Saturday, Sep. 05, 2009

Horry eyes firefighter competition

Several Horry County firefighters and their out-of-state buddies want to bring a world firefighter competition to Myrtle Beach in 2010 that could draw 1,000 athletes and their families from as far away as Australia.

The city already has hosted four regional Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge competitions and at least 15 state competitions, but this would be bigger and better, said Michael Medeiros, wellness coordinator at Horry County Fire Rescue.

The five-day world competition is composed of timed two- and five-person relays and individual trips through an obstacle course that includes a four-story climb and the dragging of a heavy fire hose and human dummy.

"I think that'd be a big attraction, not only to this area, but to a lot of vacationers who are looking to come this way," Medeiros said. "We enjoyed having regionals here, but to have a whole week of it, that's a week of them staying in hotels and paying money all week long."

Horry County Council Chairwoman Liz Gilland, who called herself a "cheerleader for tourism," brought up the idea a few weeks ago at a County Council meeting where some of the local firefighters were honored for winning the state competition.

"They were talking about going to the worldwide thing out in Las Vegas. I said, 'I want to know why we're not bringing it here next year,'" she said. "Any time we have an event here that brings people from outside, it boosts tourism and everybody in the county benefits. If you bring something like this, it's primarily for people who have never been to Myrtle Beach before. I'm convinced that with every new person, that's 10 more people."

Roy Edmondson, sports sales manager for the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, said the estimated cost of the event, $50,000, was a "pretty substantial financial commitment" considering the number of people coming and said it likely would not be something the chamber could fully support financially.

"We support the event fully, and if there's anything we can do to help them, we will," he said.

Los Angeles, Orlando, Fla., and Las Vegas are also on the short list of places vying to host the championship, said Paul Davis, founder of the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge. Las Vegas has been the site of the competition for most of the 19 years it has happened.

Firefighters outside of Horry County say they want a break from Las Vegas.

"For me personally, I love Myrtle Beach. ... Vegas is expensive, it's OK, it's exciting the first time you go, but after that, it's the same old thing," said Bill Petrotonio, who retired in May from the fire department in Everett, Mass., and lives in Winston-Salem, N.C.

"It should be split up anyway. One year on the

East Coast, one year on the West Coast."

Brandon Cunningham, the 2008 overall world Combat Challenge champion, said Myrtle Beach is a "perfect place," considering it has a more family-friendly atmosphere than Las Vegas.

"You'd have something for everyone, from the younger single guys to the couples to the families," said Cunningham, a captain with the Fort Gordon, Ga., fire department. "I have a son, and he's just about to turn 1, so I'm not trying to bring an infant on a Vegas trip."

Myrtle Beach's family-friendly sites make it an attractive competitor, but no decision will be made until a proposal is submitted, Davis said.

"There's a very large contingent that would enjoy going to Las Vegas. It still continues to be a destination that people like to go to. It has an international reputation," he said.

"Myrtle Beach is similarly reasonably well-known internationally. We're getting a lot of international interest, so that's something you've got to consider."

Medeiros said he will work with other firefighters to nail down a sponsor and plan for accommodations between now and mid-October.

"I think our chances are pretty good right now," Medeiros said.

The location of the 2010 world competition will be announced at the Las Vegas event in November.