Page 49 - QARANC Vol 14 No 9 2014

Army Medical Skiing
Championships – Sere Chevalier 31st January – 15th February
After a gruelling two days of travelling (day one Catterick to Dover, day two Dover to Sere Chevalier) with nine athletes in a nine-seated mini bus with nine lots of skiing kit, plus a guitar, we finally arrived at Chalet Valentine.
First impressions: well, lets just say Capt Butler did very well. The accommodation was sensational, with a private Jacuzzi and was located only a few minutes walk from the slopes. As if this wasn’t enough, we had a three-course meal cooked for us every night, as well as freshly baked cakes each afternoon.
Day one on the slope was very eventful with each person gaining valuable experience by starting on the green slope. Once our abilities were assessed we were split in to two groups – those with lots of ski experience, and those who were in need of a bit of extra tuition. The rest of the first week consisted of long and tiring days of skiing in preparation for the races that were planned for the following week.
We were much helped in our endeavour by Col Forber, who was a fantastic skier with a lot of previous experience. He taught us the Slalom technique and gave lots of extra tips and
advice in order to build up our confidence.
The first race day was nerve-racking to say the least. A
lot of the MDHU (N) ski team were still classed as beginners, compared to the experts that enter every year, but everyone entered the B race. Sgt Kirkwood came 1st out of the MDHU (N) team with 37.99 seconds, most our team seeded in the top 10.
The second race day was a different story. It was a complete white out so nerves where even higher. However after an eventful day it was smiles all round as we took away 1st and 2nd from the B race, well done to LCpl Cailleau and Cpl Widdowson for their excellent performances.
We celebrated in style letting our hair down in après ski. That evening we thanked the Col by inviting him around to dinner.
I can safely say we can’t wait to represent the unit at the AMS Ski Championships again next year.
Capt Perrin
THE GAZETTE QARANC 47
Exercise Racing Ice 2013
Exercise racing Ice I took place in Dec 13 in Igls, Austria and enveloped the 3 winter disciplines of bobsleigh, skeleton and luge. The fascination for adrenaline sports has never been lost on me as I’ve always been an adrenaline junkie and found myself worryingly fearless with regard to extreme sports. Skeleton however turned out to be on another level of terrifying.
Having decided to try skeleton after reading an article in the QA Gazette 6 months earlier and being slightly curious as I needed a new challenge. The months went by and after scaring everyone else, but mostly myself by watching internet posted videos on the sport (my family had a small stroke when they watched it on TV), I was on a plane heading for Austria, very excited but nervous about what tuned out to be the best adventure training week of my life.
On arrival the groups were split into their respective sports and we began by being taken around the track. It didn’t help that the Austrian skeleton team were training at the time and were hitting 125 km/hr in front of us as we walked down the hill. The instructors were fantastic and explained as much as they could before we took our first run. Although there is only so much they can say the rest is up to the slider once on the track.
The first morning was spent learning positioning and moving of the sledge. The scary part was yet to come as all the explaining in the world could not prepare us for the first track run. Wearing only a helmet and elbow pads made of army issue roll mat (this is standard kit just for the record, skeleton just requires very little clothing), we carefully laid on the sledge on what was basically a huge sheet of pure ice with our faces an inch from the ground ready to be pushed off. Nothing prepares you for knowing that once you start down the hill there is absolutely nothing stopping you and
all you can do is scream your way down your first run.
The first run was started half way down so I only had 15 corners to complete instead of 18. No bother!!! Yeah... it did not go well. I have never been so scared yet excited at the same time. After 50 seconds it was over and I was at the end..... and debated whether to have a second attempt. I gathered myself together and returned to the start. After the very dubious second start I was hooked and couldn’t get enough. As the week went on we moved up the slope the individual times became faster and faster. By the end of the week I managed to hit 108 km/hr and was walking from the main Olympic start. Each time saying to myself that I must be absolutely nuts to do this!!! The most ironic part was that it feels slower the more practice you have and although control and skill improves it becomes frustrating and angering when you want to improve and only have a split second to think about the corners due to the sheer speed you are travelling. I took many knocks and had some very impressive bruises, but I was very proud of
them considering what I had to do to get them.
After the week was done I was offered the chance to return in Jan 14 for the Army training camp, this I gladly accepted. I had improved massively getting up to 115 km/ hr, however as first runner up I wasn’t quite fast enough to make the team. Although disappointed I was so happy I got the chance to do this and I am now struggling to find a sport or hobby that even comes close to the skill level, technical ability and sheer guts required to slide the skeleton. This sport although fast and furious is not for the faint hearted and I am hoping to do it all again in Jan 15. I would suggest this sport to anyone who like me, needs an
off the scale crazy new challenge.
Sgt Rachel Staples, DMRC Headley Court