AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic: Posting No. 1

I plan on providing all of the current information Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge Lion Invitational AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic right here on this Blogspot. There will be NO OTHER source for accurate and official information. No rumors, gossip or Facebook postings. 

First: The Invitees. 

Daniel and I immediately set to work this morning to construct the who’s who of the Cotton Bowl invitees. We are basing this strictly on merit, with the exception of Team Europe who will not be included for the obvious reason of cash. 

So, taking all of last week’s runs, and putting them in order, we’ll post these later with 2 alternates. 

Now, it’s critical that expressions of interest be genuine. We’ve been attempting to develop a method that would ensure that people who say they’re coming actually will show up. We’ve advertised that there is no entry fee. So, there’s no leverage by way of a cash bond, unless we require some evidence of surety such as a non-refundable deposit. You will definitely piss off a lot of people if you take up a slot and then bail out. So, we’re going to ask that in order to secure your spot, you’ll need to send us copies of your airplane tickets. 

We will alternate individual runs with the Relays. This will allow us to change out SCBA units faster. We want to maximize the amount of runs by being as efficient as possible. We’ll ask that rather than walking back up the course, that once finished, go around the spectators as you return your Air-Paks. 

As mentioned, there will be 16 Relay Teams. They will be posted tomorrow. 

And, approximately 36 individuals by traditional Regional Event Categories. 

AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic- 2014

Despite the fact that all of our energies are focused on Las Vegas next week, it’s timely to talk about the Lion’s Den Invitational looming just over the horizon in 2014. The Cotton Bowl Committee has extended an invitation to provide pre-game entertainment on the Special Events Plaza at the AT&T Stadium [formerly known as Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, TX] Friday, January 3, from 2:35-4:45.

This sets in motion a whole bunch of questions, many of which are presently being answered. For example, we will require that all of the Competitors qualify at World Challenge XXII at the Stratosphere.

This event will be choreographed like the half-time entertainment at the Super Bowl. We must wrap up the competition with the last race precisely before the pep-ralley. That’s why the 4:45 finish time.

We will lead off with Lion’s Den members in the age/sex categories who attended World Challenge XXII and finish with a single elimination tournament of the top 16 Relays based on best time. Invitations will be extended strictly on the basis of merit (i.e., rank order). An RSVP will be required. Barring that eventuality, the invitation will move to the next person on the list and so on and so forth. There is no registration fee.

Since lodging is likely to be problematic at this time - due to the 100,000 attendees, fire stations in the Metroplex will be offering bunks to you. There are a myriad of other logistical questions that we’re working on, such as possible special TV coverage, parking, etc.

Clearly, we cannot accommodate everyone that would like to be there. Assuming that our audition is well-received, this may become a regularly occurring feature in the out-years.

In preparation for the event, and to kick off our Engine Company Good - To - Go initiative, we will be locating our tower at the AFD’s Training Academy the first week in November. If you’re interested in being a part of the Event Crew and work on setting up, re-cocking, or pack-up send an expression of interest to the email below.

Write down your questions and send them along to Info@FFCC.TV. I’ll be posting updates here as we know more.

Ron Beckman and Road Crew did a site inspection of the Special Events Plaza of the newly titled AT&T Stadium in preparation of our appearance at the Cotton Bowl Classic, January 3, 2014. 

Where there is a Will, there is a Way, and a Cory, Bob and Chris

2013 US National Champions: 4:38 Team Total
(L-R) John Granby, VP Lion, Cory McGee, Chris Finkes, Bob Russell, Dr. Paul Davis

Whiteman Air Force Base, a self-funded team of three pulled off a surprise here in Montgomery Thursday. 

Cory McGee, Bob Russell and Chris Finkes drove 12 hours in a mini-van- a precient move as we’ll see at the end of this sentence- camped in a tent for $5 per night at the local air base and crushed the competition to take home the Lion Trophy (aka “The Granby”). 

Having lost virtually every bit of funding, they made it happen anyway. 

Congratulations to our 2013 National Champions!

Berlin Year 7

Entrance to the Park Signage 

It’s hard to believe that we’re now seven years into the mission here in Berlin. Five days of competition! And these guys are getting good. What has struck me is how fast the Europeans have become. Their attention to detail now matches that of North American Challenge competitors.

So, how do the times on the Berlin course compare? I think that the official tower affords a few seconds of benefit. It’s related to the stairs and railings. You don’t have the tight turns and the less complicated railings. I’ll comment about the intricacies in upcoming postings.

This year, the event was moved to the old Tempelof Airport. For the past six years, we’ve been smack in the middle of downtown Berlin. The Potsdamer Platz is a very prestigious location, not unlike Times Square in New York City. But five days is an impossible expectation.

Google Berlin Airlift and you’ll learn about one of the most historic events in 19th Century history. When the Soviets attempted the blockade of West Berlin by closing ground access, the Allies started a sky-train with thousands of C-47’s and kept the city alive with around the clock flights of necessary food and substance material.

The photo below gives some perspective to the vastness of what is now one of the largest city parks in the world, rivaling Central Park in NYC. That’s the terminal you see in the photo below, taken at at the Challenge site, at least 1km away.

Tempelof Airport, site of the terminal of the famous Berlin Airlift of 1948 and presently the location for the FCC

I was offered a private guided tour of the airdrome on Monday, following the event, by the current Park Manager, Dr. Krebs. Unfortunately, I had a meeting in Portugal that inflicted, but will make this up next year, for sure.

Mike Weikhamm who runs the event is a master of organization and a pleasure to work with. One of the benefits of the new venue is the ability for Competitors to “camp out” with their Ezey-Ups for the duration of the event. Of course, they have the same threats of wind gusts to deal with as evidenced by the twisted frames a few days after the shot below was taken.

Tent City at the 7th Berlin Firefighter Combat Challenge 

The view from the top of the tower is very similar to that of what you’d expect to see at any of our events. We’re working on getting Mike a supply of All-American hose to complete the transformation to the exact same props is are used in the U.S.

View from the top of the tower - 7th Berlin Firefighter Combat Challenge 

World Challenge in the Future?

Americans get a lot of ribbing about the World Series, or other such nomenclature. First, understand that the baseball championship was originally sponsored by the World newspaper- hence the name that really had nothing to do with geography and everything to do with who was footing the bill. In our case, we are very much interested in a global reach. 

You’ve noticed a growing number of competitors coming from far-off places around the globe. Of course, around the time the Chinese decide to play, they’ll erect an exact replica and win the whole thing the next year. 

I can’t say when for sure, but I do see the Firefighter Combat Challenge gaining a lot of traction in Europe with the likely “World Cup” moniker taking place in a venue like Berlin. 

Ready on the Red...

Over the span of the past couple of events, we’ve tweaked the start- within the limitations of the technology and mechanics. The pre-course briefing addresses this change, as does this BlogPost.

Specifically, we have eliminated the Christmas tree count down. Under the law of unintended consequences, what was to be the application of Drag Racing starts, we ended up with a sub-plot: guys gaming the reaction time component and risking the false start infraction and a penalty of five seconds. For what? At best, we’re talking about tenths of seconds.

So, now the system has been adjusted to go from staged to green in approximately 1.5 seconds. The positive upshot has been the virtual elimination of false starts. In fact, in Lexington, we had only two instances and they were in races with rookies. The operant word is approximately in that the system is designed to be random, to avoid the gaming component. See previous posts on this subject for a better understanding of track rules on false starts.

In the absence of a pressure switch for 42 pounds, this might be the final solution. Once again, the best way to avoid a penalty is to go on the siren.

If you’d like to be heard on this subject, once again, the best way to communicate is on the Chuck B’s Blog or send me an email directly. It’s our preference to avoid making any changes during the course of  the season; however the response has definitely been in the positive and the results bear this out.

Get A Grip

We’ve picked up a new sponsor, Fox Fire, a company (http://www.mn8products.com) with a ton of innovations, including luminescent helmet bands and paint. One of their products is a wrap for handles of hand tools such as the sledge hammer that we use for the Keiser.

A couple of Competitors asked me about the product. And then, quite a number of others expressed interest in purchasing the grip for their hammers.

We’ve started a topic on Chuck B’s Forum (front page of our website). We’d like to hear from you- what’s your read-out on this product? Fire away!

The FoxFire Grip

I Have Cancer; and Cancer Is Not All I Have (by Jeanie Allen)

July 30th, 2013

I have cancer.

B.F.F. Cheri Ardoin (L) with Jeanie Allen

I also have three freckles on my right wrist in a perfect triangle, and if they were on the inside of my wrist I could press one dot with my index finger and pretend I was Spider-Man shooting his web. 

I have recurrent, extremely rare form of soft tissue sarcoma called Clear Cell Sarcoma. In the other 98% of the dozen or so cases diagnosed around the World every year, the tumors present in a limb. Limbs with tumors can be cut off. My cancer is in my abdomen. I can't cut off my trunk. I've had chunks and parts cut out, but that's the most they can do. There is no known treatment. I have been fighting this disease for over 4 years now. It has reoccurred and metastasized for the second time. It persists despite a slew of traditional and non-traditional attempts for treatment. The medical doctor's best hope is palliative, just seeking to extend my time on this beautiful planet with the best quality of life possible.
I haven't given up on beating this dragon though. Not by a long shot. 

I now also have straight, white and grey 'old lady hair', where a year ago I had long, curly, soft brown hair atop my head; courtesy of six months of a new chemo treatment.
I have three tiny scars on my belly that were accessed twice to remove a baseball sized tumor once, and 15 tumors the second time.

Clarence Parks and Jeanie in Lake Charles

I also have a lean, athletic frame that I love because it lets me move through life with agility and strength. I have startling blue eyes thanks to my Swiss Grandma and parents that people tell me 'pop' in contrast to my old lady hair. 

I have a medical 'Port' implanted in my chest that sticks out like a third tit, but allows easy streaming of drugs, blood and fluids. The tubing is visible through my thin chest wall and I pretend it makes me bionic. 

I have a great job, with co-workers who reach out to me in countless, unexpected, compassionate ways. Sometimes it's a gifted bag of perfumed body lotion and bath oil. Sometimes it's a generous donation of highly valuable vacation time, which allows me to take a paid sick day when I travel out of State for treatment, or am recovering from chemo. It helps keep me current on my health insurance premiums and is a Godsend. Many times it's a hug, or a card, or just checking in and listening to what I have going on. Sometimes it's a meal, when I'm too exhausted from chemo to fix something to feed my zapped body. We've had parties to celebrate, just 'cause, and to let me know, they've got my back. 

I have compromised lung function, damage from past chemo treatment and current tumor growth. It makes it harder to keep up, catch up, and it makes cardio activity a challenge.
It sucks. Literally. Breathing IS one of those mandatory functions. 

I have the best dog partner in the world. She is a 22lb dark fur ball of unbridled love. She is receptive and so darn smart -- playful or cuddly at any time. A fantastic traveling partner, though she'll also jump into any stranger's vehicle just for a ride. She is my constant trusty, protective companion, always by my side. I love every drop of her sneezing, heavy breathing dog breath, every scratch from her paw as she tries to get my attention to wake me up in the morning and wriggle her way on top of me like a lap dog. I love that I get to roll the silken softness of her ear in my fingers and kiss the top of her nose. I love how she presses her cheek into the palm of my hand just for contact and comfort.

I have cancerous cells within my body, spreading throughout my belly, compromising the function of my digestive system; another mandatory, can't-do-without body function. This means chronic pressure and discomfort that never leaves me. The new norm. 

I have two beautiful, courageous, funny, smart, loving children who make my life worth living every single day. They make me laugh, worry, roll my eyes, and feel more pride in who they are and joy in who they are becoming then anything I could've ever imagined. 

I still have my intelligence and creativity that allows me to keep writing -- a hobby that brings me clarity and a way to express my thoughts, for myself, and to share with others.
I am a 46-year-old woman: I have truly incredible amazing parent's, a sister, brother's and close relatives who hurt for me, laugh with me, and seize all life has to offer WITH me.
They are a family that can handle my wildly independent and adventurous ways, somehow knowing how and when I need to be coddled even when I don't understand it myself.
I Crossfit and swim and practice for firefighting competitions. I garden and practice yoga. I eat as healthfully as I can, and try to be conservative with my vices of coffee creamer, wine and chocolate. I love trying new restaurants and taking in new adventures. I love good books and stimulating conversation. I like to sit on the front porch couch in the evenings when it's cooled off, and read and journal or visit with friends. I love to camp and be in nature, the mountains and the trees.

Congratulatory Hug at the Finish Line

I like to clammer out on my rooftop with my kids and watch the sun set with its brilliant summer colors, and chat about our day. 

I have been living with cancer since age 42-- living with the disease, the huge financial costs, the side effects, the treatments, the anguish, the questioning, the unknowns, the adaptations, and the hopes and fears. 

And, I have friends -- great friends. Each offers such special qualities that mold me and make me who I am. They bring such unexpected joy in our connections and appreciation of each other, big and small. They all meld harmoniously into one big lovefest that I can tap into at any time. I have perfect strangers that send me love and light and hope and big pushes every day.

I have no known viable treatment options. Anything tried is at best an experiment. My life depends on the speed of cancer research or a miracle of another kind.

I have faith in a loving God. A God so big and all encompassing I have yet to have a true understanding of all his Power and Grace, so in my humble humanness I do my best to just believe, and to surrender to him. 

This God regularly presents himself in my church family; always uplifting, supportive, compassionate, and IN relationship. 

I have cancer, and I'm eating a peach on the front porch in the cooling evening breeze. 

I have toxic chemotherapy currently working to kill every rapidly dividing cell in my body; but the sound of my kiddo's starting to wind down, the sight of Piper Dawn Doggie chasing her tail trying to get someone to pay attention and play with her, and the everyday normalcy of car doors shutting and neighbors out walking and talking in companionship makes it somehow okay.

I have a good, no a great, no an utterly balls-out fabulous life and more importantly, the capacity to understand its impermanence. Sure, I have some things that I don't need, ahem, cancer, but I have everything I do need. Right here. Right now. I revel in that comfort and wonder how I got it so good.

Sure, I lose perspective. Sometimes I want to scream and bawl and beat my fists into an unknown foe, unsure of how to handle the weight of my fate staring me in the face. But then good days come, and I forget about the cancer, the chemo, the unknown future, for a while, so blinded by the gratitude that I get to be here, to do this, to enjoy this world and the people in it. 

I will soon pick up my Mom at the airport, after traveling 1800 miles to be here. I can't wait to grab her up in my arms and never let her go. And then she will be here to hold my hand during my 8 hr chemo infusion tomorrow. 

I have cancer and I'm eating a peach.