(Posted 2:30 a.m., Aug. 20)
Ottawa lifeguards capture provincial championship on home surf
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

Petrie Island Beach site supervisor Vincent Riopel competes in the Open Men's beach flag competition at the Ontario Waterfront Lifesaving Championships on Petrie Island Wednesday. Fred Sherwin/Photo

A team of lifeguards from across the city proved that they are among the very best in the province at the Ontario Waterfront Lifesaving Championships held earlier this week on Petrie Island.

The team of four male and six female lifeguards won a boat load of medals including three individual overall titles. Julia Tunney came first in the U20 women's division, Jason Baertschi won the U20 men's title and Gino Levesque won the Open men's crown for individuals 20 and over. The team's combined score was also good enough to capture the overall team title.

Tryouts for the team were held in June. The lucky few who made the squad then had to train during their off hours and practice as a group twice a week for two hours.

Some of the events they competed in include the 2 km beach run, the surf ski race, the 90-metre beach sprint, beach flags, the board rescue relay and the Canadian Iron Guard event which combines a 1 km beach run with a 600-metre rescue board paddle and a 400-metre swim followed by a 50-metre sprint to the finish..

The Ottawa team included two representatives from Petrie Island -- lifeguard Emily Bray and site supervisor Vincent Riopel.

All told more than 120 lifeguards from across the province took part in the competition. Most of them will be doing ti all over again at the Canadian Waterfront Lifesaving Championships in Toronto on August 28 and 29.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)

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