Page 78 - Mercian Eagle 2013

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Capt Jim Codling-Ex FROSTED BLADE
capable. Aldo, Vince and Cindi are the senior instructors and teach the Infantry every year.
During the next three weeks the weather improved and training focussed on racing and gates. There are four different racing disciplines: Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super Giant
Slalom (or Super G) and the Downhill. The most
Pte Conroy Ex FROSTED BLADE
followed where 3 MERCIAN excelled and pushed back up the rankings. Next were the speed events: Super G and Downhill. These events consist of getting into the ‘tuck’ (crouching down to minimise wind resistance) and speeding down a steep hill at up to 130 kph
technical with the shortest turns is the gruelling
slalom where racers smash the gates with their
poles and fight with controlled aggression all
the way down. This is the event where the most
skiers abandon/disqualify from the course by
skiing the wrong way around a gate or crashing.
The gates are further apart in the Giant Slalom
and this discipline requires more of a cruising
style, concentrating on digging the edges of your
skis into the snow to keep the turns as efficient as possible. Then there are the speed events, Super G and Downhill which I will write about later but let me tell you now that they require brass balls.
The first event of race week was the Slalom which the team made a very good start to. However inexperience showed on the second run and we were disqualified from the event when two team members pushed too hard and fell on the slope. The Giant Slalom
making only wide turns. Travelling at these speeds not only requires real physical courage and athleticism, but also steadfast concentration and an excellent memory. Often the second or third gate in front of you is in dead ground and if you leave the previous gate at the wrong angle you may find yourself launched into the air, over the gate and knocked unconscious on your return to Terra firma as a brave but disqualified young soldier found out. Knowing that this happened to the skier before can’t help with the
nerves, nor can the high injury rate including several broken legs or the spinal injury that warranted evacuation by helicopter. This did not stop the fearless 3 MERCIAN however and we again pushed up the rankings getting some very quick times.
On the final results table the 3 MERCIAN team placed 12th out of 22 other teams and have come back with massively improved skiing ability, knowledge and plenty of memories.
Travelling at these speeds not only requires real physical courage and athleticism...
Ferozeshah 2012 – Not the last by Maj Ollie Major
As always, Ferozeshah Day was not celebrated on Ferozeshah Day as the Battalion would be on leave. However, the Christmas weather came out in style as the snow fell and the Officers argued about the relative merits of rubber and leather soles on a frozen Parade Square. Extra pressure had been created by the impending visit of the Colonel of the Regiment, Major General Sharpe in what would be his last visit to the 3rd Battalion as Colonel. The RSM fulminated as drill slowly sharpened and the Colour Parties started to get a grip of
themselves; RQMSes Warboys and Viveash dragged themselves out of their offices in the realisation that they couldn’t hide in
the echelon for this one, and the Second
in Command, a native Rifleman, started
to panic as he was informed that skipping across the square wasn’t going to cut it this time. In fact, the RSM should have fitted him with GPS; he was last seen heading to the wrong end of the parade after handing over to the CO, dragging his sword in a most unmilitary fashion before nearly falling over.
As always, of course, the Parade turned out well – Mick Whillock got all Sandhurst and gripped the YOs (and the Field Officers) and the parade was a splendid event in bright sunshine. Sgt Spilsbury read the story of the battle in fine form and the Colours were duly handed over and marched to the Sgts’ Mess. The Colonel of the Regiment presented Warrants and Awards, including a QCVS to RCWO Medlock for delivering steaks by bergen
in Afghanistan, and a thoroughly good time was had. The evening proved to be
Number 2 Guard on the Fallingbostel Parade Square
THE MERCIAN EAGLE