Snow Business Like Navy Business

(Photographs by LA(Phot) Joel Rouse)

Around 900 skiers and snowboarders from across the Royal Navy were churning up the snow in France's Northern Alps for the Service's annual Alpine championships which were held in Tignes this year.

The sailors and Royal Marines usually attend for just one of the two weeks available – the first week is training and the second is racing for serious competitors.

The event offers the opportunity for Service personnel to let off steam between deployments and boost their skiing skills and personal goals, as well as allowing team coaches to look for new talent ahead of the inter-services competition later in the season.

"The discovery of excellent new talent to come through and replace the 'old guard' was extremely encouraging and bodes well for the future," said Petty Officer (Physical Trainer) Lucy McKenna, the Ladies snowboard team captain and snowboard team manager.

For the first week there were beginner lessons for those that have never been on the snow before, plus novice (one step up from beginner), intermediate and advanced lessons to cater for all abilities.

Most people opted for two days of instruction to improve their technique plus a race to test themselves against the competition.

The options for racing were very varied and included boarder-cross, skier-cross, slope style snowboarding, slalom and giant slalom. Additionally most of the disciplines were broken down into 'A' races for the more experienced skiers and boarders and 'B' races for those who were newer to the sport.

Once the RN ski and snowboard squads arrived in the resort the ante was upped and longer races were scheduled. For skiers this included the Super Giant Slalom (the 'Super G') and the Premier Super G races (which competitors have to qualify for from the earlier Giant Slalom races), and for the boarders the big crowd pleaser, the slope style.

These last few events are the final chance for potential team members to impress their captains and earn their spot in the RN team for the inter-services competition.

The winners were:

Women's board: Leading Hand Erin Pinkerton - HMS Ocean
Women's ski: Able Seaman Jade Convery - HMS Richmond
Men's board: Marine Connor Gemmell – 42 Commando Royal Marines
Men's ski: Marine Kyle Coetzee - HMS Ocean

Are we sure on the numbers, 900 represents about 3% of the Navy's strength these days. With those already on deployment overseas or on active service elsewhere this seems extremely high, perhaps this is the RN over exaggerating to stimulate interest. Rather like Jutland being a great RN victory...NOT -). The joint services competition may get that number though.

That's a lot of iPods. I agree with bald eagle. That's a very high number. I think someone added a 0 at the very least.

Hmm, I got the number from pic credit which reads, "Pictures taken at the annual RNWSA (Royal Navy Winter Sports Association) Ski Championships.This years Ski Champs took place in Tignes, France, and was attended by over 900 Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel.During the two week event, personnel were given the opportunity to take part in both ski and snowboard lessons, ranging from complete novice to advanced, and to also compete against each other in races.The RNWSA Ski Champs are the largest sporting event held by the Royal Navy.Photographs by LA(Phot) Joel RouseeditDelete caption." I was thinking Tignes would be happy with 900 punters. I'll double check with the source though.

Going on the Combined Services web page they did go but the numbers just seem a tad high.

If it's anything like the Royal Air Force 'championships' that have been in Saalbach-Hinterglemm for the last few seasons, the numbers are swollen by 'dependents' - wives, husbands and children - and those who are still members of the RAF Winter Sports Association but are retired from the service.

Mind you, the navy always exaggerates everything it does!

LOTA wrote:If it's anything like the Royal Air Force 'championships' that have been in Saalbach-Hinterglemm for the last few seasons, the numbers are swollen by 'dependents' - wives, husbands and children - and those who are still members of the RAF Winter Sports Association but are retired from the service.

Mind you, the navy always exaggerates everything it does!

I never knew there where enough 4* hotels there to accommodate that many RAF. :lol:

As we often said to members of the army, any fool can be uncomfortable!