Armed Forces Personnel take to the slopes
13 Feb 08
It is well and truly the season for winter sports and Armed Forces Personnel have been entering competitions from Canada to Europe using all kinds of equipment to get down the slopes as fast as they can.
Inter-Services Ski and Snowboard Championships in Meribel, France
[Picture: SAC Paterson RAF]
Bobsleighing success
Corporal Jacqui Marshall, a Physical Training Instructor (PTI) at RAF Leuchars, has been so successful in her chosen field of Bobsleighing that she has been selected for the Great Britain Bobsleigh Team, and will be part of the first ever all female four-person team to enter the British Championships.
After first testing for the RAF Bobsleigh Team in the summer of 2007, by January 2008 Cpl Marshall was invited to meet up with the GB Bobsleigh Team and go for specific Ice Testing in Torino, Italy, where the last Winter Olympics were held. She explained what happened next:
"I came back to work as a PTI at RAF Leuchars with high motivation to train and be focused for the RAF Bobsleigh and Inter-Service Championships, which are to be held in Igles, Austria, from 16 February to 2 March 2008. After two days however, I received a phone call inviting me to Winterberg, Germany, to be with the Great Britain Team with the prospect of racing at the end of the week in the Europa Cup. This meant, before I knew it, I was jumping on a plane on my way to Germany."
Corporal Jacqui Marshall, a Physical Training Instructor at RAF Leuchars
[Picture: SAC Paul Dewhurst]
She has developed the techniques and skills to act as the brakeman in the bobsleigh, and despite crashing on the second day in Germany, leaving her with a back injury and unable to compete in the cup, she is now back at RAF Leuchars getting ready for the RAF Bobsleigh and Inter-Service Championships 2008 and the British Championships:
"I will braking in a two-man crew," she added, "but also for the first time in British history the RAF will be entering an all female four-man crew."
Biathlon in Austria
Numerous Armed Forces personnel have also just taken part in Exercise RUCKSACK, the British National, Inter-Service and Army Nordic Ski Championships, which took place in Austria and Germany and wrapped up last week, following two weeks of fierce competition.
The biathlon event took place in Obertilliach, Austria, where the local people arranged a special opening ceremony for their military visitors and the 23 teams marched in, escorted by local children holding candles, while the village band played a march.
A life-sized tribute to the athletes carved out of snow by ice sculptor Gabriel Rauchegger provided a striking backdrop to the proceedings. The event was officially opened when the Championship flame was lit by British Team Captain, Cpl Adele Walker, of the Royal Logistic Corps' ladies team.
Highlander Scotty Baines, from 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, carving round a fast corner in the Senior Men's 20 km Individual Biathlon during Exercise RUCKSACK 2008. He went on to win this event
[Picture: Cpl Steve Bain (RAF)]
The biathlon event was used to select the British teams for the World Championships taking place this week in Ostersund, Sweden, and the forthcoming European Championships in Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic (20-25 February 2008). Both teams include a variety of personnel from a whole range of units.
Exercise RUCKSACK culminated with the Military Patrol Race, which combines the skiing and shooting elements of biathlon with military presentation and command tasks over a distance of 30km.
Skiing in Meribel
Meanwhile, a snow blizzard greeted day one of the Inter-Services Ski and Snowboard Championships (ISSSC), which started recently in Meribel in the French Alps.
The Competition was launched in a formal opening ceremony when all the competitors paraded at the Ice Rink to be welcomed by the Mayor of Meribel and by Air Vice Marshal Kevin Leeson, President of the Combined Winter Sports Association.
A programme of Alpine and Snowboard events was staged, including Downhill, Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super G, Slopestyle and Snowboardcross, sponsored by amongst others, Qinetiq.
Snowboard Slopestyle at Meribel, France
[Picture: SAC Dominic King RAF]
Following their separate Single Service championships elsewhere and selection of both the Alpine and Snowboard squads, the Royal Navy, Army and RAF's top Downhill skiers and boarders travelled on to Meribel to vie for the Service trophies. As well as the seasoned veterans, there are 'new kids on the block', facing the challenge of competing at top Service level and thrilled at having made it to the next level.
Several guest teams have joined the British Service skiers in Meribel, including the Australian Defence Force, the British Development Team, the French Air Force and the British Disabled Team, with their sights set on the World Championships and the next Paralympics.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Air Vice Marshal Kevin Leeson said:
"It is excellent to be back in Meribel for the second year. ISSSC is the pinnacle of Service skiing and I congratulate all participants for reaching these Championships, and wish everyone the best of luck."
Bobbing for the novices
It's not just all professional competitions though as at the other end of the spectrum from Cpl Jacqui Marshall is Lieutenant Commander Mark Campbell who with a group of other Royal Navy sailors has been trying bobsleigh, luge and skeleton bob for the first time ever at the Army's Ice Camp in Calgary, Canada.
Lieutenant Commander Mark Campbell tries out the Skeleton Bob in the Army's Ice Camp in Calgary, Canada
[Picture: Royal Navy]
Lieutenant Commander Mark Campbell serves aboard HMS Ocean as a Sea King helicopter pilot. Despite never having touched a skeleton bob before, he has been starting from the men's championship start, reaching speeds in excess of 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) on the Olympic track, home of the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Lt Cdr Campbell said:
"That first day, the first drive can only be described as terrifying. It felt like you have less control than flying - once you are in the track you can't stop, but you can slow a helicopter down. I have enjoyed it; it has been a brilliant experience but skiing is the winter sport for me."
The Army Winter Sports Association was formed by Field Marshal Montgomery in 1947 to act as an 'antidote' to operations. Major Pete McMullen has been involved in Army Ice Sports for the past twenty years. Talking in Calgary he said:
"It is actually very difficult to genuinely make someone fear for their own personal safety but we can do that here, every day these novices have to face and overcome their own fear, which takes courage."