Page 73 - KRH Regimental Journal 2022

Nordic skiing, notoriously of winter sports the most maso- chistic, did not somehow deter 2Lt Campbell, SSgt Maric REME, and Tpr Verity from signing up to deploy for two weeks in January 2023 to Skeikampen, Norway, on Ex NORSKI for the Nordic Foundation 1 course. The delightful chalets, delicious Norwegian fish and seemingly endless cheese - not quite the vision of Spartan discipline and physical exhaustion – were still gratefully received by the visiting cavalrymen.
Unique for those attending Tpr Verity had never skied before. At times this was obvious: The speed downhill, the sharp turn, the slight wobble (he’ll be fine), the strong veer left (oh, he won’t), before a dash off-piste and an explosion of snow. Good theatre. By the final day, however, he had his Troop Leader puffing to keep up as he effortlessly switched between skating and diagonal stride, the former days of falling (largely) forgotten.
The Nordic courses, designed ultimately for cross-country ski touring, incorporate a strong emphasis on avalanche measures and emergency shelters. Though not used in earnest these shel- ters, once dug, were found to be particularly effective at avoiding the anti-tobacco measures of the JSMTC instructors.
Cross-country skiing is so large a part of life in Norway that all- over the country are dotted hundreds of huts, complete with kitchens and larders. Setting up at one such hut during the 2-day
expedition was somewhat like Withnail’s Uncle Monty arriving at his Lake District cottage - candles lit, snow melted, Eminem rapped, and an innocent night’s sleep. For SSgt Maric, precious few hours of sleep before a 30 km trip the next day; Mr Campbell and Tpr Verity’s group managing a much more sociable 16 km. At the other end, at least, lay the siren call of a well-deserved sauna for the conquerors of Nordic Foundation 1.
HRFC
SSgt Maric REME, 2Lt Campbell, and Tpr Verity - conquerors of NF1
The Regimental Journal of The King’s Royal Hussars 71
Ex NORKSKI
Tpr Verity taking shelter from JSMTC’s anti-tobacco campaign