SPORT
Trent travels to the Gold Coast for the Surf Lifesaving National Championships
Year 9 student Trent Huzzard ( 9Fr ) recently travelled to the Gold Coast to compete in the Surf Lifesaving WA 2016 Western Suns Pool Rescue State Team that competed at the National Championships . Trent explains how much time and commitment is needed to be able to compete at this level .
I became involved in the surf lifesaving Nippers program when I was seven . From there my passion for the ocean and surf lifesaving evolved .
There are many different aspects of surf lifesaving ; all the activities that I am currently involved with are voluntary :
• Patrols – these commence when you receive your Surf Rescue Certificate ( SRC ) at 14
• Competitions – these include the summer program and pool rescue , which is run over winter
• Surf Club – this is where my age group get together on a Sunday morning to train and socialise .
If you are into competitions , a lot of additional training is required , the amount of which depends on the disciplines that you are interested in . I focus on water events and usually do at least six training sessions a week for swimming and boards and have just started ski training . There is also the option to do beach ( running ) events . In order to compete , you are required to keep your qualification , e . g . Bronze Medallion , current and this requires an annual assessment .
The events of pool lifesaving replicate common rescue techniques and include :
• Manikin carry – swim and dive to recover a submerged manikin and carry ( rescue ) it back to the finish
• Manikin tow – swim to the manikin , affix rescue tube around the manikin and tow it to the finish
• Line throw – throw an unweighted line to a person in the water and pull them to poolside . Time is limited
• Obstacle swim – swim the required distance of the event under two obstacles
This year I was selected in the Surf Lifesaving WA 2016 Western Suns Pool Rescue State Team , which competed at the National Championships in Southport , Queensland . This followed the Surf Lifesaving WA Pool Rescue State Championships , where I received three team gold medals , four individual silver medals and one individual bronze medal .
During the training period , before my trip to the Gold Coast , I met many new people who compete in other age groups and made closer friendships with people I already knew . The surf lifesaving community is very sociable and although the races are very competitive , we always maintain a friendly environment .
My time spent on the Gold Coast was a new learning experience . I had never raced in pools as warm as they were at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre , and on the first training session at the pool many of my fellow competitors had to take breaks between sets to have a cold shower . With this in mind I was , at the time , uncertain about how I would perform in the official events .
I did not actually place in any of the individual events , however the trip was more of a learning experience than anything else . My expectations were not high to begin with , however I do believe that I could have performed better and pushed that little bit harder , but overall I believe I performed well . My team-mates performed extraordinarily well and the team picked up a bronze overall , just behind New South Wales and Queensland .
I had a great time competing over on the Gold Coast and the experience showed me the level that I need to begin racing at to be able to win against the people in my age group . My goal for the 2017 season is to be selected as an U15 representative in the 2017 Western Suns Pool Rescue State Team and to medal in the Surf ( ocean swimming ) Race at Sunsmart State Titles .
U14 Representatives in the Western Suns Pool Rescue Team , Trent at right .
Trent Huzzard ( 9Fr )
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