ISSSC 26 Closing Ceremony

The closing ceremony of the Inter Service Snow Sports Championships provided a fitting end to a demanding and inspiring week on the slopes, bringing together athletes, officials and supporters from across the Services to reflect on both achievement and purpose. Beyond the presentation of trophies, the evening reinforced why these Championships matter, not just as a sporting contest, but as a serious contributor to operational readiness and warfighting ethos.

Attention first turned to the presentation of the overall awards, recognising sustained excellence across entire disciplines. These trophies represent performance over multiple events and days, and, in the case of team awards, the collective strength, depth and consistency of each Service. They remain some of the most prestigious honours of the Championships, reflecting preparation over many months and the support of unit chains of command, coaches and organisers.

As recorded in the official results, the overall winners were as follows.

Alpine Team Combined Champions: Royal Navy
Alpine Individual Combined Champion: Lt James French, Royal Navy

Alpine Team Combined Champions: Royal Air Force
Alpine Individual Combined Champion: Flt Lt Kirsty Guest, Royal Air Force

Snowboard Team Combined Champions: British Army
Snowboard Team Combined Champions: British Army

Telemark Individual Combined Champion (Male): AB1 Matthew Deane, Royal Navy
Telemark Individual Combined Champion (Female): AB1 Georgiana Altham, Royal Navy

Telemark Team Combined Champions (Male): Royal Navy
Telemark Team Combined Champions (Female): Royal Navy

With the trophies presented and the achievements formally recognised, the ceremony concluded with an address from Lt General Jez Bennett – UKAFWSA Vice Chair, who drew together the themes of the week by framing the Championships through the conceptual, moral and physical components of warfighting. His remarks served as a powerful reflection on why events such as these hold enduring value for the Armed Forces.

He described the conceptual component as the ability to think, decide and adapt under pressure. On the mountain, athletes are constantly required to assess terrain, conditions and risk, often at speed and with imperfect information. Race tactics, line choice, equipment decisions and split-second judgement mirror the cognitive demands placed on commanders and operators in contested environments. Errors are punished quickly, while good decisions create advantage, reinforcing the importance of clarity of thought and adaptability.

Turning to the moral component, he spoke about courage, resilience, trust and the will to continue when challenged. Competing in demanding alpine conditions, often after previous setbacks or falls, requires controlled aggression and personal resolve. The moral strength drawn from representing one’s Service, supporting teammates and accepting responsibility for outcomes closely reflects the moral forces that underpin fighting power. The Championships, he noted, deliberately expose competitors to stress, fear and fatigue in a way that develops confidence and collective belief.

The physical component was perhaps the most visible. Endurance, strength, coordination and robustness are tested relentlessly across all disciplines. However, he was clear that this was not fitness for fitness’ sake. Instead, it was about producing personnel who can operate effectively in harsh environments, recover quickly, and maintain performance over time. The cumulative physical demands of racing, training and recovery throughout the week closely resemble those experienced on operations.

By placing these reflections at the close of the ceremony, his address reframed the week’s competition in its proper context. The Championships were not simply about medals and results, but about developing people who can think clearly, endure hardship and perform under pressure. As the final applause faded, competitors departed with a renewed understanding that the challenges faced on the mountain are a deliberate and valuable preparation for those that may be faced elsewhere in service of the nation.