White
Noise
SQNLDR
Justin Mangan leaves rivals behind
By Able Seaman Kade Rogers
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SQNLDR
Justin Mangan from Headquarters Training Command whizzes
over the finish line during one of his races in the National
Interservice Alpine Sports championships, held at Mt Buller
recently.
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Photos
by AB Kade Rogers
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SQUADRON
Leader Justin Mangan howled down the slopes like a raging blizzard
to achieve top rankings in the National Inter-Service Alpine Snowsports
Championships at Mount Buller last week.
He ranked first overall in the individual scores in both the long
giant slalom alpine event and in the international event against
the ADF and British Combined Services.
Despite his efforts, the Air Force ski team – Squadron Leader
Mangan (Headquarters Training Command) with Warrant Officer Bob
Hawke (Logistics Management Unit-RAAF Base Williams), Leading
Aircraftman Adam Bland (No. 36 Squadron) and Squadron Leader John
Gill (Headquarters Air Comand) – ranked third overall behind
the Navy and Army.
“The problem this year is that we didn’t really have
any depth in our field,” Warrant Officer Hawke said.
“But we do have a lot of younger guys on the team now, and
we hope to develop their talents,” Squadron Leader Mangan
said.
When asked about their strategic plan, the team unanimously replied,
“Go fast.”
Air Force snowboarders Corporal Tim Seager (No. 6 Squadron), Leading
Aircraftman Daniel Sharp (No. 36 Squadron), Corporal Troy Van
Der Plas (No. 382 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron) and Corporal
Wesley Jenkins (Logistics Management Unit-RAAF Base Williams)
finished their competition ranked second on the last day, ploughing
through the Navy team after coming third for the first two days.
Corporal Seager came second in the giant slalom on the second
day and third in the snowboard qualification on the last day.
“I just wanted to keep the Army and Navy from getting first,
second and third and I had a nice clean run so it was really good,”
he said.
Corporal Seager ranked fourth overall individually ahead of teammate
Leading Aircraftman Sharp and Able Seaman Daniel McLean from the
Navy team.
In the week leading up to the competition, competitors from all
three Services and the British Combined Services underwent two
gruelling three-hour training sessions each day as well as individual
interstate Service trials.
Plenty of action in the blizzards at Mt Buller
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CPL
Paul Butler from No. 75 Squadron competes in the Long Giant
Slalom during testing conditions at Mt Buller in the Victorian
snow fields.
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SLALOM
ALPINE
