30 ADF compete in European ski champs

More than 30 Australian Defence Force athletes are currently in Europe competing at the United Kingdom Armed Forces Inter-Services Snowsports Championships as part of Exercise Alpine Challenge 2019.

FILE PHOTO (August 2018): Australian Army Major Alistair Court backflips during the men’s slopestyle final at the Australian Defence International and Interservices Alpine Snow Sports Championships at Mt Perisher, New South Wales. Photo by Corporal Chris Beerens.

The exercise, from 12 January to 10 February 2019, involves training and competition in a variety of exciting winter-sports disciplines against the UK Armed Forces.

At the beginning of the exercise, the ADF’s best skiers and snowboarders competed against the Royal Air Force in Saalbach, Austria, before heading to Meribel, France, to compete in the Combined Inter-Service Championships.

Australian Defence Alpine Snowsports Association Patron Air Vice-Marshal Steve Roberton said participation in Exercise Alpine Challenge was a significant career achievement for those selected to attend.

“The opportunity to train, develop and compete against the experienced UK Armed Forces is a privilege and an exciting opportunity,” Air Vice-Marshal Roberton said.

ADF members will compete in a number of events including Giant Slalom, Super-G, Downhill, Slalom, Boardercross, Parallel Giant Slalom and Snowboard Freestyle.

Air Vice-Marshal Roberton said that aside from providing participants the opportunity to represent Australia and their individual services, the competition would hone the athletes’ broader military skills.

“These sporting opportunities not only develop bonds between members of our own Services and close allies, but also develop discipline, courage, physical fitness and team-building.”

ADF participants were selected based on their performance at the ADF International and Inter-Service Championships at the New South Wales Ski Resort, Perisher Valley.

.

.

.

.

.

.


.


.