Page 25 - Bugle Issue 20 Autumn 2022

3 RIFLES
Nordic Skiing and Biathlon involves skiing over undulating terrain before approaching a range and shooting targets at 50m, all whilst physically exhausted. It is safe to say that the members from 3 RIFLES were in their element; fully relishing the three-week opportunity to train in Idre Fjall, Sweden.
Following a long journey, the team arrived and quickly learned the fundamentals of cross-country skiing in the challenging winter conditions. With temperatures often sitting between -10 and -20 degrees Celsius; training was comparable to an exercise in Otterburn!
The lessons given by the excellent instructors also covered the preparation and maintenance of the ski equipment, which involved nightly waxing sessions, taking into consideration the temperature conditions
of the following day. If the wrong wax was applied it would result in the skis either having too much or too little grip, which would make for a challenging day.
Over the first week’s training we were taught techniques for both classic and skate disciplines, used to cover different terrain and gradients. Each technique is essentially a lower or higher gear that you apply, depending on how steep the ground is. This, combined with the correct wax, was paramount to
3 RIFLES supported four of their SPS members to attend Ex WHITE LION. Located in picturesque Neustift, Austria this is an annual AGC Ski Championship on the Stubai Glacier Ski Resort. The format of the event consists of a week training with Army Ski Leaders and a week of racing to include both the Grand Slalom and Slalom disciplines.
The conditions were perfect throughout, mixing the challenges of an AT exercise with a lot of sunny weather, plenty of time in the
success. It quickly became apparent that good admin combined with excellent physical fitness and skiing skill would make or break the skier’s performance.
The next three weeks were spent following a structured timetable with both morning and afternoon sessions focussing on ski technique and physical fitness through rigorous interval sessions. These sessions were developed
by the coaches who enthusiastically drove each of the skiers to their limits. As race day approached, more time was spent on racing tactics and developing the ‘athlete mindset.’
The races were split into two disciplines: Classic and Biathlon. Classic skiing involved 15km of cross-country skiing across
Unforgiving terrain in Idre Fjall, Sweden
undulating terrain, with multiple approaches of the infamous ‘farm hill.’ The Biathlon race was a relay event with skiers taking turns to race a 7.5km route broken up by firing on a 50m range, where you are required to hit five targets from both the standing and prone. The standing targets are about the size of a toilet roll, whereas the prone are closer to that of a golf ball. This tests the skier’s composure and marksmanship.
The team exceeded all expectations as novices and finished fourth in the Infantry Championships securing their place at the Army Championships.
Nordic Skiing Team
Rfn Owens
Ex WHITE LION
evenings to socialise, and a visit the city of Innsbruck. The team managed to gain several individual awards:
Pte Burton won two gold medals and a bronze over the Grand Slalom (GS) races, becoming the Junior Champion in his age category and with an overall race position of 3rd. Sjt Hudson won silver and bronze medals in the female GS race
category.
Cpl Kelly
Sgt Hudson and Pte Burton
Pte Burton
RIFLES The Bugle 25
Ex NORDIC BUGLE