Part of the 50th annual Just Add Water Seminar (JAWS) being held at Te Papa, 18-19 August 2011

Come watch as six teams battle it out for the title of National Champions at the Pool Lifeguard Championships. This year’s finalists include: Community Leisure Management (CLM), Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Stadium 2000 and Waimakariki - all of whom are eager to take the trophy from Porirua who won it in 2008 at the last Championships.

The competition will start with a dry land scenario at 1.20pm, moving on to the pool-based activities from 2.00pm – 3.00pm. The event is a unique opportunity to showcase lifeguard skills in a holistic way. “It’s not just about being good swimmers, but rather about being good lifeguards,” says Alison Law, Upper Hutt City Council Recreation Services Manager, who helped co-ordinate the event. “A quiz and scenario will reinforce our aim of awarding the best overall lifeguards, not just the fastest swimmers,” she adds.

Teams are made up of four people who must be currently qualified and employed at the facility they are representing. Teams are encouraged to have at least one female. The six judges are all Skills Active Assessors from around the country.

The Just Add Water Seminar (JAWS) is New Zealand’s annual Aquatics Conference and one of the events most looked forward to on the New Zealand Recreation Association (NZRA) professional development calendar. Each year JAWS attracts delegates from all areas of the Aquatics Industry, including facility owners, operators, managers and coordinators, industry consultants and local government personnel. 200 delegates from all around the country are expected at this year’s event.

ENDS

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