Page 10 - LBV 2024

Ex Blue Slalom
In January 2024, 4 members of CUOTC joined Oxford UOTC on a foundation level skiing adventurous training expedition. The trip allowed cadets to participate in an affordable and enjoyable trip where they could complete skiing qualifications from beginner SF1 level, to SF2 continued, allowing cadets to move onto more advanced Ski instructor courses.
SF1 varied from total beginners,
to competent skiers who had never completed an Army qualification course before. With an instructor leading
each group, this provided a brilliant opportunity to develop skillsets and advance massively as a skier. All sorts of options were opened, as runs which one would often pass over were encouraged to be tackled head on – sometime quite literally. Within the first day, our group had completed black grade moguls
and some really technicallychallenging routes in between the main pistes, with a fairamount of sliding involved. By the end of the day our progression curves had really increased and highlighted just how rewarding the week was going to be.
With the 50km long days that group 3 was tackling it was only fair that the physical training was matched with some apres entertainment. Over the week, officer cadets from Cambridge, Oxford, Exeter and Southampton enjoyed birthday apres celebrations and plenty of evenings singing with the locals in the bar. By the end of the week the group had integrated really well,
highlighting how fantastic the UOTC is as an opportunity to meet like-minded individuals from around the country.
OCdt Nevin, SF1 group, described the trip as ‘a brilliant opportunity to expand on one’s knowledge base and push
their boundaries. All those from the Cambridge UOTC got to grips with the fundamentals, and came on leaps and bounds, with some non-skiers on day one being able to competently and safely tackle red pistes by the end of the six-day package.
My groups aim for the week was to develop their knowledge surrounding mountain safety, off-piste ski technique, and mountain navigation. We spent six days dodging trees and tackling serious off-piste runs, culminating in decent
down the Aiguille Rouge (the Red Eagle) which claims to be the longest continuous red/black in Europe.
While we skied hard (often up to 60k a day) there was always a great appetite to socialise after. We thank Oxford OTC for being so welcoming, and with some interesting dance moves as well as a few major wipe-outs on the slopes. We bonded as a group, making friends and connections for life.’
Special thanks to Major Gittens, 2Lt Coleman, Captain Ferguson and the Oxford UOTC unit for making this trip possible.
2Lt H Wood
10 THE LIGHT BLUE VOLUNTEER