Hurtling down Thredbo's slopes with hundreds of people lining the track, Private Jarrod Hughes couldn't help but be caught up in the energy of it all.
Spectators pressed in to watch the last race of his first Cannonball Mountain Bike Festival, and roared as he sailed over a vertical wall ride into the track's final segment.
"It was insane to go flying down the track with people all along the edges, just going crazy the entire time," he said.
Held from February 12-17, Australia's biggest gravity mountain biking event attracted hundreds of competitors, including international world champions.
Private Hughes competed in the Pro men's category, and said while the competition was tough, the atmosphere made for an enjoyable experience.
"It was pretty intimidating, just knowing that a lot of these riders have come from world championship wins; it's crazy to even think that I was competing against them," he said.
The festival held downhill, pump track and dual slalom races, and six Defence members competed in each race's Pro, Masters and Novice categories.
Australian Defence Force Cycling (ADFC) President Squadron Leader Aaron Pyle said personnel had competed in each Cannonball Festival since it began.
After missing the past five events, he was thrilled to place third in the Masters 40+ category in the inaugural dual slalom race.
Tearing down the mountain side, sliding around flags with dirt and rocks flying as he fought to stay on his wheels, was a highlight that capped off a week of intense racing.
Air Force Corporal Mark Boyle also placed second in dual slalom and third overall in Novice Men.
Riding in his fifth Cannonball Festival, Leading Seaman Joseff Williams said competing against civilians showed a different side of Defence.
"We're not just out at sea or running around field all the time; there's a lot of other opportunities outside the workplace if you look, and you might as well take advantage of them," he said.
"You get a week off work to race, but you also get to represent the different jobs Defence offers. We had a lot of people asking us about the ADF jersey and team."
ADFC aims to grow Defence's cycling community by supporting members to compete in competitions and events around Australia, at the amateur and elite level.
Leading Seaman Williams said joining ADFC opened up opportunities within the sport.
"I remember my first race in 2015. I had a $300 mountain bike I bought off a mate, but I got to travel to Victoria for a downhill mountain bike festival," he said.
"Since then I've competed in many events that are supported by the club and have friendships from that first race that are still strong to this day."
Along with mountain biking, ADFC also supports members competing in road cycling, cross country and BMX.
Participating in civilian competitions furthers community engagement and provides experience for members, according to Squadron Leader Pyle.
"We have our annual national cycling carnival in late October, which provides riders opportunities to do coaching clinics and improve our skills, but events like Cannonball allow us to put it all into action," he said.
"It's also a great team-building opportunity. When you have a group of ADF Cycling members competing, we definitely band together to give as much as we can."
