[August 22, 2011] SUMMER OF SUCCESS: Destin lifeguards wrap up a winning season of competitions Tweet Aug 22, 2011 (The Destin Log - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Destin lifeguard Dylan Newbiggin swam, ran and paddled his way to the top during the United States Lifesaving Association National Lifeguard Championships in Cape May, N.J., Aug. 6. More than 1,200 professional and junior lifeguards from across the United States competed over four days as individuals and teams in water and beach course events that challenged their lifesaving skills. The Australian native was the men's high point champion with 42.25 points. To prepare for the competition, "we have some training every morning and every afternoon," Newbiggin told The Log. "We have done a fair bit of work the past couple months." Monday, Wednesday and Friday the Destin Beach Safety lifeguards have board training. Tuesday and Thursday they have surf ski training and on Saturday mornings they train for the Iron Man which is a three-leg individual race including a swim, paddleboard and surf skiing. "We put in a lot of hard work and it paid off at regionals and nationals," Newbiggin said. "But I was pretty tired afterwards." Adriel Young and Madison Quinn were also top finishers at nationals. They brought home the gold in the men's and women's surf ski race. Young and Newbiggin were also part of the national title-winning men's Taplin Relay. This summer has been a year of success for the Destin Beach Safety team. They won the Jacksonville Relay competition and the regional lifeguard competition in Sarasota, beating teams from Miami, Volusia County, Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale. "Lifeguard competitions help improve our skills. It's a really physically demanding job and you've got to be a fit," he said. "They help us be more efficient at bringing more people (distressed swimmers) in." Although he finished in the Top 10 in all his events, Newbiggin said his strongest event was the American Iron Man with his strongest leg being the paddleboard. The 26-year-old "fell into" lifeguarding eight years ago and has been patrolling the beaches in Australia ever since. This is his first year in Destin as part of the lifeguard exchange program. "Lifeguarding is a theme back home... It's like football is here," he said. For anyone that's interested in becoming a lifeguard, "come do the Junior Lifeguard Program. For people starting at a younger age, that's where you learn." For more information about the Junior Lifeguard Program, contact Destin Beach Safety at 850-837-8413 or visit http://www.destinbeachsafety.com/Juniors.html. ___ (c)2011, The Destin Log (Destin, Fla.) To see more of The Destin Log (Destin, Fla.), or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to www.destin.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]