On Wednesday, Aug. 23, San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Services Division held the 64th annual Ron Trenton Memorial Lifeguard Relays in Ocean Beach and this year’s winners were the lifeguards from La Jolla.
The relays are an exciting and challenging competition among lifeguards that include 12 legs that demonstrate the variety of rescue techniques used in ocean rescue such as running, swimming, paddle boarding and landline rescue.
“The event is a great way of showing the public the lifeguards lifesaving capabilities and it is great fun for the lifeguards. It is one of the highlights of the summer,” said Lifeguard chief Rick Wurts. San Diego Fire-Rescue’s Lifeguard Services Division is geographically divided into four operational areas: southern includes Ocean Beach, central includes Mission and Pacific beaches, northern includes the La Jolla beaches and the fourth area includes Mission Bay and the Boating Safety Unit. At the event, lifeguards from the four areas compete against each other in current and traditional rescue techniques that lifeguards use. “It is to promote esprit de corps among the lifeguards. Camaraderie and friendship among the lifeguards. It is one of the fun things we do to celebrate our profession,” said Wurts. Ron Trenton Memorial Lifeguard Relays is named after veteran lifeguard and longtime northern district team captain, Ronald B. Trenton. Trenton was lost at sea while piloting his private plane from Catalina Island to San Diego in 1997.