For over 100 Kaua‘i teenagers, the lifeguarding experience was seen up close and personal and with the islandwide championships coming up this Saturday, the field will be narrowed down to 32 lucky individuals who will swim up to O‘ahu for
For over 100 Kaua‘i teenagers, the lifeguarding experience was seen up close and personal and with the islandwide championships coming up this Saturday, the field will be narrowed down to 32 lucky individuals who will swim up to O‘ahu for the state junior lifeguard championships at Ala Moana Beach Park.
But first comes the Kalapaki challenge at 9 a.m., where the island’s top juniors will compete for those coveted spots.
Learning the ropes as a junior lifeguard has proven to be very beneficial to all of the participants who go through the program, even if they don’t make it to the state finals.
“This program (Junior lifeguard program) is all about learning personal safety, how to react to an emergency, and most importantly, preventing fatal situations,” Kalani Vierra, co-supervisor of the Ocean Safety Bureau of the Kaua‘i Fire Department said. With sessions held earlier in the year at Kealia, Po‘ipu, Salt Pond, and Hanalei, the last session at Kalapaki, which goes through Friday will culminate at the Lihu‘e beach with the 13-17 year olds competing for those 32 spots. The events of the island championships include, beach relays, which consist of teams of six, the paddle board relay, the 1,000 yard run, the 100/100/100, which is a run, swim, and run event, and probably the most exciting event to watch, according to Vierra is the beach flag competition, which encompasses a 40 yard sprint to the finish for the gold.
This valuable experience is much more than just getting the top prize, though.
“We’ve had kids that went through the junior lifeguard program and have actually saved lives,” Vierra said.
In addition to saving lives, the program offers the teenagers a chance to protect our beaches where lifeguards aren’t present.
“Some junior lifeguards who go out and surf at Polihale, where there’s no lifeguard, are doing a tremendous service to the people of Kaua‘i, to both the visitors and the locals,” Vierra said. So come out and support the Kaua‘i junior lifeguard program this Saturday at Kalapaki Beach with the action starting at 9 a.m., who knows, maybe one of the participants might save your life one day!
Duane Shimogawa, Sports Editor can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 257) and mailto:kauaisports@pulitzer.net
