ADF hot on the pace at Swiss Downhill
Volume 11, No. 41, April 20, 2006

Powder power: Pte Ed Tauton-Burnett in the Downhill event.

TWELVE members of the ADF’s Alpine snowsports team have flown the flag for the ADF in the British Services International Alpine Ski and Snowboard Championships, racing against the three British Services and the Swiss Army team.

Following their success in competing in the RAF championships in Austria, and a solid two-week training session, the team moved to Crans Montana in Switzerland for the big event.

Team manager Maj Murray Nelson said facilities were excellent, with the championships having exclusive use of a course that catered for all four ski events; the Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super G and the Downhill.

“Crans Montana was seeking certification of their racecourse for the World Cup circuit, so they went all-out to provide a top-quality racecourse and a professionally run event,” he said.

The first race was the Downhill, which tested the nerve of racers as it held some very fast sections.

“The mandatory speed training, and the race itself, gave the team confidence for the remaining races,” Maj Nelson said.

“Pte Ed Taunton-Burnett surprised many of the British racers with some times right in the middle of their fastest group.”

Team member Capt Dean Munsie also managed not only quick times, but clean runs in every race that helped keep the ADF team score very competitive.

The team’s only female racer, Capt Claire Baker, kept the pressure on the British girls, with a few of them either crashing or missing gates.

“Claire missed the RAF event and some of the training camp, but was very competitive right from the first race and had an aggressive style which was necessary for the standard of the courses set by the officials,” Maj Nelson said.

The ADF boarder team, represented by Spr Benn Godenzi for Army, was also challenged with difficult courses and some strong competitors from the British teams, but managed to climb the placings list throughout the competition.

“The whole activity was a great experience for our team members. Apart from the standard of racing we experienced, our guys were impressed by how welcome the Brits made us feel, and also the profile of the event, which was attended by their service chiefs and CDF.”