Race the Guard - Sunday, July 14, 2019   4:00 - 7:00 pm 
Want to see how your swimming skills match up against a lifeguard's? The Race the Guard fundraiser will take place on Sunday, July 14 from 4pm-7pm. Sign up for a race tentatively beginning Monday, July 1 at the front desk. Cost is $5 per race. All proceeds will go towards A New Ridgewood Pool for the Next 60 Years. All ages welcome! Click here for more details!
Choose as many races as you want!  $5 per race reserves your race slot! Sign up at the front desk!

That $5 includes:
* One 25 meter race
* Your choice of stroke for yourself
* Your choice of stroke for your opponent (doesn't need to be the same as yours)

WANNA MAKE SURE YOU WIN???
We get it.  We want you to win too.

Choose from the menus below to crush your opponent:
(Make your selections just prior to your race - come prepared with extra $$ - blank checks welcome)

Disadvantages for Your Opponent

Cape (Beach towel tied around neck) $15
Noodle $3 (per noodle - why not one per hand?)
Pull Buoy $5
Kickboard $15
Start from the wall (instead of from the blocks) $5

Advantages for YOU

Fins $5
Each second of a head start $1 
(want a 5 second head start?  That'll be $5)
Got another idea?  Be prepared to offer the right price, get your guard to agree to it, bring any required props, and you've got yourself a deal!
You can add on as many advantages and disadvantages as you want.  Stack 'em up to seal your win!  Give your opponent a cape, plus a noodle for both hands, and give yourself a 4-second head start?  Sure!  That's an extra $25 toward a new pool!

But why would I want to race???

Because everyone who races gets a sweet new 2019 Guard Card like this one  from last year, but with a new an improved look for this year --you'll have to come to the Race if you want to see what the 2019s look like!:
And if you win, they'll sign it for you.
*Disclaimer: OK, Michael Phelps doesn't actually work for Ridgewood.  But you get the idea.*
The more races you do, the more Guard Cards you collect.  Someday these will be priceless collectibles and YOU will have 2019 CARDS.  You'll be a millionaire*.  (*Millionaire status not guaranteed but fully expected.)

PARTICIPATING GUARDS/INSTRUCTORS/COACHES/STAFF
Sign up for a 5 minute race slot, tentatively starting Tuesday, July 2 at 1:00! 
Race-day walkups welcome, but sign up early for best selection!

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

​4:00-5:00pm
Brett Neumann
Elise Chester
Holly Wickstrom
Kari Martin
Megan Slattery
Ali Buzza
Maddy Nelson
Kyle Wolmutt
​Abram Zwaska
​Beata Nelson
5:00-6:00pm
Kiara Bissen
Aidan Muckian
Kaylie Podvin
Kyle Hoppe
Sara Stewart
Sammy Nelson
Maggie Sleeth
Johannah Shea
​Malia Bissen
​Beata Nelson
6:00-7:00pm
Josie McCartney
Lily Zwaska
Jesse Drake
Caroline Gosselin
Kieran McGilvray
Maddie Beglinger
Bryce Hoppe
Zeke Sebastian
Allison Statz
The Fine Print:  This event was fully conceived and coordinated by our staff.  Because they love Ridgewood and are doing what they can to raise money for a new pool.  All staff will be donating their personal time to participate in these races.  Special thanks to Zeke Sebastian for all his work on this project.

So here's the details on how all of this will work...

  1. ​Stop at the front desk anytime during regular open swim hours and ask to sign up for a race slot tentatively starting at 1pm on Tuesday, July 2.  
  2. Pay $5 per race slot at the time you reserve it.  Staff cannot reserve races without payment or over the phone.  Do NOT pay for challenges yet.
  3. Come to the check-in table on the upper pool deck on July 14.  
    1. If you reserved one or more races ahead of time, we'll record your opponent's name and race time on a menu card to give to you to hold onto - one card per race.
    2. If you want to make a walk-up registration, we'll find available opponents and race times for you, and give you menu cards for each race.
  4. Your menu card will have the menu of available challenges, plus their prices. Find a comfortable spot and decide which challenges you would like for each race.  Once you have made all your decisions, indicated your selections on each race's menu card, and totaled up the price of your challenges for each race...
  5. Proceed to the payment table to pay $5 for any walk-up race registrations, plus  all of your challenges.  Your card will be marked as paid, and you can find a spot on the bleachers to wait until your race time is called.  Keep your menu cards safe throughout the event until you have finished all your races!
  6. Listen for your race time to be announced, then proceed WITH YOUR MENU CARD FOR THAT RACE to the area behind the starting blocks.  A volunteer will help unite you with your opponent and stage you in a lane.
  7. Once staged in your lane, show your menu card to your opponent to discuss/prepare the challenges.
  8. Wait for your turn, then RACE!
  9. Once your race is over, proceed to the awards table to get your Guard Card, a signature, and a photo op if you'd like!
Wash, rinse, repeat as many times as you'd like - as long as there's still races available!  Have fun!!!