Alpine, Telemark, Snowboarding, and a Royal visit to the slopes

The 2024 Inter-Service Snowsports Championships had a visit from the Duchess of Edinburgh in Méribel, Coeur des 3 Vallées.

The Royal Navy telemark, alpine and snowboarding teams competed with the RAF and Army in Meribel at the Inter-Service Snowsports Championships. 

The UK Armed Forces Winter Sports Association was delighted when their Royal Patron, the Duchess of Edinburgh paid them a visit to show her support. 

HRH Sophie spent time socialising with the athletes, presenting medals, and learning about adaptive skiing and the incredible work of the Armed Forces Para-Snowsport Team. 

This year’s competition made history for the Royal Navy as the first year a full female telemark team represented on the slopes, some of whom were introduced to the sport for the first time in Austria just two months before.

The infancy of the team did not stop them earning medals in the sprint and classic races, best newcomer, and overall team gold alongside their male counterparts. 

It was a strong year for the Navy’s snowboarders with all the women making it to the finals of the PGS race, finishing with a gold Royal Navy podium in the slopestyle and overall team winner’s title. The men claimed silver in the individuals, just missing out to the Army who won the overall men’s title by one point. 

The alpine ski team flew home with wins in the Super G and Super Combined races, with all members demonstrating strong skiing and recording top 10 results across the board. 

The snow teams now travel back to the UK and hand the winter sports baton to the ice athletes, as the focus shifts to the Inter-Service Ice Championships in St Moritz.

Photography: Crown copyright, Inter-Service Winter Sports Association