Lifeguards Test Their Skills At Annual Water World Competition

DENVER (CBS4) - The annual lifeguard competition took place at Water World on Sunday. It may look like fun and games but the skills can help save lives.

"This is my second year. Last year we got eighth and ninth and I think we are going for a top five finish this year," lifeguard Miles Mackenzie said.

Mackenzie is with the city of Lafayette and was just one of hundreds of lifeguards from all across the state that came out to test their life saving skills. It might look like all fun and games but Mackenzie knows his job can mean the difference between life and death.

"This kid comes around a slide, falls in with his back, his head. He was around 3 years old. We ran out of the office and grabbed him right before he went under and he started crying," Mackenzie said.

"Countless lives probably could have been lost without all of these lifeguards. Being here really, this is the safest place on Earth right now," Hannah Tracy with Splash Pool Services said.

The games were held at Water World among the park's visitors. The winner gets a traveling trophy and the title of Colorado's best lifeguard -- something to brag about.

"Just that feeling of we're part of a winning team, which I think they're all part of a winning team being lifeguards," Joann Cortez with Water World said.

It was the 28th year of the event.