The Los Angeles County (LAC) Surf Life Saving Association nabbed top honors at the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) 2019 National Lifeguard Championship held August 7 through August 10, 2019, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The USLA National Lifeguard Championship is the Super Bowl equivalent of lifeguard competition. Competitors race as individuals and in relays to earn points for their team. Competition is fierce both in an out of the water; disciplines include: swimming, paddle boarding, dory boats, running, rescue-relays, and grueling ironman/woman events.
The prestigious win marks the 44th victory for the LAC Surf Life Saving Association team. The team has won the overall team championship 31 out of the past 33 years. The win follows four exciting days in Virginia Beach, where the LAC team battled for first place with Monmouth County, New Jersey who finished in second-place.
LAC took only 24 competitors to Virginia, compared to the 112 brought by Monmouth County. LAC closed the National Championships with 892.752 points, while Monmouth County earned 841.832 points.
Lifeguard Chief Fernando Boiteux shared, “Our lifeguard competitors showed us how a strong team can come together to achieve a goal even when the odds are stacked against you. This 44th title is a great example of LAC’s national reputation. I am proud to have them on our team and commend them for their commitment to excellence.”
The LAC women showed their strength by scoring 65% of the team’s total, bringing home 584.752 of LAC’s 892.752 points. By comparison, the LAC women scored enough points to have finished fourth overall in the National competition.
