QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY OFFICER TRAINING CORPS – EX FINN WHITE JAGUAR

Exercise Finn White Jaguar was an alpine skiing exercise organised by the officer cadets at Queen’s University Officer Training Corps (QUOTC). This was quite a feat to undertake from scratch, sourcing funding and equipment as well as instructors, before booking accommodation and flights for all the participants, but it all came together in what proved to be a fantastic trip.

The team flew into Lyon from Belfast, where they then travelled by coach to Avoriaz, which took 3 hours. The accommodation was self-catering and was located in the centre of the ski resort. After the initial kit check the day after arrival the party split into three groups of beginners, intermediate and advanced, each supported by a qualified instructor. The skiing activities took place between 0900 and 1600 hours daily and allowed those who were participating in work towards the Skiing Foundation Level 1 (SF1) qualification to carry out the training under excellent alpine snow conditions. This was a challenge for the non-skiers and beginners.

Personnel who were competent skiers were allowed to complete a week of continuation training. The variation of activities made the long days and instruction very enjoyable and allowed each person to develop and learn new skills regardless of their skiing level, which also included skiing off piste, parallel turns and some fun in the snow parks! The slopes in the resort were endless with access to up to 327 different runs and 13 snow parks filled with jumps for the more adventurous personnel. The beginner group impressed, progressing from Nursery Slopes on day one to Reds by day 5, with the remaining advanced personnel focusing more on technique and resolving bad habits picked up from previous skiing, with some mastering black slopes by the last ski day. 

Apart from the skiing, there were pre-planned themed nights to ensure that the downtime during the evening was not just talking about the skiing. These activities allowed the officer cadets from Basic Company to integrate with established officer cadets from Advanced Coy and staff members, allowing them to draw on the experience of more senior members especially through the tasks and games which were undertaken.  

The exercise was thoroughly enjoyed by all the participants, with one of the highlights being that we held a group picnic at the top of the slopes in Switzerland complete with champagne and strawberries. This exercise culminated in seeing a notable difference in all the participants’ level of skiing and for those beginners who attained a recognised qualification, which allows them to progress with their skiing in future years.