Run, swim, rescue: Lifeguards compete in regional championships in Rehoboth Beach this week

The Rehoboth Beach Patrol will host the United States Lifesaving Association’s (USLA) Mid-Atlantic Regional Lifesaving Championships this week, making it 27 consecutive years that Rehoboth has hosted this event, which showcases the skills necessary to be an ocean lifeguard.

Some 300 lifeguards from New York to Virginia will compete beginning at 9:30 am Wednesday for the opportunity to qualify for the national championships in Virginia Beach August 9-12. The public is welcome to observe the competitions, which take place on the beach at Baltimore Avenue.

“We are excited to host the 42nd annual lifesaving championships,” says RBP Captain Jeff Giles. “This is an exciting way to celebrate the proud traditions our patrol has developed over the last century.”

The competition is filled with action-packed events that cannot be seen in any other forum. Events include the 90-meter sprint, 2K beach run, 4 x 90 soft-sand beach relay, 400-meter surf swim, swimmer rescue race, landline rescue race, paddleboard rescue race, run-swim-run, surf dash, and beach flags.

“The level of local and regional talent competing will put on a show not to be missed,” says RBP fourth-year guard Sophia Gulotti. “We performed well last year, and everyone is excited to see who has what it takes to win a championship and qualify for nationals in Virginia Beach.”

The United States Lifesaving Association is a nonprofit professional association of

beach lifeguards and open water rescuers. The USLA works to reduce the incidence of death and injury in the aquatic environment through public education, national lifesaving standards, training programs, and promotion of high levels of lifeguard readiness.