head coach of the Saugeen Shores Lifesaving Club (SSLC) Hundt had made the frigid Family Day plunge numerous times in the past to help raise funds for the club that trains lifeguards and lifesaving competitors.
“We had 15 gung ho, excited jumpers and the pledge forms are just starting to come in,” Hundt said in a Feb. 21 telephone interview, adding past events have each raised thousands of dollars, all used to help buy expensive lifesaving equipment.
The last Family Day swim was in 2020 and Hundt said after the hiatus, club jumpers were ready and willing, including several university students home for the weekend, four or five first-timers and the balance of 16 to 18 year old club members.
“It is always cold – but the wind made it colder,” Hundt said, adding although he wore a bathing suit under his clothes, initially he hadn’t planned to jump.
“I’m trying to be older and smarter but at the end of the day I’m just a big kid, and I always think that if I’m going to make my guys do it, then I’ve got to, too,” Hundt said, adding he’d be the “laughing stock” if he was the only dry one at the end of the event.
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All of the icy plunges took place under the watchful eye of Saugeen Shores firefighters who Hundt thanked, adding he wouldn’t have gone in – or let any club members go in – without the fire department in attendance.
The SSLC has produced 20 athletes who competed on Canada’s National Lifesaving Sport Team over the past decade, and Hundt said current members are anxious to get back into competition.
“Doing it in training is one thing, but when you put it to the test in competition it is a great energizer,” Hundt said adding, “I always laugh when we go to competitions – you see them come back a little more focused and they know what they want to work on – that drive comes back a little more,” Hundt said.
Those award-winning competitive skills – and hosting duties – will be put to the test again this summer, Hundt said. “We’re working with the Lifesaving Society of Ontario – we’re going to be hosting the (waterfront) provincials (August 17,18, 19) so we’re existed to have them back in Saugeen Shores,” Hundt said.
“We’re also taking a group to the pool provincials in Oakville March 10-11. I always laugh after competitions – there’s a little more focus in the (athlete’s) eyes and they know what they want to work on,” he said.
For most jumpers, it was home for hot showers – but for several it was off to Centennial Pool for lifeguard shifts at the two well-attended Family Day swims.
Hundt noted that some of the lifeguards being trained today would be future lifeguards at the new Aquatics & Wellness Centre. Construction begins this spring on the $49.9 million facility to be built adjacent to The Plex in Port Elgin.
head coach of the Saugeen Shores Lifesaving Club (SSLC) Hundt had made the frigid Family Day plunge numerous times in the past to help raise funds for the club that trains lifeguards and lifesaving competitors.
“We had 15 gung ho, excited jumpers and the pledge forms are just starting to come in,” Hundt said in a Feb. 21 telephone interview, adding past events have each raised thousands of dollars, all used to help buy expensive lifesaving equipment.
The last Family Day swim was in 2020 and Hundt said after the hiatus, club jumpers were ready and willing, including several university students home for the weekend, four or five first-timers and the balance of 16 to 18 year old club members.
“It is always cold – but the wind made it colder,” Hundt said, adding although he wore a bathing suit under his clothes, initially he hadn’t planned to jump.
“I’m trying to be older and smarter but at the end of the day I’m just a big kid, and I always think that if I’m going to make my guys do it, then I’ve got to, too,” Hundt said, adding he’d be the “laughing stock” if he was the only dry one at the end of the event.
Article content
All of the icy plunges took place under the watchful eye of Saugeen Shores firefighters who Hundt thanked, adding he wouldn’t have gone in – or let any club members go in – without the fire department in attendance.
The SSLC has produced 20 athletes who competed on Canada’s National Lifesaving Sport Team over the past decade, and Hundt said current members are anxious to get back into competition.
“Doing it in training is one thing, but when you put it to the test in competition it is a great energizer,” Hundt said adding, “I always laugh when we go to competitions – you see them come back a little more focused and they know what they want to work on – that drive comes back a little more,” Hundt said.
Those award-winning competitive skills – and hosting duties – will be put to the test again this summer, Hundt said. “We’re working with the Lifesaving Society of Ontario – we’re going to be hosting the (waterfront) provincials (August 17,18, 19) so we’re existed to have them back in Saugeen Shores,” Hundt said.
“We’re also taking a group to the pool provincials in Oakville March 10-11. I always laugh after competitions – there’s a little more focus in the (athlete’s) eyes and they know what they want to work on,” he said.
For most jumpers, it was home for hot showers – but for several it was off to Centennial Pool for lifeguard shifts at the two well-attended Family Day swims.
Hundt noted that some of the lifeguards being trained today would be future lifeguards at the new Aquatics & Wellness Centre. Construction begins this spring on the $49.9 million facility to be built adjacent to The Plex in Port Elgin.
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