A SOLDIER has competed in a top army skiing contest – having taken up the sport less than a year ago.

Rifleman Dimitrios Mavroyenneas, an infantry soldier with 5th Battalion The Rifles, returned from patrolling the windswept Falkland Islands to the snowy Alps in France to compete in the Alpine section of Army skiing contest Exercise Pipedown, organised by 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade.

The 20-year-old, based in Paderborn, Germany, and his team of four are new to competitive skiing and had to compete against 135 other competitors from the army.

Dimitrious, from Barry, learnt to ski last February when he showed an aptitude for the fast paced adrenalin sport of Alpine skiing where competitors can reach speeds of up to 70 miles per hour down giant slaloms.

Dimitrious spent two months in the Falkland Islands and returned in November.

His job was to patrol the Islands ensuring there was no threat to the island and its inhabitants.

Dimitrious, who has served in the army for two years, said: “This is pretty good change.

“The army is epic with some good opportunities to do different things.”

The championships has been held at Les Contamines in the French Alps for 21 years and with almost 400 soldiers competing was one of the largest events so far.

Major General James Chiswell, general officer Commanding 1 (UK) Armoured Division, who visited the championships and met competitors, said: “It’s great to see so many soldiers and different cap badges, from across the division, represented here.

“As well as honing teamwork and leadership skills, key characteristics we have come to expect of our soldiers, all the competitors have displayed high levels of fitness and endurance as they tackle the Nordic and Alpine disciplines.

He added: “Adventurous training opportunities like these are very important. It places us well outside our comfort zone, tests our physical and mental strength and develops us as people. This has been another very valuable and successful year for Ex Pipedown."

Exercise Pipedown took place in January.