Lifesavers Californian dreaming of August

Alex de Vos
Six of the region’s best lifesavers will travel to the US in August for a showdown with Californian counterparts.
Torquay’s Will Penny will join the Victorian contingent for the battle to win the Wieland Shield on Los Angeles’s Hermosa Beach.
Twenty-three-year-old Penny, who began lifesaving at the age of six, said he was looking forward to escaping a Victorian winter to compete in the warm water of California.
“I grew up with a lot of guys who competed in this competition and it’s certainly something I’d like to cross off,” Penny said.
“They have shared some great experiences and I can’t wait to get over there.”
Penny was keen help Victoria beat the Californians.
“We’ve been training since April, so hopefully we’ll come back with the shield again.”
The Wieland Shield Tour is a biannual competition between Victoria and California.
The event was conceived during Melbourne’s 1956 Olympic Games. The first official event was at Ocean Grove in 1967.
Torquay Surf Life Saving Club’s Kimberley Holding, who will join Penny in the state team, was also looking forward to social interaction with the Californians.
“This opportunity has made a strong impact on my surf career and will be rewarding both competitively and socially,” she said.
The Wieland Sheild Tour begins on August 1.