Page 80 - QDG 2023

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1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
I wish I was on Alpine
Surely we have to go downhill eventually
How did we get this far?
Nordic Skiing
The British Army Nordic Season came around in November. It saw the QDG Nordic Team head to Norway for their annual RAC Training Camp in Beito- stolen, departing only 3 days after B Sqn returned from Ex DIAMONDBACK. Norway provided both breath-taking views and lung bursting phys, with temperatures dropping to as low as -20 degrees at times. With a predominantly novice team, the QDG were taught classic and skate disciplines before taking on the physically and mentally demanding Biathlon discipline. Biathlon demands two separate skill sets that must be switched between at a fast pace:
Gottem’
endurance, to complete a gruelling cross country ski and precision, target shooting with accuracy whilst stabi-
lising the body and the
individuals breathing from the high-aerobic intensity of the skiing segment. The troops did incredibly well to learn and develop on all the new skills being required of them and at times the thought of first day on skis to racing all within less than a month seemed daunting.
A quick turnaround over saw the troops have 8 days
in the UK (after an unfortunate delay with Swedish customs), before heading out to France on New Years Day for RAC Championships. A lack of snow in France saw the first 10km XC race completed above 2500m, a lung burning race post-Christmas festivities, but good to get back into it. The men’s team provided consistent results throughout the week, seeing them ready for Army Divi- sionals, Ex PIPEDOWN, and another two weeks of training and racing in France. Meanwhile, Lt Logan went on
The troops did incredibly well to learn
Christmas, leave back