Two Competitions, One Rescue Community

When most people think of rescue competitions, they picture teams racing against the clock. After traveling with Nectar Rescue to GRIMPDay Chile in October 2025 and Rescue Great Day in Seville, Spain, in April 2026, I can tell you they're about a lot more than that.

I'm a firefighter/paramedic with the Cleveland Fire Department, an Army veteran, and owner of Cid Media Services. Through my business, I document the public safety community, focusing on technical rescue and helping tell the stories of the people behind the profession. Traveling with Nectar Rescue gave me the chance to combine both passions while documenting the team's journey.

The biggest thing I took away from both events wasn't the competition. It was the people.

Nectar Rescue is made up of rescuers who genuinely want to learn, improve, and help each other grow. The competitions challenged everyone technically, but what happened between the scenarios was just as important. Teams from around the world shared ideas, talked through different techniques, and built friendships that went far beyond the competition.

You don't realize how much work goes into these events until you're there. The amount of training, planning, and preparation before the first scenario is impressive. That commitment to always learning and improving is what makes Nectar Rescue such a great group to be around.

One of my favorite parts of both trips was seeing how quickly complete strangers became friends. Even though everyone came from different countries and spoke different languages, there was always a willingness to share ideas and learn from one another. 

Throughout both competitions, Team Wendy helmets were a common sight among the Nectar Rescue team. When you're spending long days on rope and working through demanding rescue scenarios, it's good to know you're wearing gear you can trust so you can stay focused on the task at hand.

Traveling with Nectar Rescue has given me the opportunity to document an incredible group of rescuers and help share what the international technical rescue community is really about. It's an experience I'll always be grateful for, and I look forward to telling more of these stories in the future.

I'm grateful to Nectar Rescue for welcoming me as part of the team and to Team Wendy for supporting the rescue community. From Chile to Spain, it's been an unforgettable journey, and we're looking forward to whatever comes next.