I attended the NE Firefighters' Challenge this weekend. Teams that do well here eventually go on to compete in the nationals which are held in Las Vegas. Feautured on ESPN and known as the "Toughest Two Minutes in Sports" The Firefighters' Challenge is a five-part competition course in which firefighters simulate the rigorous physical demands of firefighting while wearing their full protective equipment. They can compete individually or in 5 man relay teams. Wearing "full bunker gear" and the SCOTT Air-Pak breathing apparatus, competitors simulate the physical demands of real-life firefighting by performing a linked series of five tasks including climbing the 5-story tower, hoisting, chopping, dragging hoses and rescuing a life-sized, 175 lb. "victim" as they race against themselves, their opponent and the clock.

 BTW, the handsome fellow in the upper right hand corner is my youngest brother, Ryan. His portion of the relay was to run up the tower while carrying a bundle of hose that weighed 42 lbs AND he did it while wearing all his turn out gear and air tanks.  Makes me tired just thinking about it. *grin*