Firemen's ski races first of many

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 307, 3 October 1989, Page 1

Firemen's ski races first of many

Fun was the number one priority for the participants in the first ever New Zealand fire fighters' ski championships held last week.

The event was hosted by the Ohakune Volunteer Fire Brigade with a giant slalom raced at Turoa on Thursday and a dual slalom on Friday. At the prize giving ceremony, deputy fire chief Ben Goddard told the racers and sideliners that the event would definitely be run again next year and he was answered with a unanimous cheer. The event was aimed to provide fun for the 60 plus competitors and saw experienced racers to total novice skiers

compete. The range of experience was reflected in the times, with the fastest being 25.33 seconds, the average being about 35 seconds and the slowest recorded being 232.80 (almost four minutes!). The slowest time won racer Tony 'One Lung' Aston of Auckland a prize for perseverance for wiping out and recovering his skis more times than anybody else, but still finishing the course. The Raetihi Volunteer Fire Brigade team took Turn page 20

Locals take fire trophies

Frompagel the prestigious "reversible coupling" trophy for clocking up the most elapsed time. The trophy was carved by Ohakune wood turner Paul Beckett, to represent the fire hose coupling called for in emergencies when two hoses meet but can't be joined (Sorry, we can't print the common name for it. Editor) At the prize giving Raetihi team leader George Chan said they had known from the start they couldn't beat 'Kune so decided to go all out to claim the next best trophy - the one for coming last. He said the Ohakune brigade would never take the trophy off Raetihi. Ex-fire chief George, at 69 years, also claimed the prize as the oldest competitor. When claiming his winnings he was commended for his efforts and entertainment in skiing some gates backwards. He said there had been no stipulation about which direction racers had to face when meeting gates. Other prizes went to Marty Webb of Raetihi and Chris 'Dipstick' Tant for 'trying to have a cuddle on the dual slalom', to Rob the Ranger MeCallum and his dual slalom partner for their spectacular crash, to the racer with the sexiest legs on the mountain, and to the skier who came closest to a 'banana boat' ride. The top trophy went to the Ohakune brigade team of Duan Dixon, Carolyn 'Stitch' Giles, Ben 'Bungy' Goddard and Graham 'Little Scrooge' Murdie. Duan Dixon took the prize for fastest male racer, despite crashing into the fourth gate on his dual slalom run. His prize was the 'Dixon

Family Trophy'. Carolyn 'Stitch' Giles took the prize for the fastest woman racer. Prizes were not awarded to the apres ski events at the fire station such as the ash

tray race, which was won by a Wellington team of second hand nicotine addicts. Area Commander Kevin Peacock said he was taken by the hospitality of the

Ohakune Brigade and that the competence of the brigade was shown by the calibre of the organisation of the event. He said the goodwill of the brigade was re-

flected in the number of donations from the community. One organiser said the level of support from the community was "almost embarrassing" in its quantity.