Keeping patrons safe during obstacle course races

Royal Life Saving WA’s Professional Lifeguard team recently assisted at the Momentum 2021 Obstacle Course Race, held by event management company Red Dust OCR.

The event took place over the weekend of 2nd and 3rd October at the beautiful Bolinda Vale Estate in Keysbrook, 50 minutes south of Perth on the South Western Highway in the Peel region. 

Approximately 800 people descended on the lush farming land over the two days to compete in the Momentum 2021 event. Participants could choose between 5km, 10km or 15km courses, with a kids’ course also available for those aged four and above. 

Competitors pulled, climbed and hurled themselves over obstacles scattered throughout the hilly landscape. They crawled through mud pits, waded through streams and splashed their way across dams in the popular outdoor challenge. 

Royal Life Saving WA staff who attended the event were Shift Officer Cheyne Landy and Pool Lifeguards James Barton and Reilly Ettridge, who were there to provide water safety services across the two days at the water-based obstacles.

Our team were equipped with standard lifeguarding equipment including surf rescue board, throw rope and rescue tubes. Their task was to communicate with and encourage patrons to help themselves through the aquatic obstacles.

Water obstacles included a giant water slide into a pond, and a water crossing over a dam on a series of inflatable pontoons. Patrons can suffer anxiety upon entering the water due to unexpected conditions such as water temperature, so our team were on hand to assist if required. 

The deeper water of the Pontoons obstacle required two lifeguards to supervise, one situated on a rescue board on the dam and the other remaining on land with the throw rope. The latter was responsible for issuing instructions to competitors waiting to cross and awaiting communication from the other lifeguard to signal when the area was clear and ready for the next wave of participants.

With the popularity of obstacle course racing growing steadily in recent years, demand for lifeguard services at these events has increased. Royal Life Saving WA lifeguards also assisted at the True Grit event in Donnybrook last year. You can learn more about our professional lifeguard service at the link below.