By Andrew Stackpool
A
NEW international coach and the return to competitive skiing of
our top female skier will provide Air Force a potentially unstoppable
combination in the Inter-Service Biathlon.
Team Manager Flight Lieutenant Marie Tanner from RAAF Base Richmond
said the team was fortunate to obtain the services of Austrian
national biathlon coach Hannes Obererlacher.
“Hannes is coming out to Australia to coach the Australian
biathlon team in preparation for the Olympic games in Italy,”
she said. “This was a great opportunity to jump on board
and offer him some work and lots of English practice if he came
two weeks earlier than he had previously planned.”
Air Force will select a team from 35 applicants, including six
new faces. Flight Lieutenant Tanner said the teams were confident
of putting up a strong showing.
“We have a good solid men’s and women’s team who
are strong in all areas. Last year we won all the races with similar
teams.
“This year, the women’s team will be stronger with our
top female, Sergeant Sonia Crockett from RAAF Base Amberley, who
is back from maternity leave. We [the females] aim to win all
the races, but it’s a bit too early to comment on the men’s
team until we see the Navy and Army line-up.”
Air Force has traditionally gone into the competition with a simple
game plan and this year is no exception.
“We shall create a positive learning environment in order
to get the most out of, and put the most into, our beginners as
they often hold the key to our successes.
“We are also putting a lot of work into our intermediate/
advanced people with Hannes, as we usually haven’t had the
resources to provide such an opportunity for them.
“Even if the races don’t go as planned, I feel that
the learning opportunity will more than make up for it.”
