Ski and Snowboard News, Deals, and Events

Firefighters from around New England will meet at Wachusett Mountain Ski Area Feb. 26 for the 13^th Annual Firefighter Ski Muster.

The event includes three races:

The Midnight Alarm, where teams start with helmets, coats, gloves, poles and skis on the ground and, at the signal, get into gear and race down a slalom course individually.

The Modified Slalom, where teams of five sparks in full firefighting gear snake their way down a slalom course while hanging onto a 50-foot length of fire hose. All team members must keep their grip on the hose for the entire length of the course.

The Individual Timed Slalom Race where individual firefighters who also are team members race on their own.

Prizes awarded for top fund-raising as well as for race results.

Registration begins at 9 a.m., and the muster ends when the last competitor makes it to the finish, no later than 4 p.m. Cost: $500 minimum per team, $100 minimum per individual, with proceeds benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Entry fee covers lift tickets, event t-shirts, racing bibs, and two runs.

For more info, e-mail dspellman@mdausa.org.

Wachusett has 22 trails, two high-speed quads, two triples, three carpets, and one pony lift, and an uphill capacity of more than 9,200 skiers an hour.