Page 97 - Bugle Autumn 2014

Nordic Skiing
As operations draw to an end in Afghanistan, the Army can now start to turn their attention to preparing a force for the future. Long has the crucible of sport provided unparalleled training for officers and soldiers to develop. Nordic skiing and Biathlon are winter sports that demand and test individuals like no other. The requirement for physical fitness, marksmanship, leadership and skills in administration, to name a few, mirror that demand of an infanteer. 5 RIFLES have minimal recent history of competition, but with Exercise Pipedown 2014, the stage was set for a new battle.
First things first, 5 RIFLES needed a willing team to start the Nordic ski sliding. With several brave volunteers expressing an interest to test themselves, we had to select those that were ready. A brutal selection process including medicine ball slams with weighted lunges and a PFA route to kick, we found our eight men for the task. The team, made up of one officer (author), two Lance Corporals from the LAD and five Riflemen were set for Sjusjoen in Norway for a two week Nordic skiing training camp.
Our training took place as part of the annual REME Nordic and Biathlon training camp, Exercise Nordic Bluebell. Being a fully novice team, and Battalion for that matter, we had it all to learn in a short space of time. The fitness and competitive spirit were present from hard graft of the BAG Cross country races entered prior to departure. The array of skills to develop were not. The first two days saw every
Captain Pither pre race
From novice to heroes
member of the team bruised and frustrated from the harsh reality of trying to stay upright.
The first week was Classic technique followed by Biathlon training in the second. When we weren’t skiing we were perfecting the art of waxing, finishing well after dark with plenty of elbow grease and wax covered clothes. Once inside we practised the unique procedure of removing and taking aim with the Biathlon Rifle, something that in our spare time we had to make
the most of. We would later learn that marksmanship was the key.
Morris showed a very high standard of
ski technique, combined with competitive shooting. Our overall standing remained 18th after all four disciplines. Next was the Patrol race.
This was to be our day. With our administration triple checked and our 10kg packs on, we headed to the inspection area. A multi stage inspection festival took place in precise fashion as our service SA80’s were checked for cleanliness,
kit measured for weight, and the Patrol Commander checked for his binoculars! The race was long, with two shooting events
After the two
weeks and some hard
earned Christmas
leave, we were at
the foothills of the
Competition Exercise
Pipedown. This is
the 1 UK Divisional
Championships that
have been based in Les Contamines- Montjoie, France for the last 20 years. The standard 5 RIFLES were up against was high to say the least. With top teams having the luxury of training all the year round, and bestowed with experienced Great Britain skiers. We had it all to do to get close to a top finishing spot.
The competition consisted of the following disciplines; 15km Classic, 4 x 5km Classic relay, 10km Biathlon Sprint and 4 x 7.5km Biathlon relay. The blue ribbon finale of the competition was the prestigious 21km Military Patrol race. After strong performances by Rifleman Carpenter (Pictured), and Captain Pither in the Classic disciplines, 5 RIFLES placed 18th out of
34 teams. Only 3rd and 4th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland were ahead of us from the other infantry units, both fielding experienced skiers.
The Biathlon discipline announced two further promising individuals for the future. Lance Corporal Darlington and Rifleman
and four command tasks entwined into the extremely varied and hard terrain. Skis were regularly taken off to cross obstacles, and to climb near vertical ascents. Falls were more common due to
the weight, displacing balance. The patrol commander took the prize for most wipe outs during the race!
By the end of the two and a half hours
of gruelling ascent and obstacles, the hot chocolate and cakes couldn’t come soon enough. We finished with pride knowing we had overtaken three higher seeded teams that set off in four minute intervals ahead. Our pride was not misplaced either, finishing 6th out of the 29 teams that started.
5 RIFLES had arrived. We had finished as the top infantry unit by some margin, and the top novice team beating several vastly more experienced outfits.
From this growing success, the seed
has been sown for 5 RIFLES to continue the good work. Enjoyment proved to be
a welcome by-product of a sport that reflects what it means to be an infantry soldier. The team can now look to go one stage further next time having faced the challenge this time, and qualify for the Army Championships.
Nordic skiing and Biathlon are winter sports that demand and test individuals like no other.
THE RIFLES
FIFTH BATTALION 95