Snowball, Colin H. Ice Warriors

From Battlefield to Bobsleigh

When the Parachute Regiment first competed in bobsleighing at the 1987 Army Novice Championship in Winterberg, it encountered a certain amount of resistance. The regiment brought the same attitude to the sport that it maintained in military service: "the highest standards in all areas." Even for the novice competition, the team captain ensured that all candidates for the Parachute Regiment team met the athletic requirements set by the British Bobsleigh Association and the Army Bobsleigh Association. When it became apparent that the Parachute Regiment team was the only squad meeting these standardsand outperforming all other competitors at the startthe Army official in charge attempted to alter the regulations to downplay the importance of the physical requirements the Army itself had established. Subsequently, the Parachute Regiment team dominated the Army squad selected for Inter-Service competitions; for several years, seven of the eight team members hailed from the regiment, with the only non-paratrooper on the teaminevitablybeing the team captain. This resistance ultimately culminated in a statement by the head of the BBA selection committee for the 1992 Winter Olympics: "I would rather have no medal at all than see the Parachute Regiment team win an Olympic medal." Such obstacles and opposition only spurred the Parachute Regiment team to achieve even higher levels of performance. The Parachute Regiment has won two Olympic bronze medals and has dominated the Army team since 1989a dominance that continues to this day. Its legacy: the Parachute Regiment bobsleigh team will continue to foster new talent in order to maintain its supremacy at both Army and Inter-Service levels. At the same time, it offers active-duty paratroopers the opportunity to pursue this fascinating sport, thereby supporting personnel recruitment and retention within the regiment. Furthermore, an all-paratrooper crew represents Great Britain in the European Cup; the pilotalso a paratrooperis exceeding all expectations as a "Developing Driver," aided by the fact that he qualified as Great Britain's fastest pilot and brakeman. He is in an excellent position to qualify as a pilot for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and, subsequently, for the 2030 Games.