Bigging up the boarders – Chris’s story

Having started skiing with the RAF in 2001 and realising that he was better at going sideways down a mountain, Chief Technician Chris Edgar talks to us about his passion for snowboarding and how our charity’s support has helped him become the RAF Winter Sports Alpine Association’s Chief Instructor.

“I joined the RAF in 1997 as a Weapons Technician with very little sporting prowess, it wasn’t until 2001 when I joined the Merlin Force and was introduced to the RAF Ski & Snowboard Championships (as they were called back then) that things changed. I attended for a few years as an intermediate skier, but after a chance snowboard lesson I was converted! It turns out I am much better suited to going sideways! I spent the next few years returning to the Championships to take further lessons and partake in the racing on offer.

Fast-forward to 2023 when I was invited to become the RAF Winter Sports Alpine Association’s (RAFWSAA) next Chief Snowboard Instructor. None of this progression would have been possible without the assistance of the RAF Central Fund or the Association on so many levels. The Central Fund provides vital funding for the sports associations to run.  I’ve also benefitted personally through several sports grants which I’ve put towards maintaining and purchasing equipment over the years. As well as help with kit and equipment, I’ve also received support for the numerous courses needed to become an accredited instructor.

The RAF  Central Fund grant programmes not only support me but also my fellow instructors and students alike. Through grants for new member engagement, the RAFWSAA has managed to substantially reduce the cost of lessons and equipment for beginners to attend Exercise ALPINE CHALLENGE, formerly known as the Ski & Snowboard Championships. This year saw a return to a pre-covid normality with almost 1,000 participants hitting the Austrian slopes under the banner of the exercise, with 30% taking advantage of the lessons on offer. What was awesome this year was that half of these students had never been to the mountains before. Beginners are the lifeblood of the exercise, allowing us to share experiences only available above the snowline and eventually develop competent skiers and snowboarders so that the RAF Snowboard and Ski squads are able to select and grow more talent. As an instructor, seeing so many take their first steps on the nursery slopes reminds me of when I was in their shoes. The sense of satisfaction in watching their confidence grow brings me joy, especially when they come back the following year with stories of holidays and progression! And it’s not only the beginners who benefit from Central Fund support, everyone who attends benefits from a significant discount thanks to the charity’s support, something that helps to make an expensive sport more accessible.

None of this progression would have been possible without the assistance of the RAF Central Fund or the Association on so many levels. The Central Fund provides vital funding for the sports associations to run.

But winter sports aren’t all about Austria in January. Training continues throughout the year in the UK and abroad, developing new members and taking advantage of the snowdomes such as Hemel Hempstead’s Snow Centre, Castleford’s SnoZone and Manchester’s Chill Factore. There are so many opportunities to break into this world!

What I particularly love about snowboarding in the RAF is the growing sense of community, no matter your background, once you’ve learnt to ride there is a place for you here. Students come back year on year, we ride together during the off-season, encourage each other during training and competitions and are all connected by a shared passion. In the words of a recent student ‘…met some great people who I ordinarily would have probably never crossed paths with and all in all had the best week of my 14-year career. I’ve also got the bug for a sport that I’d never have tried otherwise had it not been for the RAF.’

Please don’t leave it as long as 14 years to try something new, it doesn’t have to be snowboarding (although I would strongly advise giving it a try), pick a sport, find your Station OIC or an association’s contact details on the RAF Sport intranet page, or reach out by social media. Come join us!”

Chf Tech Chris Edgar