Chief lifeguard races from work to state titles before going on to win one

Gold Coast City Council’s chief lifeguard was up before daylight this morning before heading down to the Queensland Surf Life Saving Championships to compete for Currumbin.

AT 6am yesterday morning Chris Maynard arrived for work as Gold Coast City Coiuncil’s chief lifeguard.

By that afternoon the the 56-year-old was a state champion.

In a telling sign of the dedication of many surf lifesavers, Maynard was up before daylight to start a six-hour shift of work.

In fact the Currumbin member only made it to the Queensland titles just in time to compete.

“I started at 6am this morning so I was up bright and early and was at work,” he said.

“I got six hours done at work and got here just in time for the team events in the afternoon”

Chris Maynard in action today at the Queensland surf life saving state championships. Picture: Surf life saving Queensland.

Maynard was part of the Currumbin team that took out gold in the 150+ board relay in the masters division and he also helped his team to medals in the board rescue.

“It’s a good afternoon of fun with my teammates,” he said. “It’s a great event to win (the board relay).”

Aside from saving lives professionally and competing in the state titles, Maynard devotes his spare time to coaching Currumbin’s contingent of talented athletes.

“I’ll be around over the weekend helping to do a bit of coaching in the open events and help out the kids there,” he said. Maynard is hoping his team can be the ones to dethrone Northcliffe as the club searches for their 16th straight state title in the open division.

“We’re always up there,” he said.

“Northcliffe always tend to win the state title but we’ve always been in the background there getting second or third so we’re pretty consistent for a small club.

“It’s always good to do well against them.”

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After getting involved in surf lifesaving at age nine, Maynard has no plans to hang up the togs just yet.

“I just love the camaraderie and staying fit,” he said.

“It’s great competing with your clubmates and keeping fit so you’re able to perform a rescue when you’re on duty.

“I’ve been a lifeguard for 35 years now so it all ties in well.”