"Tal[?] no prisoners!"

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 504, 21 September 1993, Page 4 (Supplement)

"Tal[?]

no prisoners!"

"Take no prisoners" is the catch phrase of the Ohakune Volunteer Fire Brigade's 'hit' team entered in this year's New Zealand Fire Service Ski Races, taking place in the Waimarino 23-24 September. This year promises to be a dog-eat-dog competition, with the 33 teams of four racers (possibly 35 teams depending on late entries) burning up the course. Volunteers and professional firefighters from all over the North Island take part in the event that has gained a reputation as having as much action off-mountain as it does on-mountain! This is the fifth year of competition and biggest turnout to date, with organisers anticipating some record-breaking times being recorded on Turoa's giant slalom. Racing starts at 9am, but if previous years are any indication, the best times will be recorded during the afternoon's runs (when the hang-overs from the night before have cleared.) Day One of competition is on Thursday with a

7.30am start: racers pick up their tickets from the Ohakune Fire Station. All competitors complete two runs down the giant slalom course on the Vertigo Trail on the High Noon T-Bar, with times collated at race headquarters in Ohakune. On Friday, racers with compatible times are pitted against one another in

a dual slalom down the Yahoo above the Movenpick return station. The races promise some great spectator moments and the support crews will be out in force on the slopes, cheering their teams on. In between all the competition there's the socialising (some would argue that this is actually

the main event). Activities in the past have included horizontal bungy jumping and mechanical bull riding. One of the more unique activities of previous years was a 'digest the indiges tible ' competition (everyone lost:- consciousness, their dinner, etc.) Competitors register at Tum to page 6

From page 5 the Ohakune Fire Station on Wednesday night from 7.30pm onwards and are presented with their racing bib and survival pack, courtesy of Tumers and Growers and Ohakune New World. A barbeque tea follows. This year a continuous supper and disco is to be held at Turoa Ski Lodge on Thursday night. Cost $16perhead. The prize giving of the NZ Fire Fighters Service Shield, carved by local artisan Paul Beckett, will

take place at the Fire Station on Friday afternoon, followed by a meal provided by John Nation. The fastest team is not the only one to receive a prize. The highly-coveted FU Coupling Trophy is awarded to the slowest team, while spot prizes will be awarded throughout the competition. There 's also more obscure awards for the best wipeout and, back by popular demand, the trophy for the most note-worthy vehicle incident on the Mountain Road (the trophy is spon-

sored by last year's winner who rolled his car.) So it pays to be either really good, or really bad, to win a prize at this competition. An unofficial competition seems to be one to devise the silliest team name, and with names like 'Flying Udders', 'ZitMarkers' and 'F.I.N.K' (we were unable to print the team's full name for fear it may offend some readers), the competition is fierce. Watch out for the Ohakune's 'Steinlager Booze Brothers' team of Steve Nation, Duane Dixon, Graham Murdie and Carolyn Giles. They'll be easily recognisable by their sponsored tracksuits. Another team to watch is the Waimarino 'Gold Stars' led by the competition's oldest skier, Raetihi volunteer fireman George Chan. The Ohakune Volunteer Fire Brigade asks for the community's

cooperation this week in keeping call-outs to a minimum while the ski champs are on. It is especially vital to

keep night call-outs to a minimum so as not to interfere with vital training being carried out by racers.