This exercise was a Regimental Adventure training opportunity for members of 39 Signal Regiment (V). The aim of the exercise was to give members of the unit an opportunity to learn to alpine ski or for those who could already ski to gain more skiing experience. The exercise was conducted in Zell am See in central Austria.
Sunday 31 January – Day 1
Today was an early start with breakfast earlier than usual at 06.30 hours. Everyone was split into their ability groups before heading to the mountain. There were eight novices, totally new to the idea of skiing, me included! We started by learning the basics in theory and then it was time for action! We started out on the flat surface outside our accommodation. Boots on, ready to rock and roll (literally), we made our way to the gondola lift. We didn’t know what we had let ourselves in for!!!
After much kafuffle, pushing and shoving of skis and European counterparts we boarded the gondola. The view was stunning, the atmosphere buzzing; all us novices were nervous and anxious, but really excited at the same time, such a weird feeling. Once we had reached the top our instructor tried to find a quiet spot for us to practice. With kids and ski schools everywhere this proved not to be easy at first. Finally, once we had found a quiet spot we began by learning to side step up the slope. We spent half the morning practicing before being introduced to the snowplough. This was the moment everyone started to feel the aches and pains, and realised this isn’t going to be an easy ride. However, the thrill of the first run gave us a huge adrenaline rush and the skiing bug, after all this is adventurous training. And so the week continues. Signaller Shirin Gaffori
Monday 1 February – Day 2
Following basic skills training for the novice group, there was a slight misinterpretation of ‘good to go’ by the instructor. Having achieved slight slope with ‘mega’ snow plough this is translated as ready for crazed black and blue run via madcap t-bar comedy moments thanks to LCpl Millen. Following major problems with the transport to the top of the slope with various implanted people and disasters with backpacks, thanks again LCpl Millen, the down hill race began with a flying pink lady reaching an impressive mach3+ (Well done Sig Tier), then wiping out the thankful English tourists at the bottom. Huzzah!
So back to the plough turn hilarity as two more players stepped up to entertain the ever growing crowd with many carefully thought out stunts and tricks putting even the locals to shame, nice one Sgt McCarthy and LCpl Scott.
An early retirement of a senior member of the Lynx Regimental Ski display team due to destroyed knees (some slight straining), Sgt McCarthy finally showing his age, this reinvigorated the team to greater things for the morning to follow. Unfortunately the team are to be broken up as the high skill stunt artists have chosen to move back to slightly more sedate practise of snowplough turning at the halt!
Quote of the day: ‘my body is aching all over… I think I’ve strained my ovaries!!’- Signaller Gaffori Sgt McCarthy
Tuesday 2 February – Day 3 – ‘Feeling the burn’
The advanced ski group took to the slopes in style starting to carve at speed down the piste as well as practice their short and long parallel turns. We had a small amount of snowfall during the night, which lured us to having a play in the fresh powder off-piste in the morning. Confidently taking on all black slopes in our path we really were putting our skills to the test.
The novices were now breaking off into two different groups with the slightly more able taking on greater challenges the blue runs. Exceeding expectations, the novices were now confidently tackling the blue runs and practicing their parallel turns. Everyone was feeling good, morale being high, and a good days skiing under our belts (and not to mention the extreme leg burn!!!), the day finished slightly earlier than usual for a birthday celebration in the après ski bar. This is where the fun really begins!
Well, what happened next can only be described as a chaotic madness including 26 birthday bumps, and a few thirst quenchers being consumed “work hard play hard”. We danced on tables and conga’d to the good old fashion Austrian cheesy tunes. Us Brits really did show the Austrians how to party, so much so in fact we were invited to come back to entertain the next day! Amazed at how much fun you can fit into an hours Apres-ski before dinner. Signaller Kirstie Jackson
Wednesday 3 Feb – Day 4 – “we progress”
The legs were telling us that this was something new – early morning aches and the joy of ski boots clamped back on, but the mountain was calling us. Some fresh snow overnight meant the conditions under ski were fantastic – well those who could ski certainly said they were. We had had a taste of some blue runs and were ready for some more. There was a divide in the group and the more capable beginners were sent of to progress with our new instructor Blue Bennison, while what was described as the “skiing remedials” were given to Lance Corporal Stu Haynes to sort out. This improved ratio allowed for some closer instruction, and progress was made!
By the end of the day all bar one of the beginners had got the ski bug, and were really enjoying the new challenges of getting around the Schmittenhohe Mountain by blue run with the occasional burst of red. One of the more senior members of the group felt his knees were just not up to it, and was taking it easy. Signaller Cole
Thursday 4th February – Day 5
Today was going to be an interesting day for me as I have the opportunity to go ‘ski-touring’ which I have never done before. This type of skiing enables you to access different parts of the mountain and not be dependant on the ski lifts.
This involved a normal looking set of skis which have a couple of differences. Firstly the skis are able to take a ‘skin’ which attaches to the base of the ski, tip to tail which allows the skis to grip the snow and effectively ‘walk’ uphill. Touring bindings allow the heel to lift from the ski which makes walking up the mountain a lot easier, slightly lighter more flexible boots compared to the traditional downhill setup complete the equipment changes. Adjustable poles are used to assist when going up steep gradient or traversing.
The aim of our introduction trek was to go from the base of the mountain at Schuttdorf up to the first station at Areitalm, a steady plod of about 2 1/2 hours. Our small party consisted of me, the RSM , Blue Bennison who was leading the party as the instructor and Kirsty Jackson from 56 Signal Squadron.
As we started our ascent the valley was shrouded in mist due to the cold temperature inversion forcing the cloud down into the valley giving a sort of surreal ghostly feeling. Everything was going well; the first half hour was really getting used to the slightly unnatural gait and setting into a comfortable rhythm. Once I had this under control I was able to enjoy my surroundings. We had moved off piste and were heading up some of the tracks that cross the mountain. After a couple of hours or so we popped up on one of the recognisable red runs we would ski regularly, good progress so far. Across the run was another track which could prove a potential shortcut if we cut of through the trees. This was to prove testing, deep powder, tree roots, thick brush and dead ends. We were going to have to head back down the hill to find another route. Back on the path we headed up and made out way along the twisty path covered in virgin snow for the next 45 minutes or so, however we were stopped in our tracks when we realised this route was now heading down, this was a wrong turn. We were going to have to head back to the main piste. This was going to put us over an hour behind schedule. We were going to have to go the hard way, back to where we were and straight up the mountain. This was going to be emotional.
Now this was getting hard. Sweat wa
s running into my eyes and down my back my muscles were burning, and my ability to block everything out and crack on was wearing thin. I had cable cars passing over my head full of skiers taking the easy route up, and I was having one of those ‘why am I doing this’ moments. This was compounded by light-hearted banter raining down on me from some of the other lads who spotted me as they passed overhead. I kept my head down and concentrated on putting one ski tip in front of the other, slowly making progress, slowly moving up the mountain. And then light at the end of the tunnel, after 4 hours of hard touring, I could see the cable car station.
Now it all made sense. The afternoon sun had burnt away the low lying clouds. The sky was blue and I could see the various villages dotted around the lake on the valley floor. I had walked all this way, it made everything worth while. I celebrated my efforts heading off to the local Alm and rewarding myself with a slap up meal of ribs and chips followed by relentlessly teasing my weak colleagues who had found every excuse under the sun to wimp out of the morning’s activities. Now that was out of the way it was time for a bit of downhill.
Now one drawback to using the ski-touring skis and boots for downhill is that they are a little softer than normal downhill skis – much softer than my Fischer racing skis and this causes them to be a little more unstable. The unflappable RSM seemed to take to them like a duck to water. “I seem to have tamed these beasts” he roared as he hared down the mountain. I on the other hand regressed to beginner and was resorting to will power, luck and a flurry of random cursing to keep me from getting to the bottom on my backside.
Despite these challenges it seemed to add to the fun. With run after run under our belt time was running out on us as we had to be down for the evening meal. ‘Do you think we can squeeze in another one?’ grinned the RSM. ‘Yeah, why not, let’s go’ I replied so with the last runs of the day under out belt, our legs were weary but our confidence was high, our skiing was coming along nicely, adapting our ski technique to conquer the differences of touring skis and everything was fitting into place. So, back to the ranch for the evening meal, catching up, merciless mickey taking was replied with “anybody can take the easy option, get out of your comfort zone” and a couple of well earned beers.
What a great day. Signaller Guy Whitehouse
Friday 5 February – Day 6 – “live to ski”
As novices we had done our assessment and most of us had passed and gained our Basic ski proficiency. This was going to be a day when we were allowed to ski as a group around the Schmittenhohe Mountain. There had been some fresh snow during the night so the conditions were great. Making sure we avoided any black runs, we were off to test our new skills, with plenty of time spent in the many cafes scattered around the mountain, meeting up with others from the unit who were making the most of the skiing. Exchanging stories or “spinning dits” of comedy ski moments and death defying ski experiences on the steepest blues in Europe! A great day was had by all, but by the end of it the legs were telling us enough was enough, and we headed down the mountain – some skied, but most took the cable car to be on the safe side. We finished the trip with a group meal in a authentic Austrian restaurant in the middle of Zell am See, a good time was had by all. All that was left to do was pack our bags and prepare ourselves for the epic drive back to the UK. LCpl Scott