The 2011 Canadian Badlands Scott Firefit Championship Finals were held in Medicine Hat last week from September 15-18. Two Drumheller residents, Duane Bolin and Merv Smith, participated in the nationwide event.
“This year we hosted the Southern Alberta Regionals here in Drumheller and with the nationals here in Alberta it gave us a chance to attend a couple more events,” commented Bolin. “Normally the nationals are in the east, and only about every five or six years they’re out in the west.”
The competition is based on firefighting tasks that are typically performed in emergency situations, such as a stair climb, hose hoist, forcible entry, hose advance, and victim rescue. The events are made even more physically demanding by being conducted in full firefighting gear with a self-contained breathing apparatus. The event promotes the importance of fitness and demonstrates the skills needed in firefighting.
“This is my eleventh year doing these,” said Bolin. “It’s a great way to stay in shape and once you’re involved in them it’s a great venue to meet new people and develop bonds between firefighters across Canada.”
Both Drumheller participants achieved personal bests. “With the extra competitions we got to attend this year it definitely helps,” said Bolin. “Lifting weights, jogging, or running stairs only does so much, you really need to have the course to work on technique and get better.”
During the Thursday Men’s Wildcard event, Bolin scored a time of 1:59.10 and Smith achieved his personal best of 2:05.63, placing fourth and fifth respectively in the over 45 age category.
For the Saturday Men’s Individual Run, Bolin improved upon his previous time and scored his personal best of 1:53.95, placing fourth in the over 45 category. Smith scored a time of 2:12.35, and in the over 45 category placed seventh.
In the NXG2 team relay the the two did a time of 2:09.50 during the Friday Men’s Wildcard. For the finals the team scored a personal best time of 1:54.25, placing eighteenth overall.
The team isn’t done yet: “We definitely plan on attending more next year, and maybe hosting it in Drumheller again a year or two down the road.”
