Rissers Hosts National Lifesaving Event
SPORT/RECREATION COMMISSION -Rissers Hosts National Lifesaving Event
Lifeguards from across Canada will compete at Rissers Beach in Lunenburg County on Aug. 27 and 28 in the second annual Canadian Surf Lifesaving Championship.
The inaugural championship last year was also held at the popular beach, south of Bridgewater.
"Rissers Beach was once again the top choice of the organizing committee for staging this competition," said Paul D'Eon, director of the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service. "The support from the community, combined with the spectacular condition of the beach and surrounding park was a big factor in deciding to bring the championship back to Rissers."
The Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service, host of the event, is hoping for about 200 contestants. The championship is sanctioned by the Lifesaving Society, Canada's governing body for lifesaving sport.
Last September, Doug Ferguson, Canada's lifesaving sport commissioner, selected the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service to host the second and third annual Canadian Surf Lifesaving Championships.
Mr. Ferguson said Nova Scotia is still the obvious choice for growing the sport of lifesaving, which only recently gained International Olympic Committee recognition.
"Nova Scotia is uniquely positioned to develop this sport," said Mr. Ferguson. "There is great talent, excellent participation rates among athletes, a lengthy coastline with great beach access and, most importantly, the championship has the support of the Lifesaving Society and the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service."
The 2001 Championship will feature 12 men's and women's individual and team events:
Beach Flags (individual) Beach Run - 2km (individual)Beach Sprint (individual) Board Race (individual) Canadian Ironwoman/Ironman (individual) Run-Swim-Run (individual) Surf Ski Race (individual) Beach Relay (team) Board Rescue (team) Canadian Taplin Relay (team) Surf Teams Race (team) Rescue Tube Rescue (team)
More information is available on the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service Web site. Go to www.nsls.ns.ca/ and click on Lifesaving Sport.
The Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service is a joint project of the Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation Commission and the Lifesaving Society, Nova Scotia Branch.