15 Officer Cadets from WUOTC recently visited Morzine in the French alps on a week-long mountain biking adventurous training package. Officer Cadets benefited from this trip by developing leadership skills, being pushed outside their comfort zone to develop resilience, improving their mountain biking ability and most importantly having fun on the trip.
The group had a large mix of ability; some experienced, and for others it was their first exposure to mountain biking. One Officer Cadet started the week asking ‘how best to turn a bike around a corner’ to later in the week vastly improving their biking ability. By the end of the five days on the trials, Officer Cadets developed the confidence in themselves to ride down advanced routes with no guidance needed.
For Officer Cadets with more mountain biking experience, they used the week to push themselves down much trickier routes than previously ridden before while encouraging peers striving for the whole group to improve and enjoy their week no matter what biking ability they are.
The Ulysses Trust has supported this opportunity for officer cadets, some of whom do not have external financial support and would otherwise be unable to afford this trip.
One officer cadet mentioned:
“This opportunity to come mountain biking for five days in Morzine on world class bike trails wouldn’t have been possible as a university student with limited disposable income.’’
“I have really enjoyed my week mountain biking because it allowed me to meet loads of great people and try something new.’’ – Ewan
“Can’t wait to get out on the mountains in Morzine” – Zak
Alongside mountain biking during the day, this adventurous training trip gave Officer Cadets and staff the opportunity to get to know each other and interact outside of a military setting, with evening socialising, talking about our days over dinner, helping to build team cohesion. Officer Cadets also were lucky enough to watch professional mountain bikers across both Down Hill and Cross-Country in the UCI World Cup event in Les Gets on the final day of the trip.
