Hurricane Harbor lifeguards take home top medals.

[CoasterDave316]

Six Flags Great America Hurricane Harbor Takes Home Top Medals

Lifeguards place first in all competitions at the 2008 Ellis & Associates Lifeguard Challenge

Gurnee, Ill. (August 7, 2008) --- They may not be headed to the 2008 Olympics but Six Flags Great America's top lifeguards took home gold medals this past week at the Ellis & Associates Lifeguard Challenge. The finals took place for the second consecutive year at Six Flags Great America's Hurricane Harbor on July 30 & 31st. Teams from across the nation participated in the competition which involved three events including a rescue relay and two large scale scenarios.

Six Flags Great America took home the overall top team award as well as placing first in all events. The four Hurricane Harbor lifeguards representing Six Flags Great America included: Kim Keefe from Antioch, Ill.; Rydean Dart from Kenosha, Wis.; Claire Bitto from Antioch, Ill.; and Mike Godlewski from Lindenhurst, Ill..

The Six Flags team placed as follows:

Scenario One
3rd place - Kim Keefe
2nd place - Rydean Dart
1st place - Claire Bitto

Scenario Two
8th place - Kim Keefe and Rydean Dart
1st place - Claire Bitto and Mike Godlewski

Rescue Relay
1st place - Six Flags Great America

Overall Top Team
1st Place - Six Flags Great America

"This competition proved we have the top lifeguards in the world," said Six Flags Great America's General Manager John Curty. "The team's hard work in preparing for the Lifeguard Challenge and the vigorous safety training that all of our life guards undergo not only paid off in this competition but verifies that we have the best water park in the nation."

All teams were made up of two male and two female lifeguards. Each scenario combined team members from multiple teams which forced teams to train to the Ellis & Associates standard instead of their facility specific protocols. The competition rewarded both individual and team efforts by awarding the top five mixed teams that place in each scenario and the top five teams that place in the team relay and the overall event.

Ellis & Associates is the unrivaled leader in aquatic safety with its Comprehensive Aquatic Risk Management Program, including in-house lifeguard training, CPR, First Aid, Emergency Oxygen and AED training to water parks, pools and resorts.

The gigantic Hurricane Harbor water park at Six Flags Great America provides wet-and-wild fun for the whole family with 26 water slides, a massive wave pool, and Skull Island - an interactive water playground. Admission to the Hurricane Harbor is free with theme park admission. Six Flags Great America is a world-class family entertainment destination with a theme park and water park located in Gurnee, Ill.

[coasterkidd100]

Well, when you are swimming at Hurricane Harbor you can feel safe and know that you have some of the best lifeguards in the nation watching you.

[zjohn1988]

SFGAm-Hurricane Harbor placed First in the Great Lakes Regional Competition and went on to win the Finals.


Greatlakes Regional: Wheeling Park District, Wheeling, IL

1st Place: Six Flags-Hurricane Harbor, IL

2nd Place: Burbank Park District, IL

3rd Place: Wheeling Park District, IL

4th Place: Champaign Park District, IL



Lifeguard Challenge Finals: Six Flags Great America-Gurnee, IL

1st Place: Six Flags Hurricane Harbor at Great America, IL

2nd Place: Columbia Association, MD

3rd Place: Magic Springs & Crystal Falls, AR

4th Place: Champaign Park District, IL

5th Place: College Station Parks & Rec, TX

6th Place: Vista-Wave Waterpark, CA

7th Place: St. Peters Parks & Rec, MO

8th Place: PARC – Darien Lake, NY

9th Place: St. Charles Parks & Rec, MO

10th Place: Burbank Park District Waterpark, IL

[demonbulleagle]

But some aren't as smart as others there, my friend was swimming normally in the wave pool to get over to me (since i am a fast swimmer) and one thought that he was drowning.

[cycamps]

It's neat to see that Darien Lake also placed...

[coasterkidd100]

[quote="demonbulleagle"]But some aren't as smart as others there, my friend was swimming normally in the wave pool to get over to me (since i am a fast swimmer) and one thought that he was drowning.[/quote]

Ok, so they thought he was drowning. If you were a lifeguard would you rather assume the guy is drowning and do somthing or would you leave the person alone. Because if he really was drowning and the lifeguard did not do anything about it, it would be the lifeguards fault if he drown. A lifeguard can not always tell if a person is drowning or not.

If I was a lifeguard and it looked like somone was drowning I would go in and help him.

[demonbulleagle]

he is a strong swimmer too and he was swimming fine, and come to think of it i never saw that lifeguard ever again...

[coasterkidd100]

Ok, then that is crazy. Maybe that lifeguard was not very smart.