Page 182 - AGC-Journal-2016

AGC JOURNAL 2016

Ladies Nordic

Chelsea Attwell learning to shoot the
Ski Team
biathlon rif e in the prone position

By Lieutenant Elizabeth Millwater

The challenge was set and
aspirations were high,

preparations for the Army
Nordic Championships
had begun. With great
excitement and the weight
of upholding the team’s
reputation on our shoulders, there is
we departed Worthy Down in nothing
mid November to begin the
gruelling pre-season training. glamorous
As the only team member with Nordic
Skiing experience Samantha McCormick about Nordic
T e team mid distance training session. Nerys Jones, was often called upon for extra training skiing..
Samantha McCormick, Joanna Paul, Lizzy Millwater in the evenings, overseeing dry firing and
and Abigail Poots
the seemingly endless waxing of skis. This
proved to be invaluable on the ranges
when the sub-zero temperatures meant However, the desire to win kept temptation
that resolve was tested and continuous at bay and the team quickly remembered
movement was critical. Despite the low that this was definitely not a skiing
temperatures, and the challenge of holiday. There is nothing glamorous about
learning a new skill, by the end of the four Nordic skiing, it is military training and
weeks the team was looking strong and the only après ski involved is preparation
laying down some competitive times in the for the following day’s training, mainly
end of camp races. waxing skis, rehydrating and recovery
saunas and stretching. The Divisional
Racing Success Championships saw the coming together

Following four weeks of intense training
in Norway the team returned to England
for some much needed Christmas leave.
Although training did not stop, merely
altered in tempo, with individual training
Pre-season Training plans being followed to ensure the hard
won strength and fitness remained and
kept the Christmas indulgences at bay.
We had hoped to benefit from Nerys Following a short break the team travelled
Jones’ years of experience from the start to Obertilliach in Austria for some last
of the season. However, due to prior work minute race training prior to the Regional
commitments we were forced to rely upon Championships in Les Contamines.
a team of civilian instructors. Under their
watchful eyes, the team grasped the basics Upon arrival at the Divisional
and managed to get some good distance Championships the smell of crêpes and vin
Samantha McCormick and Joanna Paul
training in, providing a base level for chaud brought smiles to our faces and the preparing for the biathlon standing shoot
Nerys to build upon following our return to hope that we had proven ourselves worthy.
training after Christmas.

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