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Gnarly conditions at Hang Ten SA Surf Lifesaving Championships 2011Monday, 04 April 2011 14:15 Ocean shows teeth at Hang Ten SA Surf Lifesaving Champsby Bryan Allott “There's a very real risk to both life and limb...” These were just some of the snatches of conversation overheard by referees, competitors, commentators and spectators alike during the carnival yet, it must be noted, no one was seriously injured in the making of the Hang Ten SA Surf Lifesaving Champs 2011, Camps Bay. A testament to the capability of all lifeguards. If ever there was a true showcase of what surf lifesaving is all about, this was it. It was “proper”, not Baywatch. For four days, the surf frothed and pitted and gnarled while the beach hummed and dived with activity as voluntary lifeguards of all ages from all around the coastline of South Africa put our best to the test. As lifeguards, we are demanded to be able to swim, run fast, run long, paddle a board, paddle a ski, paddle a craft, save a life and often; do all of the above. There are 15 disciplines in which lifeguards test their skills and athletic prowess on and it is not uncommon to partake in over 20 different races during the course of a Nationals campaign; from heats to semi finals to finals. Add in the adverse conditions and relentless mighty Atlantic Ocean shorebreak and we had the ultimate adrenaline-packed multi-sport spectacle. The first day kicked off with the Masters of lifesaving; lifeguards over the age of 30 (with the oldest of competitors weighing in at 60+) who have proven themselves as competent lifeguards and are still active and keen competitors. The rain and building swell on a long course made for some tough racing and it was demonstrated that the intensity and competitive spirit of lifeguards never fades. The first day of junior (u/16 – u/19) and senior (+19) competition greeted us with a bombing shorebreak. Little did we know, this was only a taste of things to come. A solid grinding SW swell of 4m in the deep ocean slammed Camps Bay, taking with it, a number of craft. The carnage was great which only served to foster a sense of greater determination and focus. While 6.5m surfskis folded in half under the impact of the break, lifeguards lined up at the start of each race with a sense of knowing that this was real. Who would be the fastest to the rescue? The sun rose on the morning of day 2 for the seniors and juniors revealing more raw Atlantic fury under a sombre sky. This was also the day that the boaties would be put to the test and tested they were. There is an oft-told story about how to pick a boat crew: line up all your candidates and throw half bricks at them. Those that dodge, duck, dip, dive or dodge, you dismiss. The rest, you train. Never before has a selection process like that been so necessary. At times, the outside sets threatened to clean the entire beach while crowds gathered at the start of every race to watch in sheer awe of the mighty ocean and respect for the lifeguards. Looking back on the photos, there is very little which can be said to capture the essence of day 2, save for one heart-felt, guttural: “whooooaa” from the depths of your soul. It was a day of noises and sounds, shouts and squeals which filled the air. Time passed quickly as wave after adrenaline wave washed up as we all stood mesmerized by the action. In the surf, we were quickly and brutally called to action, to rise above ourselves be the best we could be in that moment. The ultimate day saw a fading swell, yet by no stretch of the imagination, a small swell. There was still some fight left despite the bruised bodies and craft; so we rose to race another day. This was also the day for some of the big races like ironman and the formula 1 of the ocean: single ski. We were also treated with a typical autumn's day in Cape Town: four seasons in one morning with the afternoon stretch taking on a cold onshore chop and the arrival of blue bottles to add to the elements. Not to be outdone, the pace only got more furious as each and every lifeguard gave the very last of themselves, saving nothing for later and giving it their all. In the end, 2011 required and squeezed out every moment of the year's training and preparation gone by. If you missed but one training session this season, it played out in the surf and on the sand. If you hesitated, you were dealt with. If you committed, you were rewarded. And if fate smiled favourably upon you, victory was yours. The roll of the die, the push of the tide, the bounce of the wave; it sometimes works for you, sometimes against you. You roll with the punches and never give up. After all, it's what it takes to save a life: strength, skill, courage and resolve. If you're interested in joining the lifesaving movement, contact Lifesaving SA (lifesaving.co.za) or one of the regional divisions, or even better, your local club. Results Day 1 Summary and club standings Additional info including individual achievers Detailed results from the Hang Ten South Africa Lifesaving Championships are now available across all 34 events that were contested over the 3 days of competition. Think about that for a moment: 34 different races over 3 days involving either one or all of the disciplines: swim, run, paddle, board. The shortest race will last about 6 secs (flags) but will run well over 20 rounds of running. The longer races will last about 4-5 minutes and will usually constitute heats and semi-finals in the mornings before running the finals that same afternoon. All in all, the sport of lifesaving demands a level of skill, commitment and variation in training like none other. Add that to an unpredictable (and some hostile) yet beautiful setting of the ocean and you have a sport that is more than just a sport. Indeed, in amongst the competitors and names you will also notice some legends of South African sport still keeping the young bucks honest as well as some current elite who represent SA in other sports. While the results of the individual performances are listed below (teams and individuals), the championships are contested fiercely at a club level.
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