02/13/2013 - On Wednesday, February 13th, 2013, for the seventeenth consecutive year, the Muscular Dystrophy Association held their Fire Fighters Ski-Muster at Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, Massachusetts. Firefighters and on-lookers from far and wide make the trek to the mountain to raise money for MDA and to watch the festivities. This years event hosted twenty teams from fire departments from Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The five member teams donated a minimum of $500 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, so they could participate in the event. Many participants raised additional funds on their own towards the cure for over 40 neuromuscular diseases. Teams raced in two events, the "midnight alarm" and the "hose relay". In the "midnight alarm" participants must remove their fire coat, fire helmet, gloves and skis or snowboard. When the participants hear "Go!" they put on their gear as fast as they can and race down the slalom course. Some teams struggled to get their coat properly buckled, while others had problems with their gloves and ski's or snowboards. In the "hose relay" the five member teams must all have a handle on a length of hose as they travel down the slalom course at Wachusett Mountain. This proved to be easier said then done, as many teams lost members along the way. This year, the team from the Pittsfield MA Fire Department took first place with the shortest combined time. They were followed by Seekonk MA Fire Department, and Waltham MA Fire Department Team A. Pittsfield Fire has won this event several years running. Following the team races, the slalom course is open to individual racers whose combined time of one run on each side of the race course determines who wins. Ron Downing of the Natick MA Fire Department took first place with two very quick runs. Second place in the individual races went to Andrew Stephenson, while Kurt Johnson took third place. This event is a great fund raiser for MDA and could not be done without its sponsors; Wachusett Mountain, Budweiser, or the fire departments and firefighters who participate year after year.

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