Page 38 - QARANC Vol 16 No 2 2018

36 QARANC THE GAZETTE
Exercise Northern Cold Soldier 2018
It only took 18 years of service for me to experience my first adventure training ski activity with the Army, and all within eight weeks of leaving Regular service and joining the Reserves! Exercise Northern Cold Soldier (NCS) is a Type 3 Adventurous Ski Training exercise sponsored by Headquarters 2 Medical Brigade (HQ 2 Med Bde). The exercise is designed to introduce beginners to skiing in the Alps and the more experienced skiers to progress through the Joint Services Adventurous Training Ski Scheme (JSATSS) 2012. This year, Ex NCS was held in Morzine, southern France and consisted of a six-day module. The JSATSS, whilst offering an introduction to skiing for beginners, offers one of the following ski disciplines for individuals depending on their level of experience; Ski Foundation 1 (SF1), Ski Foundation 2 (SF2) and Ski Foundation 3 (SF3). The scheme also offers continuation and development training at each ski foundation level, according to the student’s skiing ability. On successful completion of the courses the student is awarded the appropriate qualification.
Morzine as a location is a commune in the Auvergne- Rhône-Alpes region of south-eastern France. A traditional market town in the heart of the Portes du Soleil, Morzine is dominated by chalets spread across a river gorge, bordered by partially wooded slopes allowing skiing in poor weather conditions. Situated at an altitude of 1000 m, it is one of the most northerly of the French Alpine resorts, and weather- wise benefits from the Mont Blanc microclimate of which we experienced daily! The resort of Avoriaz is located on a fully south-facing plateau, high above the Morzine valley with four green, 25 blue and 14 red slopes as well as six black slopes and jump parks. It has 75.5 km of skiing in total served by 34 mountain lifts (where the team endured many funny moments). The locality enjoys stunning panoramic mountain views and breathtaking runs, many of these are bordered only by a straight drop many feet below.
Major Kerry McFadden Newman and a new friend
Prior to the exercise, the ski instructors had limited knowledge of our ability. The ski groups were made up of individuals with a similar amount of experience (or not as the case may be) and ability. Naturally, within the first day there was a phase of ‘test and adjust’ where some revelled in the glory of just how amazing they were on powder, others not quite so and required that extra little bit of assistance and guidance in a less advanced class. Our instructors were either Reserves or Regulars who had reached Ski Foundation Level 3 and had then completed the ski instructing qualification at some point followed by gaining valuable instructing experience. Day one was an introduction to equipment, safety and basic technique, concentrating on starting, the snow plough and stopping. As we progressed through the week we moved from green to blue and even on to red slopes to
En piste, Avoriaz, Morzine