Hanover/Mainburg, 13.04.2022 - Action-packed competition, a unique atmosphere and the most modern firefighting tower in Europe - that's what fans can expect at the FireFit Championships Europe. From June 20 to 25, firefighting sports enthusiasts will sweat it out at the open European Championships at the exhibition grounds in Hanover. On 20 April from 17 o'clock the registration opens under www.firefit-europe.eu - who would like to seize a starting place, should be fast and inform already in advance and register. After registration, the event ticket for the competition can be purchased as soon as registration opens.

After last year's premiere, the best athletes will compete again this year on the days of the fair. From Monday to Thursday, firefighters will vie in qualifying heats for places in the final days of the FireFit European Championships on Friday and Saturday.

Pure adrenaline - the spectacular competition

Immediately after the starting whistle, the exciting duel on the HAIX® Tower follows: With a hose package on their shoulders, they have to climb the steps of the twelve-meter-high tower. In full gear. Including breathing protection. Once at the top, there is no time to enjoy the view. Another fire hose has to be pulled up before the team descends to the next stations.

At the next stations, the firefighters swing the hammer at the impact machine, run through a short slalom course, pick up a filled fire hose and extinguish a target fire before simulating a personal rescue in the final sprint and rescuing an 80-kilogram doll to the finish line. The elite in firefighting competition conquer this entire course in under two minutes.

Something for every fitness level

The competitors can start individually, in tandem or in relays. The relay with three to five persons is suitable for athletically active people to start in the firefighting sport. Team spirit is required here. The breathing apparatus is worn "loosely" on the back - mask and breathing air connection are omitted. The single run is considered the supreme discipline, because it demands everything from the starters while wearing breathing apparatus. In the tandem race, it is not only a fast running time that is decisive, but above all skill in changing cylinders: halfway through the course, the breathing air cylinder is handed over to the partner as a "baton".

The way from overseas to Europe

The FireFit Championships are based on firefighting tasks: climbing stairs, transporting hoses, opening locked doors, rescuing people and extinguishing. The competition has been held in Canada for almost 30 years. Following this example, the FireFit Championships Europe Tour provides a common competition format for firefighting sports throughout Europe.

About HAIX®

HAIX®, based in Mainburg, Bavaria, is a specialist in functional footwear and apparel with a worldwide reputation. Wherever people need high-performance products that won't let them down, HAIX® is the first choice.

At its headquarters in Mainburg, HAIX® maintains dedicated departments for research and development as well as design and marketing. In its own high-tech research and test laboratory, HAIX® engineers develop new functions and set new trends and standards for functional footwear. For the production of its high-quality functional footwear, HAIX® operates plants in Germany and Croatia, where the company has built one of the most modern footwear manufacturing facilities in the world. In December 2020, HAIX® acquired the workwear manufacturer Gustav Wahler.

HAIX® Group also maintains a sales office in Lexington, Kentucky (USA) and employs approximately 1,700 people worldwide. In 2021, the company produced 1.52 million pairs of shoes and generated sales of 167 million euros. For more information, visit www.haix.com .

About INTERSCHUTZ®

INTERSCHUTZ is the world's leading trade fair for the fire and rescue services, civil protection, safety and security. It will next be held in Hannover, Germany, from June 20 to 25, 2022. The leading theme of INTERSCHUTZ is "Teams, Tactics, Technology - Protection and Rescue Networked".

Press contact HAIX

Julia Simon
Corporate Communications - FIRE Segment
Phone: +49 (0) 8751 - 8 625 266
j.simon@haix.de

Press Contact INTERSCHUTZ

Peter Streckewald
Phone: +49 511 89 31404
Peter.Streckewald@messe.de