Skiing and shooting skills showcased in Exercise Coolshot

The Australian Army’s Nordic Skiing and Biathlon team are competing at the annual inter-service championships, Exercise Coolshot, at Mount Hotham, Victoria from 18-21 August.

This year’s championships will see around 100 competitors from the Australian Army, Navy and Air Force, and the British Army, descend on the Victorian Alpine region for a range of Nordic (cross-country) skiing and biathlon events.

The biathlon involves cross-country skiing around a 2km loop while carrying a rifle, pausing to shoot at five 50m targets.

Missed shots result in either a 30-second time penalty or an additional 100m penalty loop.

Patron of the Army Nordic Skiing and Biathlon Association, Brigadier John Shanahan, said the sport sits firmly in line with Army values.

“Biathlon is a challenging and tough sport that develops confidence in our soldiers,” Brigadier Shanahan said.

“The key element of this is the mental and physical resilience that is so important on operations. I believe that Nordic skiing, more so than most, is a sport that enables soldiers to excel in new and challenging environments. It puts them into leadership positions, is good fun and is a great retention tool.”

Commander Paul Garai, president of the ADF Nordic Skiing and Biathlon Association, said the sport of biathlon has its origins in military exercises in Scandinavia.

“It is fundamentally a martial sport that has been widely adopted as a civilian discipline, including at the Winter Olympics,” CMDR Garai said.

“It now attracts the largest broadcast audience of any winter sport in Europe, and is a rapidly growing sport in Australia as well.”

“There is a long and enduring relationship between the ADF and British Army teams. However, this is the first engagement between the UK and ADF teams since early 2020.”

Media Note

Commander Paul Garai is available for interviews.

Imagery and vision of Exercise Coolshot are available at the following link:

https://mediahub.fotoware.com.au/fotoweb/albums/aKWIJHPqhDGrAK_K/