Page 35 - QARANC Vol 17 No 2 2019

driving lines offered by the coaches. The Deutsch Post Eisarena was situated at the foot of Lake Konigssee, surrounded by snow tipped mountains, overlooked by the infamous Eagles Nest. Pilots would walk the track every morning with the coaches to revise the best lines to take, and the brakemen and women would be preparing the sled for the day’s training. As the lights turned green and the cheeky track voice would announce the track is clear for the next contender, each team battled through the week to improve its times and build up to its best standard by race day. The Army Championships were held on the final Friday over two Laufs (slides). It was a close race, with only seconds separating the teams, but there can be only one winner! The results for the Army Championships,
Konigssee 2019 from the AMS were: Female Army Champions: Captain Sarah Smith AGC (ETS) & Staff
Sergeant Zoe Beckett RADC
Female Runners Up: Captain Jo
Ellett & Corporal Dom Burge
Fastest Brakewoman: Corporal Dom
Burge (for the 2nd consecutive year) The UK Armed Forces Inter-Services Championships saw The Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and Royal Air Force advance on Konigssee for an ice war. The services came armed with a sliding force ranging from complete novices to Olympians. Even Team Jamaica made the coolest of appearances, with Shan Williams of the Jamaican Bobsleigh Team sliding on behalf of the RAF. The adrenaline- fuelled atmosphere always makes this a highly addictive sport. The strict routine complements the risky nature of the sport, beginning with an early track walk for the pilots. Every inch of the ice is analysed, and each turn is visualised until each pilot can drive the track
Services Bobsleigh Teams
with their eyes closed. Meanwhile, the brakemen and women conduct team strength training under the international level push coach, Steve Smith. As the squad increased its bounds daily, the runners begin to shine, and the down times sharpen, the sliders compete for a position on the Army team by the end of week one. Those fortunate enough to be selected continued to wrestle their way down the track over the two week training package, supported by those who fought valiantly but did not quite make the team cut.
The track proved to be unforgiving to some, as all three services slid through blood, sweat and tears to tame the beast that is Konigssee. With hours of sled preparation, physical training, and the highs and lows of time spent driving the course, it was time for the grand finale. The UKAF Inter Services Bobsleigh Championships was held over two days, four Laufs, over approximately 5km of ice and including 40 athletes. The competition was fierce, and each athlete gave it their all, seeing some personal bests at the block for the push start and some
experiencing their first race day crash. After two adrenaline fuelled days of fixed bayonets, the results were in. The Royal Navy made history in that it was the first time both their male and female teams stormed the race and won Gold in the team event. The RAF swept up Silver and the Army Bronze, with only three seconds between the fastest and slowest sleds of each service, making it an intense race. The Army saw some personal achievements in the individual race, seeing Captain Sarah Smith AGC(ETS) and Staff Sergeant Zoe Beckett RADC, finishing on the podium with an individual Bronze medal. Corporal Dom Burge was awarded her Army Colours in Bobsleigh this season.
As the last breaths were expelled from the dying beast that was Konigssee, the sportsmanship and camaraderie were unquestionable, as athletes from all three services came together to shake the hands of the others and cheer them over the line. Celebrations were had and prizes were awarded, with everyone feeling part of one ice sports family. The extreme and dangerous nature of this adrenaline sport sets it apart from any other, and creates an environment which strongly promotes respect, loyalty, team cohesion, courage, mental and physical robustness on a whole new level. Once you have been gripped in the jaws of the ice sports world, it is difficult to forget it, not only being part of an incredible extreme sport and brushing shoulders with world class sliders, but being a member of the ice sports community; This is belonging!
Corporal Domonique Burge
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The Gazette QARANC Association 33
This is belonging!