A new-look Army snowboarding team exceeded expectations with a strong showing on the slopes of Meribel at the Inter-Services Snowsports Championships.
With a number of seasoned riders missing due to deployments, the set-up blooded a raft of newcomers in the hope that early exposure to the competition will allow them to flourish in future years.
Their biggest success came in the boardercross, with the men’s and women’s squads securing team titles.
Capt Lisa Gibson (RAMS) and LBdr Jordan Buckley (RA) finished second and third respectively in the women’s individual standings and while the men failed to register a podium place, they managed to take five of the top ten positions on their way to sealing the collective honours.
Gibson claimed gold in the women’s slopestyle, but the Royal Air Force triumphed in both team competitions. They repeated that achievement in the parallel giant slalom, despite SSgt David Grant (REME) winning the men’s final and Cpl Brandon Finch (REME) finishing in third place.
In a further sign of progress, Cpl Kazim Jones (RLC) was named as the championships’ best newcomer.
“We were really struggling with availability due to deployments,” WO2 Dale Gallagher (REME), team rider and manager, told SoldierSport.
“We knew that would be the case last summer, so we made the decision to develop some fresh riders.
“It is a new team, and there were no expectations going in. It was more about bringing them through and giving them experience of this level. They all pulled it out of the bag.”
Gallagher said the corps structure, particularly that of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, has helped develop newcomers to the sport and with 102 athletes competing in this year’s Army Championships – Exercise Snow Jack – there is no shortage of talent in the ranks.
“Around 70 per cent of the Army team comes from the REME,” he continued.
“They are really pushing this at corps level and their latest camp was oversubscribed – they could not fit everyone in.
“They also run instructor courses and have really set the precedent when it comes to producing riders.
“With what we have done this season we now have depth going forward and there will be some tough selections next year if everyone is available.
“Hopefully we can continue to build on this so in two- or three-years’ time the other Services cannot touch us.”
On the back of their performances, Gallagher, Grant and Buckley were selected for the UK Armed Forces team that will compete at the British Championships in Austria later this month.
Elsewhere, the Army women’s Alpine ski squad won the downhill team championship for the first time in three years.
Capt Lauren Bailey (RA) was in sublime form and led the charge with a gold-medal run, finishing ahead of teammate Cpl Holly Lake (REME) in second.
The soldiers claimed four further top ten places in what proved to be a dominant outing in the discipline.
“It was a shock to win gold on a course I’ve never raced before,” Bailey said.
“The downhill was absolutely amazing, and I was so proud to represent the Army alongside my teammates. Our collective spirit pushed me to perform at my best.”
Spr Lizzie Knox (RE) was another star performer and sealed the individual honours in the slalom, super giant slalom and super combined. The Army women also won the slalom team prize.
In the men’s events, the soldiers took the giant slalom team title as Capt Rob Vanbeck (RA) and Capt Alex Combe (RGR) finished second and third respectively in the final. Vanbeck also took bronze in the slalom and super combined.
