Page 41 - QARANC Vol 14 No 8 2014

then got to the point where my hands were sweating. A very quick change out of mittens into gloves again at the top of the M1, it was downhill back to the hut and then back to the hotel. We did 20km on our ski tour and saw some areas we had not seen before.
Saturday 14th Dec I borrowed some classic skis and put some blue wax on and went up to the stadium to try them out as there was a race tomorrow and I had decided not to use fish scales. I got on well with these and in the afternoon I used them again to walk the course. The term walking the course is quite amusing as even though people were told they would be skiing around when walking the course they still turned up without any skis. How would I describe the course? There were cheeky hills but what goes up must come down. I was doing quite well until the root of a tree got me. With one ski heading east and the other west and having never being able to do the splits it was down I came, splat. No injuries, up again and it was continuing on down back into the stadium.
Sunday 15th was 7.5km classic race day. Race started at 1000 and people were set off at 15 second intervals. I got around the course without falling over which I was pleased with. I am no racing snake and there is room for improvement with my fitness. I did
enjoy the race and you could hear people cheering each other on as they came towards the finish line. I too was on the receiving end of the cheering and I have to say it was very uplifting.
Monday 16th was the 5km Skate race. I decided to give this a go also as that is what I do. It is about participation and yes I probably did embarrassed myself but with 2 skate lessons under my belt and only classic skis to skate on, that is a challenge and also a bench mark with which one can improve on. Skating when done well looks effortless and there is a hypnotic movement that you just want to try and emulate. That will be my challenge for the future.
Monday night saw the end of the course dinner, for the majority there that was 4 weeks of hard work. We took over the dining room and had a
picture show that was done by Tasha and I think all enjoyed it. There were awards and certificates given out and it was a great evening. The units driving back to Germany and the UK had an 0500 departure time the next day so were sensible and left after the awards had finished.
Would I recommend EX Dragon Medic, yes I would. Nordic skiing should not be seen as a dirty word as it can be by some downhill gurus. It is a physical and technical sport and a great way to improve fitness. Working in a group also fosters team spirit and cohesion. If you want to do this exercise in 2014 ask you unit ski rep to let you know when the warning order comes out usually about May, June time.
Marion Creagh Capt QARANC
THE GAZETTE QARANC 39
Ex SNOW BUCK 2013
On 23 November the avid snowboarders of the AMS made the annual pilgrimage to Neustift, in Austria for the AMS snowboarding training camp and Corps championships. Along with them came the nervous but eager novices who had never before strapped both feet to a board to throw themselves down a mountain.
The Stubaier Gletscher near Neustift is Austria’s highest glacier ski area. It spans an area of 70 km and is located between 1750 m and 3210 m altitude. At this altitude we were very grateful that the weather was on our side for the majority of the fortnight. We had sun and blue skies almost every day and the fresh snow that fell the day before our arrival ensured that the ski conditions could not have been better.
During the first week the novice group got to grips firstly with just staying upright but quickly progressed onto turns and eventually linking turns until they could all successfully navigate down a slope in one graceful
motion (well almost). Meanwhile, the senior group worked on improving their technique and preparing for the races the following week.
The second week saw both groups tackle the Giant Slalom and the Boardercross races and the senior riders only take on the Snow Park in the freestyle competition. Giant slalom involves a time trial riding between sets of poles, known at gates. Boarder-cross however is a more challenging competition in which a group of 4 riders start simultaneously atop an inclined course and race to reach the finish line first. Boardercross courses are typically quite narrow and include cambered turns, various styles of jumps, drops, and steep and flat sections designed to challenge the riders’ ability to stay in control while maintaining maximum speed. It is not uncommon for racers to collide with each other mid-race. All races were won fair and square and thankfully no serious injuries were incurred.
The 2 week camp was challenging,
great fun and everyone achieved something to be proud of. There was a disappointing turnout in comparison to previous years but thanks go to 2 Medical Regiment, 225 Medical Regiment (V), 3 Medical Regiment and 22 Field Hospital for all sending a team and to the Exercise Coordinator Capt Marshall Elliot of 16 Medical Regiment for organising a thoroughly fantastic 2 weeks. As the only QARANC representation there this year I hope to see more colleagues next year.
I would like to thank the QA Associations for assistance with my personal contribution
Capt Jo Yarker
22 Field Hospital