Pilot Officer Andy Kenyon and Cadet Corporal Charlotte Wilkinson-Burnett of 1181 Squadron recently attended a Skiiing trip to Zwiesel, Germany, joining cadets from the Central and East Region.

Corporal Wilkinson-Burnett accounted her experience:

'After a short journey we arrived at Dover where we took the ferry to Calais. After a short crossing we travelled through France and Germany overnight, making regular stops which were thoroughly enjoyed by all.

We eventually arrived in the village of Zwiesel, late afternoon on the Saturday. After unloading kit we split into separate regions and were divided into accommodation which for me just consisted of Central and East region female Cadets.

After settling in and refreshing ourselves we headed over to the communal chalet for a briefing with our Regional Projects Officer’s which lasted roughly 30 minutes. This gave the Region time to get to know one another.

Sunday started with a 0730 reveille, ready for breakfast a 0800. As a region we went to collect our Ski equipment from a local hire shop before heading to the local cross-country skiing tracks. Here the course was divided into groups and placed with an RAF instructor. Sunday was an assement day to test the individual’s level of ability, to ensure they were placed in the correct group for the rest of the week. This day was mainly spent on the ground, but it’s a day which will stay with many for a long time to come!

Monday morning we were told which one of the 14 groups we would be put in. The instructors were a mixture of RAF personnel and employees of the local German ski school. I was placed in group 3 with a local instructor called Carsten and Pilot Officer Kenyon was placed ingroup 15 as he had been before so, was placed in a Silver Langlauf Award group.

On Monday Group Captin Lawlor, came to Central and East regions chalet for dinner. This was a very fun, yet successful evening for the region. Some Cadets were very eager to put some excellent questions to the Group Captin.

Thursday was a challenging day as the course scaled the 30km trip to the Gross Arber Mountain, braving temperatures of minus 12 degrees. From the top of which you can see nearly 200 miles over the Czech republic.

On Thursday evening we went out for a meal to a local steak house called the Musshouf, as a region, which was excellent. This proved to be an excellent opportunity for people to speak to some of the people they had not had a chance to mix with previously during the week.

Friday was the final day of skiing where Cadets were assessed for the Langlauf Awards on the skills they had learnt during the week. Everyone was assessed for their Bronze award which no one failed. Fortunately, I was lucky enough to be put forward for my Silver Award,of which which I passed! There was also a time trial event over a challenging 3km course. The weather, according to my ski instructor was the best he had seen in years of skiing at Zwiesel. It snowed solidly for over 2 days and the temperature was constantly below zero degrees celsius.

Friday evening was a meal at a local restaurant for the entire course. Awards were presented to the fastest and slowest of the time-trial that had taken place earlier that day and the medals to those who passed their Langlauf awards.

Charlotte receiving her silver Landlauf award

The course was immensely enjoyed by every member of Central and East, with people already desperate to organise re-unions and how eager they are to return in 2011!

The course was a great opportunity to meet new people from all over the Corps, a special thank you to all the staff who made the course such an amazing experience.'