Special ISLA Shoutout

I was chosen for the CSLSA lifeguard exchange with Auckland, New Zealand because the selection committee deemed me to be one of the most worthy amongst the candidates applying. There is a variety of reasons why I was chosen, most notably my work with ISLA. In addition to my work with ISLA, the CSLSA looked fondly at my volunteerism at their lifeguard competitions and annual meetings. I assisted them at the competitions by doing things such as recording places and handing out awards, and I have attended the meetings for the past few years. However, the primary reason I believe I was chosen is because of my work with ISLA.

The committee chose me because they saw that I was a manager with ISLA, and that I have participated on several trips conducting lifeguard trainings around the Americas. There is no experience that translates to my exchange in New Zealand better than taking part on an ISLA trip. The main thing the committee was looking for were people that have traveled, and more importantly, given back to the lifeguarding community. ISLA provides the best opportunity to do both of those things, and that is why I am in New Zealand right now. I have helped conduct three trainings in the Dominican Republic and one in Mexico as well. It is experience like that that the CSLSA is looking for when they select a delegate to take part in the New Zealand exchange.

So far, I have learned a lot from my time in New Zealand. The Kiwis utilize an entirely different system of lifeguarding than we do back in California, and I can now bring back some of those skills I’ve learned to help ISLA on their trainings. Lifeguards in New Zealand use inflatable rescue boats and a flag system to help keep the public safe. Both of those can benefit ISLA because both are affordable and easy to implement into a lifesaving service. Outside of that, I have learned to appreciate the cuisine we have in California and a firm love of driving on the right side of the road. Not that the food is bad here, but vegemite is probably the worst thing I have ever eaten in my entire life. Driving on the left side of the road isn’t necessarily any harder, but there was just an adjustment period, especially for Wheels McGowan. Also, I think we are either a bit tamer or maybe just not as adventurous, because people here love jumping off really high cliffs into the ocean fifty-plus feet below.

All joking aside, this trip hasn’t been all fun and games; I am working a fair amount as a volunteer lifeguard. That in and of itself is a fundamental difference between New Zealand and California; lifeguarding in New Zealand is largely volunteer-based. We have had some big surf and good rescues, and I am learning to lifeguard in a new whole new way. Being in a boat charging through twelve foot surf is definitely something new for me, seeing as I am used to swimming for most of the rescues I make back in California. While I am definitely no expert on New Zealand lifeguarding, I have picked up some valuable knowledge while training here that I can utilize back home. That alone has made this whole trip worth it for me. 

Without ISLA, there is no doubt in my mind I would not have been chosen for this exchange. Not only because ISLA helped me fundraise, but them affording me the opportunity to go on the trips I have is the reason I am here. Assisting me in coming here will hopefully prove to be worthwhile for ISLA as well because I can bring back the new lifesaving skills I have learned in New Zealand to help further reduce global drowning. All in all, I have been having a lot of fun but I am also learning something new every day. Once again, I owe this experience to ISLA and I expect what I have learned here will help ISLA reach their goal of reducing global drowning worldwide.

Cheers,

Taylor

The End of an Era

Hello,

Taylor here with the final update to our blog! We have been in New Zealand for a little over two months now, and our exchange officially ended this past weekend. Since the last update, we cruised through Raglan, Sunset and Bethell’s surf clubs. Each one was rad in their own way, and we had a great time at all of them.

Raglan provided us with a beautiful scenic view as it is perched up on top of the hills above the beach. We would wake up, go to the balcony and check the surf every morning. Unfortunately, the surf was as flat as a lake during our time there. Never down and out, we decided to do some driving around in the IRB’s and had the pleasure of fishing. Fishing was great; you couldn’t even get the hook more than a few feet under before you had a bite! After Raglan, we moved onto Sunset for a few days.

Sunset was one of the more modern clubs we stayed at as they had just finished with some renovations. Ironically, it was one of the farthest away from a supermarket and other things people consider standard. We had the joyous experience of swimming across the Waikato River with some members of the club while we were there. We were told we had to do it at a dead low tide because otherwise we may not be swimming alone. With those words of inspiration, we swam as fast as we could and managed to survive. We were lucky enough that Sunset had just purchased a new TV because the Super Bowl was on the next day! Unfortunately that didn’t go our way as Paul and I are both big 49er fans, but hey at least we were still in New Zealand… glass half-full. After the game ended, we were off back to Auckland before we were to head to Bethell’s the following day.

To our delight, taking us to Bethell’s was none other than senior lifeguard and reality TV superstar, Kylan Dray. For those of you that haven’t seen his feats of heroic greatness, look no further than Piha Rescue on Monday nights. On the way to Bethell’s, we were told that there will be a birthday/welcome party that night, so we had to stop to gather necessary supplies. Kylan was celebrating his birthday, we were celebrating being at Bethell’s and we did it right if you ask me. We spent our time there patrolling, playing in some caves and on some rocks and we got a break from it for a few nights and spent some time at the Dray household. We got to watch some live rugby and we even watched the big boxing match that was on that week that featured New Zealand’s own Sonny Bill Williams.

Since the exchange ended, Paul and I have both been relaxing a bit before we go off to spend our last two weeks in the country. I am planning to head to the Coromandel for a bit and then hopefully take a pit stop back in Raglan for a second stint. Paul is planning to head down to Taranaki to visit some family friends, and then maybe stop back in Raglan as well. Fun fact, I will also include a picture or two from my special haircut I received from a Kiwi... she was a rare talent at cutting hair.

With all of that said, we would both like to send a huge thank you to everyone that helped make this exchange possible. From everyone at the CSLSA, Doug Leach, Rob Pidgeon and everyone that hosted us in New Zealand, THANK YOU. Paul and I both hope to host the Kiwis when they come over during our summer and hopefully give back to this incredible exchange. I will end this the only way I find appropriate, speaking a little Kiwi. I reckon I would be keen to come back to New Zealand very soon and maybe even do some regional guarding, that would be sweet as bro. I just can’t forget my sunnies and jandals, and always remember to slip, slop, slap and wrap.

Cheers,

Taylor