April O'Gorman: "I think swimming for that many years I could multitask"

April O'Gorman, a designer, athlete, and influencer, discusses her experience as the US Women's Captain for the Surf Life Saving National Team and her passion for the sport. She talks about the growth of surf life saving and the upcoming World Life Saving Championships in Australia. April shares her journey from lifeguarding to industrial design and sustainability, highlighting the importance of communication in both fields. She also discusses her project on creating biodegradable boogie boards and the need for more sustainable design solutions. April reflects on the impact of lifeguarding on her perspective and the lessons she learned from her rescues. She emphasizes the need for education and awareness to address wasteful practices and protect the environment. April discusses the sport of surf life saving and its challenges in gaining mainstream recognition. She explains the different events and disciplines involved, such as swimming, board paddling, and running, and how they are combined in competitions like the Ocean Man and Ocean Woman. April highlights the lack of awareness about the sport in the United States compared to countries like Australia, where it is deeply ingrained in the culture. She also discusses the physical demands of the sport and the financial barriers that can make it difficult for athletes in the US to participate. Keywords: surf life saving, World Life Saving Championships, growth, lifeguarding, industrial design, sustainability, communication, biodegradable boogie boards, wastefulness, education, awareness, surf life saving, sport, competitions, disciplines, mainstream recognition, awareness, physical demands, financial barriers Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:01 The Growth of Surf Life Saving 03:29 From Lifeguarding to Industrial Design 09:44 The Power of Communication 16:26 Creating Sustainable Design Solutions 21:02 Addressing Wastefulness and Promoting Education 27:33 Introduction to Surf Life Saving and Events 29:55 Lack of Awareness and Access in the US 31:23 The Physical Demands of the Sport 33:16 Financial Barriers and Equipment Availability 36:18 Training and Competing in Australia 42:32 Finding Happiness in the Sport and Community mccoshfilms.com YouTube