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This is one of their last practices before they travel to Brantford, Ont. for the Canadian pool championships, running from June 13-14. If they win, it will be the Tsunamis’ third national title in a row.

Jessica Burkart, 21, and Scott Southwood, 22, have been in the sport since before they started high school. They help mentor the under-20 team, and have represented Canada at international competitions in Australia, Japan, France, South Africa and Columbia, although they can’t really explain that to their peers.

“When you see it, it makes sense. It’s way cooler than it sounds,” Burkart said. “People are like, ‘Oh, you play with mannequins in a pool. Cool.'”

‘They do require some strength,” Southwood said with a laugh, noting that the manikins are 90 lbs. and often carried with only one arm.

Photo by Gavin Young / Calgary Herald

Competitive lifesaving is recognized by the International Olympic Committee, though not part of the actual Olympics. It has a governing body called the International Life Saving Federation that organizes tournaments with several thousand participants. The competitions are divided into three categories: emergency response, surf and pool.

The Tsunamis learn emergency response as part of lifeguard training, and practicing surf events in landlocked Alberta is difficult, so they mainly work on pool components. Events can consist of swimming under obstacles, towing and carrying manikins, diving, relays and more. Some involve fins.