New Jersey is fortunate to be the home of one of the top burn centers in the United States, the St. Barnabas Burn Center in Livingston, NJ. Recognizing the importance of a top notch burn center, New Jersey fire fighters have been the most ardent supporters of this outstanding facility. The New Jersey Fire Fighters Ski Race has become the largest of many fund raising events sponsored by fire fighters around the state to benefit St. Barnabas. First organized in 1988 by a group of Jersey City Fire Fighers, the race is certainly unconventional by skiing standards. Participants must wear fire helmets and turn out coats and ski down a gated course without poles while carrying a fifty foot length of 1-3/4” hose! Teams of five fire fighters each compete for the fastest time of the day and are rewarded with a beautiful trophy and a year’s worth of bragging rights among skiing fire fighters in New Jersey.

The twelfth Annual Ski race returned to familiar grounds, but with a new name. The former Vernon Valley Ski Resort, under new ownership, is now known as the Mountain Creek Resort. Bitter cold temperatures with sleet and freezing rain greeted this year’s participants on January 14, 1999. Once again, weather did not deter New Jersey’s fire fighters. Nearly 500 participants traveled from all corners of the state to ski for the Burn Center.

Rockaway Boro Team #1 took first place this year with a time of 31.68 seconds. Runner up Wayne was nearly two seconds off Rockaway’s pace with a time of 33.15. Hot on their heels was the 1998 champion, Clifton, at 33.41. The Jersey City “A” Team finished in 8th place, racing down the course in 37.10 seconds. Batt. Chief John Austin and his crew of Captain John Costanza, Fire Fighters George Borek, Tony Lemanski and Walter Milne have adopted “Wait’til next year!” as the team motto!

The proceeds of the 1999 race amounted to $9,000.00, which was donated to the St. Barnabas Burn Foundation. This year’s contribution brings the total amount raised in the ten year history of the race to nearly $170,000.00. In addition to team registration fees, corporate sponsors such as High Grade Beverage Distributors have made the event a financial success.

Jersey City Fire Fighters working on the race committee include Mark Ellerson, George Borek, Captain Dennis Doran, Henry Matak, Tony Lemanski, Captain Ricky Vassallo and Batt. Chief John Austin. They are joined by a large group of other fire fighters and friends on race day, snow or no snow, to support the good works of the St. Barnabas Burn Center!