a whole different surfing experience.”
For lifeguards, the WaveJet’s appeal is versatility.
Lifeguard corps in Rhode Island, California, Hawaii and now Volusia County have tested the boards, Railey said.
Volusia County Beach Patrol Deputy Chief Scott Petersohn took a WaveJet out for a test ride last week, and even got in on the filming, wearing a helmet cam like Cory Lopez.
“It’s definitely got applications for rescue,” Petersohn said.
“It’s not a replacement for a (power) ski, the ski is like the workhorse,” he said.
But Petersohn said the four-stroke engines in the skis can unexpectedly not want to start, and the 500-pound machines require a trailer to launch, limiting where they can be put in the water.
A WaveJet could easily go off the inlet side of the jetty rocks, for instance, as well as allow a lifeguard to attend to a victim while moving back to shore or more easily rescue multiple victims, he said.
Continue reading on http://www.news-journalonline.com/>>
News & Updates
90-Year-Old Realizes Dream of Becoming Lifeguard
The 10 Best College Towns: Princeton Review List
HealthQuest in Flemington starting lifeguard competition
90-Year-Old Realizes Dream of Becoming Lifeguard
Monday, January 16th, 2012
A 90-year-old former professional swimmer and diver fulfilled a dream of her youth when she became an honorary lifeguard at the Ed Isakson-Alpharetta Family YMCA on Friday, Jan. 13.
Hazal, a resident of Sunrise at East Cobb, traveled to the YMCA on a chilly afternoon with some of her fellow residents in tow to go poolside at the indoor aquatic center. She was given her own whistle, lifeguard certificate and lifeguard rescue float before being taken poolside.
Alpharetta’s Y was a stand-in for the Northeast Cobb Family YMCA, which had a 30-foot window blow out due to the high winds the day before.
Being a lifeguard had been a dream when she was a young woman in Dallas, Texas, but that’s all it could be at the time because only men were allowed to be lifeguards at the time. Second Wind Dreams helped her realize that dream.
Second Wind Dreams was founded by P.K. Beville of Marietta on Jan. 15, 1997.
Second Wind Dreams, an international non-profit, celebrated 15 years of making dreams come true for elders in long term care communities on Jan. 13, Dream Day 2012, according to P.K. Beville, the organization’s founder.
See the interview on http://alpharetta.patch.com.
News & Updates
The 10 Best College Towns: Princeton Review List
HealthQuest in Flemington starting lifeguard competition
Happy New Year from Guard for Life
The 10 Best College Towns: Princeton Review List
Friday, January 13th, 2012
College towns can be an important part of the college experience. There is nothing better than being able to walk outside of the ivory tower and expand your horizons in a new city.
The Princeton Review recently named the 10 best college towns in the country. Columbia University topped the list (What is better than the Big Apple?) with DC’s Georgetown coming in second.
View complete slideshow of the top 10 college towns at huffingtonpost.com >>
HealthQuest in Flemington starting lifeguard competition
Tuesday, January 10th, 2012
FLEMINGTON — HealthQuest Family Fitness lifeguards will stack up against one another in their bid to become victorious at the inaugural Best at the Quest HealthQuest Lifeguard Challenge.
The competition’s events will feature a 500-meter swim, a mile run, a 40-yard sprint, a 100-meter rescue board paddle and three-one minute strength events, scoring participants on max reps in push-ups, sit-ups and pull-ups.
Lifeguards will be separated into five divisions: men’s over 18, men’s under 18, women’s over 18, women’s under 18 and over 40.
Kenan Lake, aquatics operation manager, said he created the challenge to raise the standard while keeping it fun for department bragging rights.
“I came up with this idea as a way to get lifeguards more engaged in the physical aspect of their jobs. I also want to make this a more fun place to work. A lot of our staff is very competitive, so feeding off of that, I came up with this idea to see who’s best of the Quest.”
Aside from showcasing their skills, Lake knows that the main benefit to the competition is to help participants measure their proficiencies and weaknesses.
“If there’s an area they’re weak at, it’s something for them to practice. It’s important to be at a higher level of physical fitness, and that’s what this is designed to do, to motivate them in a fun competitive way so they can be more proficient.”
The field of 20 competitors encompasses a wide variety of athletes with various backgrounds, some of which include Lake, a former Army infantry squad leader and an adventure racing enthusiast; Army National Guardsman Brent Long; aquatics manager Caitlyn McTeigue, an active rock climber, surfer and military obstacle race fanatic; Hunterdon Central Regional High School senior Brandon Suk, a Monmouth University football prospect; and swim siblings Jess and Samantha, who both are competitors on the Warren Hills Regional High School swim team.
News & Updates
Happy New Year from Guard for Life
Cruise on the world’s largest and most expensive ship
Drowning prevention nonprofits seek “Lifesaver of the Year”
New environmentally-friendly water parks make a splash with kids, adults
Happy New Year from Guard for Life
Friday, December 30th, 2011
Guard for Life wants to wish our lifeguards and readers a heartfelt Happy New Year. As 2011 winds down, the New Year reminds us that summer is just around the corner. And while it’s cold outside in most areas across the country, it will only be a few months before warm weather is upon us again – with the excitement of pool season.
With this new season, Guard for Life will be making some really great improvements to the Summer to Win contest (you know, the one that gives away cash and prizes all summer) and we will also be pumping-up our Facebook and Twitter profiles. We are also making things easier for you by improving our online application process. Make sure to apply early this year to secure your spot at your favorite pool!
Guard for Life makes a resolution every year – to improve the lifeguard experience and make your summer at the pool the best ever. Here’s to 2012 – may it be your best season yet.
Happy New Year!
News & Updates
Cruise on the world’s largest and most expensive ship
Drowning prevention nonprofits seek “Lifesaver of the Year”
New environmentally-friendly water parks make a splash with kids, adults