The FireFit season wrapped up for the year and Drumheller athletes all posted their best times ever at nationals.
It was a unique competition year for Drumheller FireFit athletes, who were able to gain great experience on the official course. In the spring, they were able to compete in Calgary at a regional competition and then on September 10 and 11, the department hosted a regional event in the shadow of the World’s Largest Dinosaur. In all, 10 members of the Drumheller Fire Department competed at the local event.
The very next weekend five members of the Drumheller Fire Department went to the National Championships at Spruce Meadows in Calgary. Duane Bolin, Darby Page, and Merv, Kyle and Mitch Smith took on nationals.
“With nationals, five of us went, and all five of us ran our personal bests,” said Deputy Chief and competitor Duane Bolin. “That is pretty amazing to do that.”
While they all posted stellar individual times, the crew won the fastest team for a volunteer fire department in the relay race.
The team of Duane Bolin and Merv Smith won gold in the over 50 XD competition. Bolin also won silver in the Chief’s category.
Bolin attributes the top times to the experience on course.
“A lot of it is course management. The more you can be on the real course, the better off you are,” he said, adding the new additions to the team might be pushing them.
“When you get a couple young guys on the team, maybe they push the old guys a little faster,” chuckles Bolin. “We were all super happy with the results. When you can finish the season off like that, you look forward to next year.”
TSN will be airing the national competition in November.
