During February half term (14th -22nd February) 16 Cadets, 10 CFAV’s from Lancashire ACF and 2 CFAV ski instructors had an incredible opportunity to learn to ski in the Bavarian Alps and surrounding resorts. This is the first ski exercise that Lancashire ACF have undertaken so it was an exciting opportunity to enhance the cadet experience through overseas travel and challenging adventurous training. The group were selected after an introductory lesson on a dry ski slope last May. The majority of cadets and two CFAVs had never skied before.
The aims of the expedition were: to allow cadets to participate in challenging adventurous training (skiing); enhance the cadet experience; enable cadets and CFAVs to participate in overseas activities; give cadets and CFAVs cultures and environmental exposure; development of teamwork and leadership.
The expedition formed up early on the morning of Saturday 14th February and after initial pre-deployment checks and briefs, we departed on the long journey by road to Bavaria with the Channel Tunnel being a new experience for most cadets and even some adults.
After an overnight stay in Belgium to break up the drive, we awoke to stunning views of Bouillon Castle and the bustle of a local race before continuing on our journey. Lunch was a planned stop at McDonalds which was well received by the cadets who got to try out different menu items.
On arrival at the accommodation, the group unloaded and had a look around our home for the next few days, before settling in to enjoy our first meal, CurryWurst (Sausage with curry sauce) and chips. The food throughout the week was plentiful, tasty and allowed exposure to different foods and dishes.
Monday morning, we set off to the ski hire shop to be equipped for the week; the shop did an excellent job at sizing and fitting all our skiers.
The first day’s ski resort was Sollereck and we quickly learned that the ski resorts would be busy this week with it being half term in parts of UK and also in Germany. Nevertheless, we kitted up and headed to the gondola to begin the first day of skiing. Cadets and CFAVs were split into three groups of similar ability and undertook instruction by one of our three CFAVs who hold ski instructor qualifications.
Group 1 and 2 had the least amount of experience and started the day with re- familiarisation with the equipment and basic skills. Amongst the falls and concentration of the first day, there was still time to have a snowball fight and build a snowman. Group 3 having had more experience were able to start the day with some easy runs and drills to get their ski legs back.
The resort we visited on the second day was Balderschwang. Group 3 were slightly hampered by the main chair lift not being in use so took a 1400m T-bar lift to the top of the resort taking around 10 minutes! Meanwhile Group 1 and 2 were starting to get to grips with some of the shorter T-bar and button lifts, not always successfully on the first attempt! The progression to steeper ground saw students challenged with new drills and skills to learn and practice. There were great displays of resilience from cadets persevering to learn to ski.
On Tuesday evening the cadets were taken to visit a local supermarket, which I’m sure some will say was one of their highlights and they eagerly awaited the next visit to stock up on their new favourites.
On Wednesday, we went to Ifen which offered a range of slopes to suit each group’s ability and intended outcomes. Even after just two days the progress was evident both on and off the mountain as the team showed an increased sense of responsibility in line with the 4* AT syllabus. After a morning of skiing, group 3 stopped at the restaurant at the top of Ifen where the pizza slices were the size of a cadet’s head! The slopes became quieter in the afternoon, so we filmed some video footage for later analysis to reflect on and develop performance.
In the evening, we headed to the local water park. Even after a full day skiing a few cadets were spotted getting some laps in at the pool before heading to check out the slides, wave pool, whirlpool and outdoor thermal area. The outdoor thermal area provided a surreal atmosphere of a heated outdoor pool combined with the cold air of the night and occasional snow flurry! The CFAVs even got challenged by the cadets to ‘Mermaids’ and Handstand competitions.
On Thursday the cadets had enjoyed Ifen so much that they wanted to go back the following day and, with lots of variety of slopes (and easy parking), we headed back to further develop our skills. Groups progressed at their own pace working towards the outcomes to achieve Snowlife ski awards.
Quickly the final day of skiing was upon us and the opportunity to consolidate the week’s skills. The chosen resort was Fellhorn on the Germany Austria border. After delays due to gondolas not yet running, the top of the mountain was packed but, despite this, we were able to consolidate the previous day’s lessons and ski a variety of runs. Group 3 set out on the task of skiing to Austria for Lunch. A series of runs and variety of uplifts later and we skied into Austria.
The development in personal skiing over the week was incredible; these young people showed determination and resilience in a challenging environment and should be proud.
Throughout the week cadets undertook ACS 4* AT lessons aimed at developing interest and independence in adventurous training alongside working towards Snowlife ski awards. There was a lot of enthusiasm for future AT in the Army Cadets and accessing available opportunities such as national expeditions and CCAT courses.
Six CFAVs have also gained Snowlife ski awards on this expedition and developed foundation skills as part of future progression onto ski leadership pathways. The aspiration is to strengthen our inhouse capability to create a long-term pathway for adventurous training within the unit.
Whilst the skiing was a large part of what we wanted the cadets to develop, we also wanted to develop other transferrable skills (that cadets can transfer to their cadet service) such as working as a team and operating in an environment that demands responsibility. Participants were empowered to take an active role in the expedition, encouraging them to make decisions, contribute to group routines, and take ownership of their own progress. This created a camaraderie with cadets helping and encouraging others. By involving cadets, we help them build confidence and a sense of responsibility. The skills and mindset encouraged on this expedition will hopefully influence personal growth.
Opportunities like Bavaria Ski Venturer allows young people to experience adventurous training activities and overseas environments. Funding means that this expedition was accessible to all and no cadet was excluded on the basis of financial background. Throughout the week we were fortunate enough to be loaned a number of resort lift passes from the Joint Mountain Service Training Centre which saved us a significant amount of money. This expedition would not have been possible without the financial support of the various organisations.
The expedition provided a valuable life experience for all cadets involved; the opportunity to travel abroad is something not all our cadets have the opportunity to do, let alone the opportunity to partake in skiing. This expedition was an opportunity for these cadets to access adventurous training that would not otherwise be accessible due to the financial constraints. This expedition is important in showing that social and financial background should not bar a young person from accessing high-quality adventurous training or lifechanging opportunities. By providing structured support, careful planning, and a commitment to inclusivity, we ensure that cadets from all walks of life can take part and thrive. The experience of travelling overseas, learning a new skill, and operating in a challenging environment becomes something every cadet can aspire to — not just those with the means to pursue skiing independently. This reinforces one of the core strengths of the Cadet Forces: creating a level playing field where potential, effort, and attitude matter far more than personal circumstance.
“The whole experience has given them so many memories and life skills that they would not have had without all of your efforts.”
Parent
“He has come back with so many fabulous stories and has grown in confidence on this trip away. He has never been skiing before, and this experience has clearly had a very positive impact on him and provided lasting memories. He is now a fan of skiing! I can’t recommend the army cadets enough for the opportunities and experiences they have provided for him. This type of trip would not be possible due to costs for us as a family so the ability to let him have this experience is fantastic. Where school has been problematic for him to find friends, the cadets has been fabulous and provided a structured a safe environment to grow and develop whilst helping with his growing independence.”
Parent
“We’ve been skiing for five days now in Germany. Starting on day one with the beginner slopes, learning the very basics. But having learnt the basics, we built on them during the week and improved on them to eventually use them on the mountains. Which has been cool and it’s pretty impressive saying we didn’t know how to ski on the Monday to going skiing down red routes on the Friday. I am currently on a four star [Snowlife ski awards] which I say is pretty impressive learning all the skills to get to four star within the space of a week. A massive thank you. None of this would have been possible without all the hard work everyone’s put into it; this is from the staff to the sponsors and the cadets and parents. The trip would be very expensive without the sponsors, making this affordable to every cadet from every background, which I think is amazing and deserves a massive applause.”
Cadet
“The progression that everyone has made throughout this week has been sensational. From learning how to sidestep up tiny little hills to absolutely sending it down massive mountains spanning from little green trails to harsh red trails. I’ve managed to achieve a five star [Snowlife ski awards] which I believe is absolutely brilliant considering my ski level at the start was not very great. This would normally be a very expensive trip, there was still quite a bit of money involved but we’ve had some lovely sponsors who have provided money and allowed this trip to be possible.”
Cadet
“This was the first ski trip I have been on with the cadets. I was very impressed by the attitude, commitment and responsibility shown by all the cadets. They were fully committed and, in some instances, very courageous, pushing themselves well out of their comfort zones and coming out smiling and rightfully proud of themselves. As a CFAV it was great to share their new challenges and experiences with them and I was honoured to be able to help and encourage them to develop themselves in so many ways. Thank you to all the sponsors, financial and otherwise, for giving myself and more importantly the cadets the opportunity to participate in this great adventure.”
Sgt Chippendale, CFAV
“The cadets were challenged both on and off the mountain, the aim of the trip was always to provide a challenging adventurous training experience and develop skiing skills but what makes experiences like this important is the opportunity to develop the cadets as individuals and future leaders.”
Lt C Whalley, Expedition lead.
