Home > Corporate > Media Centre > Archive
Members of the CF Combat Challenge team are amongst Canada's best in the grueling competition dubbed the "toughest two minutes in sport." The team composed of military and civilian DND firefighters has qualified for both the national and world championships at a qualifier in Niagara Falls in July.
 |
| Credit: CF Personnel Support Agency WO Rioux, CFB Comox completes the Victim Drag, during the qualification competition for the national and world Combat Challenge. |
The nationals will be held in Windsor from of September12-14.
"These are truly the firefighter Olympics, we are just thrilled to have the opportunity to work with these athletes," explains Dr. Wayne Lee, whose directorate within the CF Personnel Support Agency, provides technical and logistical support to CF firefighters.
The Combat Challenge is a physically exhausting circuit, which simulates common firefighting tasks. Participants wearing full gear compete against other firefighters and consistently attempt to better their times.
The DND firefighters will compete in the individual, team, female and over 50 categories. "Everyone is just so pumped up and supportive of each other," explains team mainstay Corporal Bob Comeau. "You can't help but get motivated when you see Audrey (Private Audrey Bourgoin) at 50 kg, carrying 45 kg of kit, while dragging a 80 kg mannequin during the last leg of the circuit."
The team is composed of Warrant Officer Chris Vezeau (Edmonton), Sergeant Marc Amos (Comox), Cpl Darren Vanzanbergen (Cold Lake), Cpl Bob Comeau (Bagotville), Pte Corey Huigenbos (Greenwood) and WO J.P Rioux (alternate, Comox). Pte Audrey Bourgoin (Comox) will represent the CF in the female category, while Murray McArtney (Gagetown) and Chief Warrant Officer Al Thivierge (Winnipeg) will compete in the over 50 category.