Page 63 - QARANC Spring 2024

‘We caught the snowboarding bug – nothing could stop us!’
On 5 January, JHG(N) started our journey to snowy Austria to attend Exercise SNOWBUCK 24. Of the eight in our group, four were complete novices, but we were fully committed to the challenge of learning to snowboard.
The Gazette QARANC Association 63
The first days were challenging and left us feeling sore, but we had caught the ‘snowboarding bug’, and nothing was going to stop us from being on the slopes.
Our first week consisted of learning the basics such as using edges, turns, and how to stop. By Day 4 the technique had clicked for most of us, we were bombing down the novice slope and thirsty for more. Day 5 was our first day on the real slopes. Being steeper, it felt like we were flying down, until we watched some of the video footage back that looked like we were moving in slow motion.
While all of us novices slid down the novice slope on our faces, the senior riders took to the slopes practicing and perfecting their skills. Some of the seniors were going on 25km + rides a day, but still finished each day with beaming smiles ear to ear. Knowing that competition was fast approaching, they got as much time in on the snow as possible.
On the second week we competed. The novices who had only learned to snowboard five days earlier had a slight sense of fear but were determined. The week contained senior and novice slalom
and boardercross races, plus a jumps and tricks competition in the park.
All in all, it was a great week for JHG(N) as we won five medals! Lt Byerley won two silver and one bronze medal in the female novice events. I (LCpl Douglas) won a bronze medal in the novice men’s slalom race. Pte Hill won a silver medal in the senior female boardercross, and Cpl McAulliffe won the riders rider award for being the morale people needed to carry on.
We all achieved so much from these two weeks and had improved massively as snowboarders. From not being able to stand up, to racing down the slopes, we all had overcome personal challenges and all vowed that we will go again next year!
smiles ear to LCpl Douglas, JHG(N) ear.
Some of the seniors were going on 25km + rides a day, but still finished each
day with beaming