Skiing fast and shooting straight

Defence personnel replaced combat boots with ski boots for Exercise Coolshot, the annual ADF Nordic skiing and biathlon competition at Mt Hotham in Victoria from August 3 to 14. 

The two-week exercise combined cross-country skiing and shooting, which challenged new participants to develop skills in a triservice environment. 

For LACW Amelia Marsh, it was an opportunity to step outside her comfort zone, having arrived with no prior cross-country skiing or biathlon experience. 

After completing the foundational cross-country ski and biathlon rifle training, she competed against other novice participants in a series of races combining the two disciplines. 

"We were able to go from people who've never seen snow or touched a ski before to being race-ready pretty much within days, which was really cool," LACW Marsh said.

"There was nothing more satisfying than seeing all the targets flipped by the end of a shoot." 

Maj William Ryan joined Exercise Coolshot after learning about the opportunity through a colleague. 

With no previous biathlon experience, he completed the exercise and went on to represent team Army in the optional 42km Kangaroo Hoppet cross-country ski race held at the end. 

"The greatest reward has been learning a completely new skill while building relationships across Defence," Maj Ryan said.

Senior competitor and Navy Team Manager Leut Lachlan Rowe helped train novice participants during the first week before competing in the open competition. 

Drawing on years of experience in the sport, he said watching newcomers progress from first-time skiers to race competitors was one of the most gratifying aspects of the exercise. 

"Seeing that development from day one, [going from] barely able to stand up to then actually executing a race and performing far better than they probably thought they did," Leut Rowe said.

Army won the team championships, with Pte Jack Hirst claiming the men's champion title and Cpl Thomas Midson claiming the men's champion shot. 

Meanwhile, Air Force’s LACW Sascha Kroopin took home the women's champion title and the women's champion shot.

The next iteration of Exercise Coolshot will be held from August 9 to 20, 2027.