AirTanker Snowboard Parallel Slalom – ISSSC 26

Slalom Showdown: The 75th Inter Services Snow Sports Championships under the Floodlights

The world-famous “Stad” in Meribel recently played host to a thrilling night of Snowboard Parallel Slalom for the 75th Inter Services Snow Sports Championships. Competing under floodlights in freezing conditions—with windchills reaching -15°C—riders from the Army, Royal Navy, and RAF faced off in a high-stakes, head-to-head battle.

The Format: 16 Men, 8 Women, and the “Cut”

The competition structure for the Inter Services event followed a strict elimination format based on morning qualification times. For the Men’s category, a 16-cut format was used, meaning the top 16 qualifiers advanced to a knockout bracket. The Women’s category followed an 8-cut format, with the top 8 qualifiers competing in the quarter-finals.

In this parallel format, two riders compete simultaneously on identical “Red” and “Blue” courses. Each heat consists of two runs, where riders swap courses for the second run to ensure fairness. The winner is determined by the cumulative time, or “first past the post” in the second run.

Rules of Engagement: The 1.42-Second Penalty

A unique and vital rule in parallel racing is the penalty time cap. If a rider falls, misses a gate, or fails to finish their first run, they are not immediately disqualified. Instead, they are given a maximum penalty time for the start of the second run. At the ISSSC event in Meribel, this penalty was capped at 1.42 seconds.

This creates a “chase” dynamic in the second heat, where the trailing rider must make up that specific time deficit to win. This was seen clearly in the Women’s final, where Natalie Fields (RAF) took a 1.42-second advantage into her second run against Jordan Buckley (Army).

Tactics and Course Conditions

The “Stad” course presented significant technical challenges:

• The Steep Start: The first four gates were noted as being particularly steep and fast, requiring immediate edge control.
• Icy Terrain: The slope was described as a “water-pumped stad,” making it a sheet of ice that favoured those who could “hold their edge” the longest.
• The Ruts: As the night progressed, the course became “chopped up” and ruted, making it harder to maintain a tight line.
• Course Choice: Higher-seeded riders were given the priority to choose their starting course. Interestingly, “goofy” riders (those who ride with their right foot forward) often chose the blue course so they could keep their opponent in their line of sight during the descent.

Service Pride and Podium Results

Beyond the technicalities, the event was defined by the camaraderie of the military snowboarding community, where “friendly rivalry” pushed the athletes to their limits.

• Women’s Champion: Natalie Fields (RAF) retained her title, demonstrating a smooth and consistent style despite the icy ruts.
• Men’s Champion: Simon Andrews (Royal Navy) took the gold, using his experience as an instructor to maintain composure even when his opponent, Sven Benvides (Army), charged aggressively in the final.
• Small Finals:  The small finals secure third-place spots, with Jason Cole winning for the men and Cara Jones (Navy) taking the bronze for the women.