In all, 37 teams of professional and volunteer firefighters came out to the 31st annual event.
By Chris Wyman | For The Jersey Journal
VERNON — Jersey City firefighters placed first in annual ski and snowboard races this month to raise funds for the Burn Center at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston.
In all, 37 teams of professional and volunteer firefighters came out on Friday, Feb. 9, to the 31st annual event, which is now held at Mountain Creek Ski Resort.
"We expect to raise about $6,000 for the burn center,'' said Mark Ellerson, president of the New Jersey Firefighters Races and a retired Jersey City firefighter who now lives in Cream Ridge in central New Jersey.
In fact, the entire organizing committee consists of current or retired Jersey City firefighters, he said, naming Henry Matak (retired), Paul Schaetzle of the Gong Club, Tony Lemanski (retired), Glenn Ellerson (retired),Todd Tarrant, Brett Paladino, and John Austin (retired).
The event is hosted by the Jersey City firefighters union, Local 1066, and fire officers union, Local 1064.
Representing Hudson County were the North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue team and two teams representing the Jersey City Fire Department.
Well deserving of their win, the Jersey City "A" Team, led by Austin, placed first in the races with a winning time of 27.82 seconds. The second place winner was the team from Clifton, which was a full four seconds behind the winners.
The Jersey City "B" team placed 19th, and the North Hudson team placed 28th.
For those unfamiliar with the races, each team of five members on skis or snowboards must carry a 50-foot length of "retired" hose through the gated slalom racecourse. All racers must wear a fire helmet (about 5 pounds) and turnout coat (about 8 pounds).
Bunker pants, suspenders and boots add about another 20 pounds.
Any loss of gear while on the course results in a five-second penalty. No fewer than three members of each team must finish the course and they must be holding the hose as they cross the finish line.
Here's how the all the teams finished:
1: Jersey City
2: Clifton
3: Town Of Boonton
4: Leonia
5: Rockaway Boro #2
6: Hibernia
7: Boonton Township
8: Rahway
9: Hopatcong
10: Annandale
11: Camden
12: Martinsville #1
13: Lebanon
14: Montgomery #1
15: Country Hills
16: Caldwell
17: Paterson #2
18: Montgomery #2
19: Jersey City #2
20: Maplewood
21: Westfield
22: Monroe #2
23: Monroe #1
24: Paterson #1
25: Mountainside
26: Asbury Park
27: Florham Park
28: North Hudson
29: West Caldwell
30: White Meadows
31: Whippany
32: Martinsville #2
33: Vernon
34: Union - Disqualified
35: West Orange - Disqualified
36: Rockaway Boro #1 - Disqualified
37: Manasquan - Did not start