AIR FORCE remains kings and queens of running and gunning on skis
after beating Army and Navy in the National Interservice Nordic
and Biathlon Ski Championships at Mt Hotham, Victoria. The team
won all but one of the 10 events (the men’s relay).
The competitions were held from August 9 to 13 under the auspices
of the RAAF Alpine Sports Association and the ADF Nordic and Biathlon
(Skiing) Association.
Racing over the four days comprised a 15km and 7.5km classical
style race, a 10km and 5km freestyle race, a team 10km and 7.5km
biathlon sprint, men’s and women’s relays, men’s 10km biathlon
patrol (four ski-selected for the national competition. “We had
an excellent bunch of regulars and beginners,” he said.
This included Warrant Officer Hans Foehn, from No. 29 (City of
Hobart) Squadron who has been competing for the past 28 years.
Flight Lieutenant Satya Tanner took out the novice skier award
for excellent improvement. SQNLDR Schouten said Mount Hotham provided
some of the best snow conditions the 28 members of the team had
ever seen.
“We had days of patchy sunshine with cold early morning conditions
and occasional snow showers, which made for excellent progress
by the beginners.” ers carrying 5kg packs skiing circuits of 2.5km,
5km and 2.5km interspersed with shooting stops) and an inaugural
women’s biathlon patrol (three skiers carrying 2.5kg packs skiing
three 2.5km circuits interspersed with shooting stops).
Team manager Squadron Leader Bob Schouten believed the Air Force’s
mix of old hands and developing novices helped win the championships.
“We beat Army at their traditionally best events – the classical
and the biathlon sprint and patrol events – even though they had
the fastest three male competitors in the comp,” SQNLDR Schouten
said.
“I think they lacked the depth needed for an overall team result.”
However, interservice week was “full-on and the competition was
fierce, particularly against our traditional foe, Army”. Navy
struggled to put a team together but put in a defiant effort.
Army finished second on percentage points and Navy took up last
place. Air Force’s team was based on the previous week’s trials,
which started on August 1.
The selection races included a 7.5km and a 5km cross-country race
for men and women respectively and a 7.5km biathlon sprint for
men and women.
Squadron Leader Mark Betts, from RAAF Base Richmond, won the men’s
classical distance race and Corporal Scott Malpass, from RAAF
Base Williams, Laverton, won the biathlon race.
Corporal Marion Woger, from No. 21 Squadron at RAAF Base Williams,
Laverton, won the women’s distance and biathlon races.
SQNLDR Bob Schouten was confident the best team was able to
be selected for the national competition. “We had an excellent
bunch of regulars and beginners,” he said. This included Warrant
Officer Hans Foehn, from No. 29 (City of Hobart) Squadron who
has been competing for the past 28 years.
Flight Lieutenant Satya Tanner took out the novice skier award
for excellent improvement. SQNLDR Schouten said Mount Hotham provided
some of the best snow conditions the 28 members of the team had
ever seen.
“We had days of patchy sunshine with cold early morning conditions
and occasional snow showers, which made for excellent progress
by the beginners.”
