Page 58 - KRH Year of 2021 CREST

56 The Regimental Journal of The King’s Royal Hussars
Alpine Skiing
Despite the ever-present COVID-19 threat, the alpine ski team caught a break this winter and managed to escape the UK in Dec 2021 and made their way to Switzerland. This was, of course, all to be able to attend Exercise WHITE KNIGHT, a 28-day extravaganza carefully camouflaged as the Royal Armoured Corps qualifying alpine competition set in the quaint and peaceful resort of Verbier.
The team of 8 journeyed across France and arrived in Switzerland to an absolute blizzard, the earliest season dump of snow that the Alps had received in a decade. Nothing a few battered combi vans and courageous Hussars couldn’t handle, so after some frighten- ing hairpins ascending the mountain, the team arrived in good order. As racing skis and kit was unpacked on the cobbled streets of Verbier between luxurious wine bars and 5* hotels, they knew they were in for a good month ahead.
Once settled, the team was immediately into hosting the CO and RSM, who were as eager to hit the slopes as we were. On his first morning, the CO was thrown directly in the deep end by being led down straight down a punchy off-piste section. This, however, was not nearly as daring as the RSM, who on his first time ever on skis was taken down a challenging red run by his personal coach/ murderer Lt Meager.
Christmas Day
The disciplines being competed in this year were slalom, giant slalom and super g events for both induvial and team categories. The KRH B Team won every event they entered, bringing home a host of trophies for every discipline plus ‘Best overall B Team’, even placing above some of the A Teams from other regiments. This achievement was only made possible by the blinding perfor- mances by two complete novices Lt Oldroyd and LCpl Lawrence
The mighty B Team
Sgt Kingston pays the price for forgetting his lift pass