Coulon lifeguards claimed victory again, being named the top guards on Lake Washington last week.

Six teams took over the water at Coulon Memorial Beach Park to compete for the 2010 Lake Washington Lifeguard Challenge Cup.

“It feels good to win two years in a row,” said beach manager Andy Stetzler, 23.

In years past Bellevue and Kirkland lifeguards have also made it to the competitions, but this year Renton was alone when it faced off Seattle.

Aside from offering a trophy and gloating rights, the competition encourages the lifeguards to stay fit and continue training, said Dave Perkins, the City of Renton aquatic coordinator.

“It gives the guards something to look forward to,” he said. “The harder they train for the competition, the better lifeguards they’re going to be.”

Stetzler organized weekly practices to prepare for the event’s relays and first aid scenario, which made up a bulk of the total points for the event.

Lifeguards were made to wait in the bathhouse while teams faced different scenarios, which all included rescues.

Brianna Freimanis bounced in her red swimsuit, waiting for Renton’s turn.

As soon as the team was called, she sprinted onto the beach with an orange rescue tube. A minute later she was in the water pulling someone to safety.

During the rescue, an actor carrying an empty beer bottle stumbled along the path and passed out in the grass.

If the lifeguards responded, a dummy was pulled from a bush to practice CPR.

Some less experienced teams didn’t notice the man. A spectator teased the actor, “You died again; that’s twice today.”

Working at one of the busiest beaches on Lake Washington, the Renton lifeguards make one or two rescues weekly, Perkins said.

The guards also use boats to pull struggling swimmers into shore almost daily.

On a sunny weekend day, the beach can have about 500 swimmers at any time, Stetzler said.

“It’s a different lifeguard approach,” he said. “You have to ignore some of the little things.”

The beach has about nine lifeguards working at any time.

“It’s a pretty big beach,” Perkins said. “It’s open water, you can’t really see the bottom.”

Last year’s challenge cup win caused an upset in the competition. Renton hadn’t won since 1987, Stetzler said. “We were a lot more prepared this year.”