Sergeant Paul, a RAF St Mawgan based Full Time Reservist and self-confessed adrenaline junkie, has taken first place in the Novice category at the RAF Alpine Luge Championships in the Italian Alps despite never having tried the sport before.
Alpine Luge is a winter sliding sport which involves athletes lying feet first on a specially adapted sled and hurtling down an ice track at speeds of up to 35 mph.
As Sergeant Paul explained, “if you don’t make a corner, you smash into it”, with ankle and shoulder injuries among the most common consequences.
After securing a place on the team’s novice week, he quickly discovered that the sport is far from intuitive. Steering requires a strong core, precise technique and the ability to coordinate multiple movements at once, all while carrying a 14 kg sled back up the track between runs. “It feels like trying to do 10 things at once and your brain scrambles to make it all work”, he said.
Across several days of training on the demanding Jaufental track, Sergeant Paul pushed himself to improve, even when instructors urged him to slow down. His determination paid off. On race day, competitors completed three runs, with the final descent counting towards the standings. Out of six novices, Sgt Paul claimed first place and was later told he was the fastest novice ever!
He described the experience as a privilege, particularly training alongside GB athletes and working within a supportive team environment. He also expressed gratitude to his chain of command for enabling him to take part alongside his busy role as a RAF Reservist driver.
For Sergeant Paul, who also competes in motorcycle track days, the appeal of speed and technical challenge was irresistible. Alpine Luge, he says, is “more about competing with yourself than others and the desire to improve the times, ultimately it is about trying to achieve the perfect run”.
Reflecting on how the experience translates back into his RAF role, he added: “If you can trust the process and the people, you can get to where you want to be and you should not doubt yourself”.
Already looking ahead, Sergeant Paul hopes to return next year but this time as an intermediate slider.
If you’re ready to challenge yourself, meet amazing people, and see what you’re truly capable of, the RAF Reserves at RAF St Mawgan are waiting for you. Like Sergeant Paul, you might discover new opportunities. 
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