Career and volunteer firefighters alike are testing their skills on Wellington's waterfront this weekend in the United Fire Brigades' Association (UFBA) Firefighter Challenge.
One hundred and 40 competitors will take on the multi-faceted course both in team and individual events.
Heralded as the toughest two minutes in sport, competitors begin by carrying an 18kg hose up six flights of stairs.
They then pull up another 18kg hose to the top of the tower, before making their way back down where they must hit a 70kg weight with a rubber hammer.
Firefighters will test their skills in Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Next comes the slalom, around markers shaped like fire hydrants to a charged fire hose. They must drag the hose through barn doors, shoot a target, and finish by dragging an 81kg dummy 30 metres to the finish line.
The course takes a team of volunteers just a day to build, with everything included designed to replicate the work done by firefighters in the field.
Senior Firefighter of the Mossburn Volunteer Fire Brigade Jeff Manson has been competing in the challenge for over 10 years and is back again this year despite having a pacemaker fitted in July 2022.
"I thought I would never do the firefighter challenge again. But I've decided to give it a go and my heart said yeah, go for it. It gets in the blood and you can't get rid of it.
Mossburn Volunteer Firefighter Jeff Manson has been taking part in the challenge for 10 years. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
"At 57, being one of the older members I've got to look at slowing down, I suppose, so my wife tells me, but I enjoy it so much. Just the camaraderie, the friendship, the networking, everything you gain from it."
Manson has been in the volunteer brigade and UFBA for 37 years, and despite having to change his training over the years he is not tired of it yet.
"You get a buzz, an absolute buzz. At 57, I'm assuming that buzz is going to disappear, but that hasn't yet.
"The thing I love as whether you're the top competitor or if you have me at the other end of the field, everyone talks to everyone and the top competitors all encouraging help you encourage them."
Firefighters will gather this weekend at the Firefighter Challenge in Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Manson is aiming for a modest below four minutes time, but said he is happy to just be involved.
"For me, my goal is to get to the end of the course and if I do that, I've achieved."
MC for the event Jason Prendergast said while the course itself has not changed over time, the attitudes of the firefighters have only became more determined.
"The way they trained, the way they treat the course has got a lot better, and so the times are getting faster and faster. Some of the elite times, which we'll see (Saturday) being our peak individuals, will be as fast as we've ever seen.
Firefighters will gather this weekend at the Firefighter Challenge in Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
"They do it all for fun as a competitive spirit, but more importantly, they do it to be better for us to go out and save the community in their time of need."
While many are in it just for the physical challenge, some have their sights on the Lion's Den distinction.
This is awarded to the top competitors who perform the challenge course under a designated time.
Prendergast said he has already got his eyes peeled for this weekend's event.
"We have 50 Lions in New Zealand at the moment. I've got my eyes on five that I believe might achieve it this weekend."
Pirongia Rural Fire Brigade firefighter Jodie Reymer is one of those Lions, achieving the feat in her first event in 2018.
Pirongia Rural Fire Brigade firefighter Jodie Reymer. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
She said she trains on a replica course once a week, along with gym workouts in the five months leading up to the challenge.
So what goes through the head of a Lion during the course?
"Survive, get to the end as fast as possible. Yeah, you just want to hit everything as hard as you can and try and get air in your lungs as much as you can.
Firefighters will test their skills in Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
"I think the level is getting more and more professional. Everyone's pushing themselves harder and pushing each other harder."
The challenge continues in the capital all day Saturday.
