Page 58 - QARANC Vol 20 No 4 2023

58 The Gazette QARANC Association
‘We all came back
with bumps and
bruises!’
On 25 February JHG (N) had the exciting opportunity to attend Exercise Snowbuck in frosty Austria. We were taught to snowboard and, with most of the unit being complete novices, this was a mighty task!
Whilst every one of us came back with a bump and bruise, this exercise pushed us out of comfort zones. There truly is no better place to face plant the floor than on the slopes!
Our first day was a mixed bag of excited nerves. We all knew that snowboarding was going to be a difficult sport to learn but I don’t think any of us had any idea just how hard it was going to be. I have a newfound respect for anyone who has mastered this skilful hobby!
Our first week consisted of learning the very basics like doing small turns and by the third and fourth day almost everyone had managed to edge themselves off the mountain with a few cheeky turns here and there.
The second week was the real test of our snowboarding skills on the slalom races. As a unit we performed amazingly coming third overall. Within the unit WO1 Martinez came second out of the senior riders followed by Sgt Smith coming second and Cpl Simpson coming third out of the novice riders.
We absolutely excelled as a unit and challenged ourselves. Whilst we came home a bit battered and bruised, this exercise was invaluable and really gave us the opportunity to develop and grow in confidence.
Cpl M Warman QARANC