By Sgt Jason Sklenar

After training for just over 13 weeks for the fast approaching 2006 winter Olympics, the signs of a change of training were starting to show.The team had been hard at it for the last few months - lots of long runs, roller skiing, sweaty gym sessions and aching legs from long bike rides. We had talked about taking the team to a new training venue to give the 'Change is as good as a rest' approach to the next phase of training.

After some thought and discussion with the members of the GB biathlon team, it was decided to call on the Adventure Training Centre (ATC) in Sonthofen to find out if we might be able to get a different challenge for a few days. A few phone calls later and Major PHK May MBE, the ATC's Commandant, allowed the team to come down from our training base in Ruhpolding, Germany (home of the British/Joint Services ski championships) to participate in some outdoor activities.

SSgt Keith Jenns APTC came up trumps with some alternative options to the normal training undertaken by the team. It was decided that the team would travel down for 3 half days of climbing, walking and Klettersteig (climbing around mountains on fixed steel wire ropes). Doesn't sound like much, but due to the team being in a hard phase of training, it was the only option.

Sunday night in the 'Shiff' (a small restaurant over the road from the ATC) over a big meal and, of course, a Radler, we met up with SSgt Keith Jenns to chat and find out what we were letting ourselves in for!

On the first day, after breakfast and issuing of the kit that we would need for our stay, we were off climbing. Unfortunately this was not the planned climbing Keith had in mind for us as the weather closed in and we had to go indoors. We soon realised that there was a lot more to climbing than meets the eye. Not long into the day, it was obvious that the competitive nature of the team was creeping in with shouts of, "Come on, you can get up that!". Within 4 hours Keith and Andy, his assistant, had turned the team from die hard biathlete skiers into climbers. We went from basic boldering (climbing a few feet off the ground and moving laterally) to going on a 'HS -6 route', which did not mean much to us, other than it was very hard to do but we still wanted more!

The following morning, we headed for Riedbergernhorn (1724m elevation), a mountain not far from the Centre. The good weather was a bonus and Keith gave us a refresher on map reading and the usage for some of the flora we came across. The walk took us approximately five hours with a few stop offs posing for the camera, a lunch break and Keith educating us about how flora was once used to indicate the different seasons and rough height of the area. Just as the group were getting accustomed to the mountain life, it was time to head back to the centre via a two hour bike ride.

The third day was also spent in the mountains but this time it was going to be Hindelang (2224m elevation) for some Klettersteig. This involves climbing harness and Klettersteig kit, equipment that you clip into steel wire ropes that are permanently fixed to the mountain. The day took its toll on the athletes as by the time they headed back to the ATC for their biathlon training session, they were all asleep in the bus! After a coffee and slice of cake, the team were out for another three hour mountain bike ride.

On our last day at the centre, it was decided to start the day with regular training instead of ATC activities. The session was a hard one - roller skiing (skis on wheels) of 27km at 10% below their maximal effort and finishing with 3km at 100% maximal effort. This provided a good warm up for the final visit to the indoor climbing wall to conquer the blue route '7+'.

All in all the team had a great time and I will have to be careful that I do not lose them in the future to Adventure Training.

Many thanks have to go out to Major Peter May, SSgt Keith Jenns and the staff at the ATC for giving the team a very enjoyable few days. Can't wait to bring them back!