Page 62 - The Bugle Issue 12 Autumn 2016

Ex FROSTED BLADE
The Ri emen pushing themselves on the technical grand slalom
WE HAD A MIX OF EXPERIENCE WITH TWO RIFLEMEN WHO HAD RACED BEFORE AND FOUR THAT HAD NEVER PUT ON A PAIR OF SKIS
The 2 RIFLES Ski Team
Last Winter, 2 RIFLES sent eight members of the battalion away on Ex FROSTED BLADE, a six week Infantry Alpine Ski Race Training Camp in preparation for the 2016 Infantry Championships. FROSTED BLADE brings together the Infantry to compete as battalion teams in a variety of different disciplines on the slopes surrounding Val d’Isere and Tignes.
Following on from some excellent preparation work by Lt Wootton (who sadly did not deploy due to injury) our plucky team deployed to France. We had a mix of experience with two ri emen who had raced before and four that had never put on a pair of skis.
Skiers were separated into ability groups from the off, with lessons being taught by former ski racers. To begin with, lessons focused on the basics with limited speci c race training. However, as the weeks progressed we moved onto different skis and began focusing on the races that we were eventually going to compete in once the New Year had passed. As time on the
up our ability and con dence began to improve. The team lived, ate and slept on top of each other in a cramped apartment just off the slopes of Val D’Isere. We all tried our hand at reproducing the local cuisine before Sgt Gardner took the lead after a particularly adventurous Beef Bourguignon by Rfn Pettyfer. We managed to get in a few team meals at local restaurants, with the cheese
Raclette becoming a team favourite.
As race week loomed, and the snow began to
fall again, we had great con dence that we were going to do well. We squeezed into out battalion catsuits, wary that maybe the previous month’s worth of bi-weekly cheese tastings had taken their toll. The speed events of Downhill and Super G truly test a racers courage and it was great to see Ri emen that had had very limited previous ski tuition throwing themselves down the mountain. The technical events of Slalom and Giant Slalom are more re ned are aimed towards those with greater technical skill, but again 2 RIFLES held their own.
Ex FROSTED BLADE was a great chance to take a group of Ri emen away and introduce them to a challenging and sometimes stressful environment. They came away tter and more con dent to face unknown challenges, and I bet the queue of those wanting to go next year is only going to be longer.
snow stacked Lt J Lee, OC 10 Platoon
A test of nerve on the downhill for even the most experienced skier