Underwater hurdles a stones throw from his home turf proved good enough for Martin Henderson as he finished near the top at the Canadian Pool Lifesaving Championships held at Commonwealth pool in Saanich from June 7-9.

The aquatic coordinator for Panorama Recreation Centre in North Saanich, HendersonB次元官网网址檚 top finish was fifth in his second time competing at the national competition.

A lifeguard since 2009, Henderson first started competing in technical skills competitions B次元官网网址� based primarily on first aid and rescue techniques with one fitness relay.

In 2018, a friend clued him in to the lifesaving championships and he jumped on the four-member Team B.C. He figured, B次元官网网址淚 can swim, IB次元官网网址檒l give it a shot.B次元官网网址� Henderson finished fifth place in the 200m obstacle swim 19+ division and sixth place in the 50m manikin carry 19+ division at the competitions held in Saanich in June.

B次元官网网址淚 call it swimming with extra steps,B次元官网网址� Henderson explained with a laugh.

Events include towing a manikin while swimming, picking up heavy items from the bottom of the pool and reverse hurdles alongside like throwing and relays. The province is generally underrepresented in the national competitions and Henderson is among those trying to build the sport in B.C. He plans to run a course this summer for the staff at panorama and in Nanaimo promoting the program.

Panorama is starting a juniors club next year to get 8 to 12 year olds on board B次元官网网址渁nd hopefully building up from a young age,B次元官网网址� he said. That would build up to a Lifeguard Academy where kids that age could learn first-aid skills, lifesaving skills and swim practices B次元官网网址� feeding into the younger categories at the lifesaving competitions. B次元官网网址淭he juniors have smaller obstacles and lighter manikins but it gets them started in the sport at a younger age,B次元官网网址� Henderson said.

The goal is also to B次元官网网址渒eep them in the water, keep them engagedB次元官网网址� leaving lifeguarding as an option for them in the future.

B次元官网网址淚n general, lifeguarding is a really really good skill," said Henderson. "Kids finish their swimming lessons at 9 or 10 years old and then they do nothing in the water for however long.B次元官网网址�

This would offer young people a place build and maintain lifesaving and critical thinking skills. B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 invaluable in general no matter what youB次元官网网址檙e doing with your life,B次元官网网址� he said.

The recent competition featured athletes aged 16 to 60. No matter whether through lessons or an academy, for fun or competition, the local lifeguard is clearly a proponent of swimming as a safety measure.

B次元官网网址淟earn to swim enough that youB次元官网网址檙e not scared in the water. ItB次元官网网址檚 a very important skill, and I know itB次元官网网址檚 very hard to get into swimming lessons right now because itB次元官网网址檚 such high demand. But itB次元官网网址檚 a skill everyone should have.B次元官网网址�