Nordic rulers
Navy dominates winter sport championships

By snow reporter, LCDR Jeremy Butler

POET Glenn McIntosh of HMAS Kuttabul shows his snowboarding style in the National Alpine Interservice Snowsports Championships at Mount Buller. Photo by LSPHRex Hunt

The 2003 Navy Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding Championships were held in excellent snow conditions at the Mount Buller resort in Victoria during early August.

With fresh snow falling for the first time in many weeks, approximately 60 skiers and snowboarders took to the slopes in an intensive week of skiing and boarding tuition, culminating in the Navy intra-service races at the end of the week.

Competitors came from all ranks and various ships and establishments from around Australia, with some experiencing the alpine sports for the first time.

The racing saw a very intensive competition between ship and establishment teams of between three and six members, competing in the three disciplines of Slalom, Giant Slalom and Boarder Cross on professionally set courses.

There were many outstanding performances during the races but special mention must go to newcomers, LSATV Dustin Forke (817 SQN) and SMNHSO Jeromy Northern (HSFEG), both of whom were selected in the interservice team and put in strong performances throughout the week.

As always, competition was fierce in the snowboarding events, particularly from POEWL Dave Chadwick (NHQ), POET Glenn McIntosh (Kuttabul) and MIDN Bec Nibaldi (ADFA).

In the end, a strong team from SCFEG overcome the domination of recent years by the Albatross team, and were the overall winners in both the team skiing and snowboarding events.

The individual Navy Men’s Champion went to SBLT Dan Crocker (Cairns, PBSPO).

Female Champion was POEWL Greer Hase (MHQ) and Snow­boarding Champion was ABMUSN Ken Ellis (Kuttabul).
On completion of the Navy championships, an inter-service team was selected comprising male and female skiers and snowboarders.

The team remained at Mount Buller to compete in the Manugistics National and International Inter Service Alpine Snowsports Championships.

Also competing in the championships were Disabled Winter Sports Australia (Paralympians) including Paralympic gold medalist and the Laureus International Disabled Athlete of the Year, Michael Milton.

Teams from the Victorian Emergency Services Ski club also took part in some of the races.

In a return to form, a dominant Navy team easily won the competition, taking the first, second and third places in every event!

Army were second overall, and in a coup for the female competitors, the Army women’s team finished in third place ahead of a lacklustre Airforce men’s team.

Veteran Navy skier LCDR Brad Vizard (MCDFEG) proved that age is no barrier, and took out the trophy for best overall ADF skier.

With only two Navy female skiers in the squad, Navy was unfortunately unable to field a women’s team.

The snowboarders put in some good performances but were defeated by very strong Army and Airforce snowboard teams.

On the completion of another very successful year of Navy skiing and snowboarding, special thanks must go to the sponsors, Planit Test Management Solutions, Manugistics, all Commanding Officers who spared their personnel for the competition.

Most importantly thanks go to the organising committee, in particular LCDR Adrian “Wolfman” Pay, Team Manager WOET Greg Hunton and the transport guru LEUT Ian Napthali.

Planning is already well underway for next year’s championships so if you’re an interested skier or snowboarder, get in touch with your local alpine sports rep via your PT staff and we’ll see you in the snow in 2004.

Team Results:

Skiers
1. Navy Mens
2. Army Mens
3. Army Womens
4. RAAF Mens
Snowboarders
1. RAAF
2. Army
3. Navy

Individual:

Slalom
Skiers
1. SBLT Dan Crocker - Navy Mens
2. LCDR Brad Vizard - Navy Mens
3. CMDR Tony Partridge - Navy Mens
4. MAJ Chris Harrison - Army Mens
Snowboarder Cross
1. Lincon Quilliam - Army
2. Stuart Macrae - RAAF
3. Tim Seager - RAAF

Giant Slalom 1:
Skiers
1. LCDR Brad Vizard - Navy Mens
2. SBLT Dan Crocker - Navy Mens
3. SMNHSO Jeromy Northern - Navy Mens
4. CAPT Claire Baker - Army Womens
Snowboarders
1. Lincon Quilliam - Army
2. Anna Russell - Army
3. Tim Seager - RAAF
4. Thurstan Williams - RAAF

Giant Slalom 2:
Skiers
1. LCDR Brad Vizard- Navy Mens
2. SBLT Dan Crocker - Navy Mens
3. LSATV Dustin Forke - Navy Mens
4. CAPT Claire Baker - Army Womens
Snowboarders
1. Tim Seager - RAAF
2. Lincon Quilliam - Army
3. Anna Russell - Army

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