Peak Effort on Ex FROSTED BLADE 40
Ex FROSTED BLADE, the Infantry’s Alpine Skiing Championship, took a 2 SCOTS team from Glencorse Barracks all the way to the French Alps for a high altitude test of grit, courage, and balance.
After a 36 hour journey, three experienced skiers and five brave novices hit the slopes, swapping Penicuik’s gentle hills for world class pistes. The results were outstanding. The A Team finished 5th out of 27 regular teams and 9th out of 33 overall, proving Scottish determination travels well. Individual success followed, with CSgt McGregor taking Gold in the Veterans Downhill and Fus McMurray earning Silver in the B Hill Junior Slalom.
Beyond the medals, FROSTED BLADE offered soldiers the chance to train with top level instructors and push well outside their comfort zones. It is a highly effective mechanism for building confidence; there is nothing quite like a World Cup Downhill run to make a soldier feel that a rainy Monday on the range is actually quite relaxing.
Once the technical phases were complete, the team conducted a thorough reconnaissance of the Val d’Isère après-ski scene. In characteristic fashion, the team navigated the local hospitality, ensuring the 2 SCOTS presence was felt long after the lifts had closed.