Royal Navy Snowsports Festival 2023 13 February 2023 Storyline: Winter Sports The Royal Navy’s Snowsports Festival took place in Les Deux Alpes, France, from 7 to 21 January 2023 with around 800 service personnel attending. The festival introduced members of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, safely and progressively, to the sports of alpine skiing and snowboarding from grass roots level upwards. Over the two weeks, around 200 beginner and 100 novice skiers and snowboarders completed lesson packages and a race. Pushing our people to individual physical and psychological limits within a controlled environment tests their determination, physical courage under pressure, ability to operate in harsh alpine and potentially dangerous environments and their leadership skills. The festival strives to be as accessible and inclusive as possible, from the most junior sailor and marine upwards. The festival also promotes excellence in winter sports, developing regular and reserve personnel to an advanced level through alpine racing (slalom, giant slalom and super G) and snowboard competition (parallel slalom, slopestyle and boarder cross). This facilitates the selection of individuals for the Royal Navy Alpine Ski and Snowboard teams to compete in inter-services events against the Army and Royal Air Force, and to represent Great Britain in civilian sporting competitions such as the Great Britain National Telemark Championships. Lastly, the Festival also develops a pool of instructors, coaches and race officials, and this year we were joined in resort by the Armed Forces Para Snowsport Team and members of the Royal Artillery ski team who participated in our races for some friendly rivalry. The camaraderie at the festival is second to none and was absolutely essential to maintaining cheerfulness in the face of adversity through some tough conditions over the fortnight. From arriving in 15 degrees and seeing grass either side of the piste, to 10 days of snowy blizzards, white outs and extreme winds on the glacier, to ending at minus 30 degrees but with glorious blue skies and sunshine, everyone kept smiling throughout, making memories with friends old and new. We very much look forward to returning to Les Deux Alpes in 2024, where we hope more budding skiers and snowboarders will join us on the snow for the first time, and that some familiar faces will be back in competition for more silverware.
