
Preparing for the start of the Rescue Paddle Event
The four-day United States Lifesaving Assocation (USLA) conducted their 29th annual individual and team championships from August 10-13 in Hermosa Beach, California. It was the first time since 2013 that the contests were held in Southern California, the last one being in Manhattan Beach.

Rescue Paddle finish

Solberg, Kemp
In the final individual scoring event, the Paddle Board Rescue, Jenna Solberg and Coral Kemp, shown above and left images, took runner-up finish to Kelsey O’Donnell and Diane Graner-Gallas in the “A Final.” The multiple event points amassed by Solberg, including 1st in the Open IronWoman, 2nd in both the Board and Surf races, and 3rd in the Rescue Swim race, vaulted her to the top as the US Women’s Open Lifeguard All-Around Champion over rookie Kelsey Cummings. (B~note: Cummings was in this Rescue Paddle event “B Final” with Tiana Pugliese, both of who’ll surely be looked to in the future for high-points.)

Graner-Gallas, Kemp, O’Donnell, Solberg
Recent past individual US Open Lifeguarding All-Around Champions include O’Donnell (2014), Kemp (2013), and Graner-Gallas (multiple previous years).
On the team side, the Los Angeles County Surf Lifesaving Association (LACO SLSA) is back on top of the national scene recapturing the USLA National Team Championship as well. Hats off to the Men & Women of LACO and runners-up California State Parks!