Internal Life

Ca.STA - Alpine troops ski competition  by LTC ITA A Giulio DI MARZIO

Historical Background; The races that take place during the CaS- TA provide exciting moments from any point This important event, held annually in the of view. Challenging conditions and arduous Pusteria Vally of the Dobbiaco-Candido ski re- environment for both individual and team sort is organised by the Three Star Alpine competitions, are aimed at improving the tac- Troops Command of Bolzano, Italy. Now into tical skills allied to skiing and shooting. The its 61st year, the competition was established competion comprises the following events: to test and evaluate military skiing within the Cross Country Team sprint , Cross Country Alpini units. 15 Km, Downhill Giant Slalom, Nocturne ski- Since 1979, CaSTA has included an inter- ing touring and Platoon Competition (25 Km national dimension with the inclusion of Biathlon). mountain troops from other nations. This has Therefore as the nominated manager, I was given rise to the Friendship Trophy, contested able to build a strong team around a nucleus of by representatives from allied nations, NATO the two previous year’s competition with Ltc commands, as well as Partnership for Peace Sorvillo Francesco from ITA Support Bde nations. (team Captain & skiing instructor) and WO As it stands today, the competition perfect- Ranzinger Franz, from GE NSE. Later Maj ly combines and enhances the different as- Rupert M. Jackson from G7, WO Scorrano pects which are the foundation of the Alpini: Giovanni, ITA Support Bde, and WO Soldavi- training and professionalism coupled with the ni Marco from G3 OPS joined us. The final reality of winter operations; particularly sur- member, SGT Hammick Joanne was talent vival ability, mobility and operative efficiency spotted during a training activity last Decem- in a snowy environment. ber on the slopes of PILA. Training has continued from the 4th Dec., A Beautiful Ending every Thursday in Cervinia, Gressoney and Champorcher according to team needs. Since Taking into account the individual skills then we performed a total of six ski sessions to of the participants and the amount of train- refine our downhill skills and to complete some ing conducted prior of the competition, the overall performance of the team and that of good preparatory work, not just on the techni- the single athletes is deemed more than sat- cal skills but also as a team. Unfortunately, in isfactory. The giant Slalom performances the build up to the race, we lost a couple of were in total much better this year thanks to guys with physical injuries. the dedication and training conducted in the As well known, this year this skiing compe- weeks and days prior the competition. Sgt Internal Life tition is taking place during NRDC-ITA de- Hammick ‘s performance remains worthy of ployment for ISAF 09/1 but nevertheless our note, finishing in fourth place in the Female HQ would be present and consolidate the ex- Giant Slalom race. All the team performed cellent performances of the past five years. well and with only few days of dedicated Thus we were able to approach the competi- race training and the results correspond tion confident in our abilities and our commit- with each individual’s experience and skills. ment and support to one another. NRDC-ITA attendance at the Champion- The message is the “NRDC-ITA CaSTA ship was appreciated and provided visibility Team is ready to go!!!!!!!” of this HQs in an event that is of Media in- terest. So the NRDC-ITA Team competed only The Competition the Giant Slalom both Female and Male and reached a final position of 12th out of This year’s competition drew a smaller field 14th overall. This was quite a good result than in previous years with representatives in the Friendship Trophy, reflecting the from NRDC-ITA, and the ARRC as well as na- commitment, professionalism and dedica- tional teams from Italy, Germany, USA, Spain, tion of all the team working together to Slovenia, Argentina, Chile, Romania, Croatia, win the event. Team building is one impor- FYROM and for the first time Lebanon. tant outcomes of CaSTA because striving While the two NATO HQs were represent- toward a common goal as the CaSTA helps ed by personnel who had limited training op- to build a common understanding of each portunities and a rather high average age, the nationality’s difference in culture and be- national teams were mostly represented by haviour. young, professional and very proficient ath- This is one of the beau- letes, whose performances were of an excep- ties of being part of a great tionally high standard. The opening ceremony multinational environment. took place, under falling snow, on Sunday 1st Anyway the whistling wind February 2009 in S.Candido and included an carries away all the stories opening speech from Vice Secretary of Defence and memories and says that from ITA MOD Mr. Guido Crosetto. During CaSTA 2009 is over. A peri- the following days the NRDC-ITA team od with a fantastic team is trained on the South Tyrol slopes by using ending. It felt like yesterday poles and gates in order to refine their tech- that I started to work with niques prior the race. Concentrating over all the team and now in the days, the competition requires a great deal of blink of an eye it is history; all the more so as some of stamina, skill and team tactics. This training the team will soon be leav- culminated with the day of the Giant Slalom th ing the headquarters. on the 5 February. Maj Gen Capewell visited But I am conscious that, S.Candido to watch the racing and to encour- just as I took over from Ltc age the team. He also attended a music con- Mastrotto, whoever takes cert and was pleased to award medals to the up the challenge next year winners of our Male Giant Slalom. will be successful and that With the Chief of the Italian Army Military the NRDC-ITA spirit will be in attendance, LTG Fabrizio Castagnetti, we the same as well as the com- were privileged to witness the closing ceremo- mitment and that the new ny and the extinguishing of the CASTA torch team, armed to the teeth, with an “Arrivederci” or “Goodbye” to every- will continue this habit of body until next year’s competition. success!

nrdc-ita magazine Issue12 31