Page 34 - QARANC Vol 15 No 2 2017

32 QARANC THE GAZETTE
Exercise Proton Serpent 17
From 26 Jan to 9 Feb 17, a Tri-Service team from Defence Medical Group South (DMGS) participated in the AMS Ski Championships 17 on Ex Proton Serpent.
The Championships took place in Serre Chevalier in France. The Exercise began with Alpine ski lessons the first week and instruction was held for all abilities, from complete beginners to experienced skiers who wanted to improve their technique. Everyone found the lessons enjoyable, very beneficial and felt that their skiing improved a great deal over the course of the week of instruction.
There was a fun race on the first Monday which consisted of every team in fancy dress of their own choosing; DMGS chose zombie nurses. The race comprised two team members, one going uphill on Nordic skis and the other going downhill on Alpine. Taking on this prestigious race for DMGS was Sgt Langhelt, attempting Nordic skiing for the first time and Lt Col Willdridge bringing home the race. It was a fantastic evening and a great chance to meet personnel from other units.
The A and B seeding race for Alpine skiing occurred towards the end of the first week, DMGS seeded three in the A race! The A and B races of Slalom and Giant Slalom took place in the second week, along with a novice race for skiers who hadn’t skied before the championship. Overall DMGS did very well with Lt Col Willdridge being seeded number one in the Giant Slalom and the B racers, which should be called the ‘racing snakes’, Sgt Langhelt, Cpl Mason and LNN
Brand doing brilliantly, especially when LNN Brand could stay upright.
There were only a few afternoons where we undertook instruction on Nordic skiing due partially to the lack of snow. Nordic proved to be more challenging than the Alpine and required much more balance and endurance! But by the end of the Exercise everyone could move on a pair of Nordic Skis. The Nordic races proved to be more challenging and these were the 4x5km relay, the 10km, the 5km Novice race and the patrol race. The conditions for the 10km and the novice race challenged all of the team to the maximum due to the -20°C wind chill factor and the icy conditions under foot.
All members of DMGS competed in a race and found that there was plenty of encouragement the whole way around the course. The medals were earned and truly deserved at the end!
Overall everyone thoroughly enjoyed the experience, even the more challenging moments where a very steep slope was the only way down! Every member of DMGS achieved something from the Exercise, whether it was pushing personal limits and moving out of comfort zones or staying upright and not falling over. Every member of the team said they would love to go skiing again and all are looking forward to Ex Proton Serpent 18.
LCpl K Williams QARANC
Ex Proton Serpent DMG(S) Ski Team