Let the competition begin: ADF snowsports team arrives in Europe

More than 30 Australian Defence Force (ADF) athletes arrived in Europe ahead of the United Kingdom (UK) Armed Forces Inter-Services Snowsports Championships as part of Exercise Alpine Challenge 2019. 

The Exercise will run from 12 January to 10 February 2019 and involves training and competition in a variety of exciting winter sports disciplines against the UK Armed Forces. 

At the beginning of the exercise, the ADF’s best skiers and snowboarders will battle it out on the slopes against the UK Royal Air Force in Saalbach, Austria before heading to Meribel, France to compete in the Combined Inter-Service Championships.

Australian Defence Alpine Snowsports Association Patron, Air Vice-Marshal Steve Roberton, said participation in Exercise Alpine Challenge is a significant career achievement for those selected to attend. 

“The opportunity to train, develop and compete against the experienced UK Armed Forces is a privilege and an exciting opportunity,” Air Vice-Marshal Roberton said. 

ADF members will compete in a number of events including Giant Slalom, Super-G, Downhill, Slalom, Boardercross, Parallel Giant Slalom and Snowboard Freestyle.

Aside from providing participants the opportunity to represent Australia and their individual Services, the competition will hone the athletes’ broader military skills. 

“These sporting opportunities not only develop bonds between members of our own Services and close allies, but also develop discipline, courage, physical fitness and team-building,” Air Vice-Marshal Roberton said.

ADF participants were selected based on their performance at the ADF International and Inter-Service Championships hosted at the New South Wales Ski Resort, Perisher Valley.