Page 8 - The Light Blue Volunteer Journal 2022

Ex SACRE BLEU
With the chords of ‘Pop Looks Bach’ ringing in our ears, the 45 Officer Cadets and staff members left the fens of Cambridge for the snowy peaks of Tignes, after a cosy 18 hours on the coach and numerous encounters with our auld enemy, Oxford, at the numerous service stations between Calais and the Alps. We enjoyed interacting with the rest of the British Army who were also staying at UCPA Tignes, which served as a fantastic base for our intense week of skiing. Upon arrival, the skiers were split into ability groups, each led by a highly capable AT instructor, all of whom had a profoundly positive impact upon our ability and confidence in the time we were fortunate enough to spend with them.
For those who, like me, started day one wondering which way round skis went, the introduction was certainly
full on. However, despite numerous downs, and the occasional successful up on the button lift, by the third day everyone was undeniably skiing (most of the time). Whilst the lower groups were starting to show what true SF1 alpine elegance looked, the more advanced
groups ventured off-piste. Armed with the knowledge from an evening of avalanche and mountain safety lectures, they undertook SF2 ski-touring, covering upwards of 50km a day, and almost burning as many calories as they then did dancing in the bar after the last lift down afterwards. ‘Burning the candle
at both ends’ summarises the huge energy with which those on Ex SACRE BLEU threw at the week: the fun had
at the ‘Where’s Wally?’ themed social
on the last night was matched only by the enthusiasm, and at some points,
grit, brought onto the slopes, especially as conditions deteriorated towards the latter part of the expedition. Between
us, almost every run, café, bar, and lift
in the resort had a member of CUOTC traverse it, and those who had never seen a mountain before were able to independently navigate 20km of skiing by the last day of free ski.
The improvements made were
a testament to the ability of the instructors, and fantastic organisation that allowed 45 people to undertake a week of arduous AT without hitch or major injury. It is undoubtedly true that
overseas expeditions are amongst the best opportunities that membership
of an Officers’ Training Corps provide, not only for the chance to learn a new sport, but also for the unit cohesion that we experienced grow over the week, and fun, fulfilment and personal growth provided.
2Lt Phoebe Hall
8 THE LIGHT BLUE VOLUNTEER