Alpine Adventure 2024 Expedition Report (Ulysses Trust Application ID 3145)
During the February school half term, 45 RAF Air Cadets and 14 volunteer staff from across the South of England travelled to Germany. They participated in an expedition that was to see them undertake a full six-day programme of ski training and skiing at two resort locations in Carinthia, Austria.
This year saw the expedition forced to change its operating location following the German government now using our usual accommodation for refugees. With the help of SkiBound, a schools trip organiser, we relocated to the Hotel Pesentheinerhof, Bad Kleinkirchheim, on the shore of Millstätter See.
Participants are drawn from a wide variety of backgrounds with a wide variety of skiing experience and ability. In fact, the expedition has always prided itself on being able to successfully introduce absolute beginners to the Alps and Alpine skiing, which is possibly why it has managed to return year on year.
Unlike other cadet and school skiing trips, Alpine Adventure is completely self-sufficient with regards the delivery of ski training, in that we have developed a cadre of volunteer staff who have personally invested time to gain and maintain their Alpine Ski Leader or similar qualification. This means that we are able to offer affordable access to those that wish to learn how to ski, as well as those that wish to develop their skiing ability, confidence and understanding on skis.
No preparation for the trip was required by the cadets undertaking it, as the format of training is built around introducing cadets to skiing on snow, to feel safe on skis, be safe skiing on the mountains and to ski successfully at a different ski resorts / terrains as a group and to feel safe, which are difficult for us to accomplish here in the UK. Ultimately, our hope is for all to enjoy the experience and want to go skiing again!
To acclimatise, a small party of ski leaders flew from the UK a day in advance of the main party of cadets and staff, who travelled the 26 hours by coach to Carinthia. This advance party undertook two days of preparatory training at Gerlitzen and Katschberg ski resorts, whilst also preparing the accommodation to welcome the remainder of the expedition, who arrived late on Saturday night.
For the first three days of the main expedition initial training was undertaken at the Gerlitzen ski resort a short drive into the mountains. Here the cadets were issued their skis, boots and helmets before they first took to the snow and began their training, which included developing the various techniques that they would require to be safely able to ski on the slopes.
The training the cadets undertook included;
Snow plough to get the cadets to develop basic speed control on skis. Getting going by accelerating and stopping safely on easier slopes.
Snow plough turning to develop directional control on skis, enabling the cadets to choose where and when to turn, which helps them develop the turning platform they will need to be able to ski the whole piste on Blue runs.
Plough parallel to discover the role of the turning ski and the supporting ski. Building an early platform for the parallel turn that cadets will perfect during the later phase of the expedition.
Basic parallel by skidding and turning the skis together, with increasing pace and movement. This encourages the cadets to make parallel turns from a stable, early platform at a controllable speed.
Straight running to develop mobility, movement and balance. The cadets discover good posture for skiing, as well as understand how the equipment works and to get moving.
Once the cadets were comfortable with the basic techniques of skiing, we introduced them to the chair and drag lifts that they would need to take to the top of runs and how to get on and off them safely. Then the fun really started, with cadets experiencing piste skiing for the first time and putting into practice what they had learned on the lower slopes on more challenging terrain.
With training and confidence consolidated, the expedition moved to Katschberg, a ski resort in the opposite direction from the accommodation. The runs here are conducive to getting the cadets to further develop their skiing ability…and to introduce them to local hospitality and food, which after long sessions of skiing was a welcome break. Some cadets, with the help of our SkiBound representative Ali, even tried out their language skills by ordering food and drink in German.
After Katschberg, the expedition returned to the Gerlitzen ski resorts for the final day of the expedition where it was obvious that those who started out as nervous first timers had fully developed into competent skiers. At Katschberg, the ski ability of all cadets was assessed and Snowlife Ski Awards were allocated for their achievement.
During this year’s expedition, despite the warmer weather, the cadets enjoyed some of the best snow and skiing conditions, along with clear blue skies and uninterrupted sunshine. However, it was not all skiing, with evenings taken up with a quiz and swimming at the Drautalperle pool in Spittal an der Drau. Here the cadets experienced swimming in a heated pool with a slide and could relax after what had been a hectic period of training. On the Thursday night, we hosted an awards evening in the lodge where cadets gained their well-deserved awards and some of the staff got dressed up and performed to provide light entertainment.
Despite not being able to go to our well know area, our return to Alpine Adventure was better than we could ever have expected. Not only did the cadets gain valuable skills on the slopes, but more importantly they developed friendships and memories whilst also having fun, which is after all what we aimed to achieve in this expedition when we first sat down to start planning it in January 2023. A big thank you to the Ulysses Trust for supporting the expedition and making it more affordable to the cadets.
Planning for Alpine Adventure 2025 is well underway!
These are some of the comments left on our Facebook page
A massive thank you to everyone involved in making such a wonderful trip possible.
Lucy had an amazing time and hasn’t stopped talking about it and the friendships she’s made, thank you
Massive thanks to everyone involved in what looks and certainly sounded like another fantastic ski trip. There are not enough words to convey special thanks to all of the staff and organising team whose dedication make these special opportunities so memorable for the Cadets.
A huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who made this week truly unforgettable. Cadets and adults alike – George has had a brilliant week.
I hope there will be one arranged for 2025
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Thank you all so much for your time and commitment to making this trip so fantastic. Patrick has had the best time and we are so grateful for the experience you have given him. Enjoy a rest now.
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Thank you to all the people who put so much time and effort into allowing this exped to happen. The ski leaders, the support staff, the people back home. It really was appreciated immensely.
A huge thank you to all the staff that made this trip happen. What an amazing experience for them all. Thanks for your dedication and support.
Thank you so much for taking Cadet Isabella. Despite being nervous she had such an amazing time and as of 10.30 this morning is still asleep! We appreciate all the time and effort everyone put in
Thank you so much. Tyler had such an amazing time and would like to say thank you to all staff involved who made this possible.
A massive thanks to all the staff who have made this ski trip the most amazing adventure for our kids. Josh has talked all the way back to Tewkesbury of all the fun and games he’s had been taking part in as well as all the ‘sick’ skiing he has been doing. He’s just landed in bed one very happy cadet!
Thanks from the bottom of our hearts you all amazing
