Volunteer firefighters from Arrowtown and Frankton on Saturday took part in the ninth annual Sky Tower Challenge, the 51 flights of stairs proving just enough for the local lads.
Diego Canepa, of Frankton, was the first of the 15 competitors from both brigades to the top, gaining a place in the top 10 with his time of 11min 4sec.
Adin May, of Arrowtown, said the effort from local representatives was outstanding and the challenge proved harder for some than they had thought.
"It's almost claustrophobic in there. If you can, imagine running in a diving mask, almost. You can't breathe as fast as you would like.
"It's as hot as, to make you want to rip it off. It's cooking in there."
The firefighters each had to race up the 51 flights of stairs (1103 steps) in full breathing equipment, weighing about 25kg.
"It's about the challenge. It is a mental thing, as much as a physical thing.
"For the first 10 floors you try not to get too excited because you know you have another 41 floors to go.
"You have to pace yourself," Mr May said.
The Sky Tower Challenge is a Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand fundraiser and is now in its ninth year. Four hundred competitors took part this year.
Although the rivalry is intense between the two local brigades, Mr May said the exercise was good for them and they enjoyed competing closely with their Frankton neighbours.
"We had some really strong entries out there today.
"We would be unlucky not to have someone in the top 10.
"It's good team-building, not just for the Arrowtown team, but for the whole fire contingent down home."
Those thinking a free trip to the top of the tower was a privilege need not. Mr May did not even take in the scenery.
"I made it all the way to the top of the Sky Tower and didn't even look out the window when
I got there.
"We had to rip our gear off, get our breath back and ... go back down again.''
