The Clyde dam and the Alexandra clock on the hill have been the "secret training weapons" for Alexandra firefighters who scaled the heights at the weekend.
A team of nine firefighters - a quarter of the brigade's volunteers - took part in the gruelling Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge in Auckland on Saturday.
The top three times, recorded by Alexandra team members Mark Hutton, Leon Burdett and Simon Smith, placed them second in the teams contest, out of 121 brigades and stations throughout the country.
"We're pretty stoked and we'll be going back next year, for sure," said Mr Hutton, who is also the deputy fire chief.
Five years ago, Alexandra was the first South Island brigade to compete in the race, which raises funds for the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation. Firefighters race up 51 flights of stairs wearing full equipment and breathing apparatus weighing up to 25kg.
Mr Hutton, who was in his fifth year competing, also won a bronze medal this year for coming third in the over-40 section in a time of 11min 51sec. Mr Smith was fifth overall in the open section, in 9min 47sec, and Mr Burdett's time was 14.42. An Onehunga team was first on 34.42, ahead of Alexandra on 36.20.
The Alexandra team's training included bike rides and runs up the clock hill.
"We did get a few odd looks when we met walkers up the clock hill at 6am, when we were all kitted out in our gear, but they soon got used to us, " Mr Hutton said.
The seven storeys of stairs at the Clyde dam also proved a great training ground.
Mr Smith said the Sky Tower race up 1103 steps was a mental as well as a physical challenge.
"By about level 15 your legs are starting to burn. At level 20 your lungs are burning and it's hell from then on up. Your result depends how much pain you want to put yourself through and it's a real mental challenge to get to the top."
He was third overall last year and had improved his time this year.
The 2011 winner was Josh Harrison, of Otara, who set a record of 8min 45sec.
Seven brigades from Central Otago, Queenstown and Wanaka entered the contest and combined their fundraising efforts, donating $12,500 to the foundation.
