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B (DLOY) SQN QOY
EX NORTHERN WINTER RUSH (3)
3 – 10 FEBRUARY 2018
B (DLOY) Squadron of the Queen’s Own Yeomanry deployed to Oberstdorf during 3 – 10 February 2018 to conduct Ski Foundation (SF) level training. Oberstdorf is Germany’s most southern winter sports resort and training area and is located in the Allgäu region of the Bavarian Alps.
It is one of the largest and most modern ski resorts in Germany and offers approximately 130km of slopes and 75km of cross-country ski trails. The ski region is formally known as Oberstdorf-Kleinwalsertal and stretches over the border into Austria. The ski slopes used during the exercise were the Fellhorn, Kanzelwand, Nebelhorn, Sollereck, Walmendingerhorn and Ifen, which all offer the pistes suitable for all levels of difficulty. From beginners to intermediate or advance learning the area does have it all and is recommended to other Units who are considering undertaking similar training in the future. Twenty two soldiers were broken down into the following three groups and under expert tuition from Maj Stuart Young SF1, Capt Tony Wilmore SF2 and Maj Richard Lenton SF1 Continuation.
This was the third time in recent years that B Sqn have undertaken SF1 ski foundation training in this area and like before a huge amount of preparation and effort was required by the permanent staff, instructors and students to make the expedition as successful as before. In addition to providing squadron personnel with the opportunity to participate in and gaining SF qualifications it also provided them with the appropriate preparation for attending the SF3 level and future Ski Leader instructor courses. It also supported the development of the values and standards of the Reserve soldier, enhancing their ability to withstand the rigours of operations by developing: leadership; teamwork; physical fitness; moral and physical courage; as well as other personal attributes and skills.
The soldiers assembled at Wigan Army Reserve Centre prior to boarding their transport to London Stansted airport where they boarded flights for Memmingham airport, which is located in the Allgäu region of Bavaria and only one hour’s transfer to Oberstdorf. On arrival, they were met by the advance party who had driven over the day before to take over the accommodation and prepare everything for the main body’s arrival. A short stop off in Sonthofen on route to be sized up and issued with skiing equipment before finally arriving at Gastehaus zur Farbe Apartments, which is located smack bang in the centre of Oberstdorf and within easy reach of all local amenities. The accommodation comprised of individual 1 – 4 bed en-suite apartments which were very comfortable and ideal for those involved.
Shortly after everyone had settled into their respective apartments they assembled in the lounge area of the Gastehaus for a quick brief and a tour of the local area to see some points of interest and other amenities that would be available to them whilst staying in Oberstdorf. On route, they also stopped off at a local restaurant where they were provided with a long-awaited hot evening meal following an exhaustive day’s travel. After this, they made their way back to the Gastehaus lounge area to receive further briefings which covered H&S, security and other protocols associated with this type of expedition. Eventually, everyone retired to their beds for a well-earned rest and recuperation period before rising for their first day's skiing tuition under their respective instructors. Each day’s instruction for each group would follow its own syllabus under the instructors’ direction and they would progress throughout the week until the final day when they would be awarded their respective qualification.
Trooper Luke Gribbin who was undertaking SF2 instruction remarked, “Probably the best thing about the course was learning about how to deal with an emergency situation, which could go from bad weather to potentially trapped in an avalanche. We learned how to dig a snow hole to stay alive in, especially if we were caught in such conditions”. He continued to say, “Never have I enjoyed doing something that was so physically demanding! At first, you start to carve your way into the snow, slowly forming a little entrance. Once you have made some inroad into what you want to achieve you start to think what else you could do to make it more comfortable. I thought of cutting further into the side to make a separate bed or shelf to store my equipment on. It was fantastic and by the end I found myself feeling really proud and attached to something that was effectively just snow. It was all eventually ruined as we had to cave the holes in so that they wouldn’t pose a hazard or threat to other skiers”.
Trooper Samuel Smith who was undertaking SF1 instruction stated, “During the exercise, I was able to obtain my SF1 qualification over the course of the week, and had a fantastic time learning how to ski. Having got to grips with the basics of skiing on day one, which included learning how to do snowplough turns and slowly descending down the green and then blue runs, by day two our group were becoming more confident and as we picked up the pace and started to engage with parallel turns and slide slipping to understand why edges of your skis are so important, we progressed to the red slopes”. Samuel finished by saying, “ By days three and four we were looking at other beginners and felt proud of what we had achieved in so little time. At the end of the week, we had all passed SF1, which is the best feeling in the world, even though at the beginning of the week I would never have believed I could have done it. I am now looking forward to doing SF1 continuation training or SF2 qualification in the future”.
Corporal Paul Dean enjoyed himself so much by attending the SF2 part of the expedition he was eager to write the following. “Having previously attended SF1 and SF1 continuation training I was keen to undertake SF2 and advance my ski qualifications so that I can now proceed to SF3 and ultimately my Ski Leader instruction badge. The week started slowly as we got to grips with the new boots and the skis we were using for SF2 training. It wasn’t just the different skis and boots we had to contend with, however, we had been issued a rucksack that contained specialist kit for ski touring that included everything from snow shovels to avalanche transponders. Part of our development and learning process concerned how to construct emergency shelters in the snow, more commonly referred to as snow holes. By using our shovels and a little elbow grease it was possible for us to dig our snow holes in a bank of snow that would have offered us protection from the elements should we have had to stay out overnight up a mountain. It was very enjoyable, especially when a little friendly rivalry broke out between everyone as to who could build the biggest shelter, which of course I won! We also skied off-piste, which I do enjoy immensely and particularly as I was one of a few in the group who could get down the section of mountain staying upright and under control. The following day we re-visited the site of our collapsed snow holes as this presented us with an area that simulated an avalanche had recently occurred. The broken snow with voids and different densities was a great training tool for learning how to search for casualties in the event of an avalanche. The methods we covered were how as a group to use snow probes, these are metal poles that are over 2.5 meters long and are used in a search pattern to push into the snow to feel for anyone who may be trapped underneath it. Once we had mastered the search method we were taught how to use our transponders or “peeps” as they are called. Each person had one of the small devices strapped to themselves and once set to the send mode it emits a peeping signal from itself. We then took turns switching our peeps on to the search mode and using them to locate the other peeps devices. This culminated in a little competition where the instructor hid his peeps in the disturbed snow and whilst being split into two teams we tried to locate it as quickly as possible”. “The next day saw our group trekking up the slopes by using ski-skins which are a sticky backed material that attaches to the bottom of the skis. Every one of our party managed to traverse up the Kanzelwand Mountain as we had excellent traction on our skis and even without exerting a massive amount of effort. We also took turns in navigating on the mountain using the piste maps, which once you get used to using them are not as challenging as we all expected them to be”. “By the end of the week the group I was part of had all improved massively since day one and we took great pleasure trying to ski every slope we could and took time to enjoy the other attractions dotted over the mountain such as the “Audi Fun Trak.” All in all a great weeks skiing tuition and one where I received my SF2 qualification which sets me up for SF3 and my aspiration to become an Alpine Ski Instructor”.
On the final night, a presentation was held in the Gastehaus lounge area where Sergeant James Grant, Corporal Andrew Childs and Corporal John Lewis received awards for most improved skiers in their respective groups. Overall, it was a very worthwhile and enjoyable experience for all those who took part in the exercise. The initial goal of everyone achieving what they had set out to do was met in full and they can now all look forward to attending the next level of the Ski Foundation training and qualification.
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