Chris off to a flier on slopes (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Chris off to a flier on slopes

1:03pm Friday 1st March 2013 in News

AN airman who combines the military life with winter sports has won a top national skiing title.

Leading Aircraftsman Chris Stewart, an RAF Regiment reservist at RAF Leeming, has been crowned British telemarking champion.

The 24-year-old managed to take the title in his specialised skiing field while holding down a civilian job and training to be an RAF Regiment gunner.

He emerged a clear winner as the overall champion following three days of racing in Austria.

LAC Stewart has been skiing since he was just two. Starting as an alpine skier, he moved on to his current telemarking specialism at the age of 18.

At the British Championships in 2007, LAC Stewart met Wing Commander Andy Calame, an RAF Regiment officer also based at RAF Leeming but currently on a sixmonth deployment to Afghanistan.

The connection eventually led him to join the RAF Reserves, allowing him to combine service life with his career as a PE coach for Sports UK and a personal trainer.

Serving with the RAF Reserves enabled him to compete this year as his squadron was sponsored by the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association.

Due to graduate as a gunner in June, LAC Stewart said of his time with 609 (WR) Auxiliary Squadron: “The experience has been fantastic. I’ve worked with some great guys and can’t wait for the next stage of training.”