Rowing
Lifeguards Compete at Red Bull Surf and Rescue
Over 132 lifeguards compete for bragging rights as the ultimate protectors of New Jersey shores.
7 min
Red Bull Surf and Rescue: Lifeguard Competition
Over 132 lifeguards competed — swimming, paddling, rowing and running — in the annual contest.
Dark clouds loomed heavy over “America’s favorite playground,” Atlantic City. The high-rise hotel casinos looked down on a beach and boardwalk where two centuries of history have unfolded. This is the place where American beach culture began. This is home to the diving horse, the bootleggers, the Miss America pageant, the rise (and in some cases, fall) of the casinos and the very first beach patrol in the nation.
But as trucks started to make their way across the boardwalk, towing lifesaving rowboats onto the beach, the sky began to clear for the start of Red Bull Surf and Rescue. A new kind of history was being made.
Teams of three men and one woman came from north and south, Wildwood to Sea Bright, Margate to Midway and from all four of New Jersey’s coastal counties to create 33 teams all fired up for the first ever lifeguard tournament to invite every beach patrol in New Jersey.
Round 1: Into the water for the swim relay race
© Jacob Pritchard / Red Bull Content Pool
There were teams that had never met before. Some were made of lifeguard alumnus; other patrols sent two and three squads. And as the athletes warmed up, it was apparent that they were all focused on walking away as the top patrol in the state. By the time the assembled field approached the starting line, the sky had cleared.
The first horn started a swim relay, each member of each team swimming 500 meters. With top open-water swimmer Gram Parker (College of New Jersey All-American), Ryan Clark, Lexi Santer and Frank Brady, Ocean City cruised to a considerable victory, followed by Barnegat Light, This single-elimination event whittled the down the field, round by round.
Red Bull Surf and Rescue: Making the relay
© Jacob Pritchard / Red Bull Content Pool
“It was a much different style of race from what we’re used to in South Jersey,” said Chris Denn, Ocean City senior guard who had organized the team, “There was a lot of contact at the starts and just a lot of excitement in general. We’re already looking forward to next year and maybe putting in two or three teams.”
Professional surfer and Harvey Cedars Beach Patrol captain Randy Townsend, the youngest captain in the state, led the Cedars A team to a decisive win in the round two paddle, even pointing at his cheering guards as he sprinted up the beach with a commanding lead. Barnegat Light showed their consistency with another second place finish.
Round 2: Prone paddle relay
© Jacob Pritchard / Red Bull Content Pool
The sun was sinking low in the summer sky creating an orange-gold backdrop behind the AC skyline for round three, the paddle relay. Harvey Cedars, a relatively small patrol on Long Beach Island, was running on momentum, their A Team, featuring Townsend, Billy Webster, Jenna Parker and Ryan Corcoran, blitzed right into round three, a 400-meter footrace, followed by a row and another 400-meter footrace, winning this round as well.
Two days before the event, Ventnor City’s David Funk was hospitalized with a high fever. Although heartbroken, he persuaded twin Andrew, who had not competed in nine years, to take his place. Coming out of retirement, Andrew Funk helped Ventnor to the final against Brigantine, Barnegat Light, Longport, Ship Bottom, Sea Girt, Ventnor and two squads from Harvey Cedars.
Round 3: Van Duyne boat
© Jacob Pritchard / Red Bull Content Pool
In this thrilling medley relay, Sea Girt vet Mike Barrows put in a strong swim and Annie Skimmons, who swims for La Salle, brought them up to third place in the paddle. Then lieutenant Todd Sudol and UMass swimmer Alex D’Anna made a heroic row to take the lead.
After such a strong showing all night, Harvey Cedars settled for a bittersweet second place. Andrew Funk and rowing partner Greg Smith came from far behind in a dramatic finish, with Smith leaping from the boat and sprinting to a third place finish.
Red Bull Surf and Rescue: Exiting the water
© Jacob Pritchard / Red Bull Content Pool
But the night would belong to Sea Girt Beach Patrol, as D’Anna and Sudol rode a final wave to the finish arch, pocketing the $5,000 and new Van Duyne rescue boat.
“We really like that this event was suited for the well-rounded athletes. We have our new boat out on display. It’s bought a lot of pride to this beach patrol,” said Barrows, a longtime lifeguard and now a physician, “I’ve been competing in local, regional and national events since 1990. From a competitor’s standpoint, this was one of the best events I have ever done — and the best one ever for New Jersey.”
Red Bull Surf and Rescue: The podium
© Jacob Pritchard / Red Bull Content Pool
Results
1. Sea Grit — New Jersey
2. Harvey Cedars No. 1 — New Jersey
3. Ventnor City — New Jersey
For more info, visit the official Red Bull Surf and Rescue event page.
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