By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
March 10, 2007 – After two days of skiing and snowboarding, last night was all about fun for the 25 injured veterans participating in the Vail Veterans Program here and their guests. The group headed to Vail Mountain's Adventure Ridge for some snow tubing, ski biking, dinner and bonding. The activity was designed as a way for them to relax and have fun as a group, Cheryl Jensen, director of the Vail Veterans Program, said.
"This is a time where they can all be together because they're so separated on the mountain doing their individual activities," Jensen said, adding that it was an opportunity for a few who hadn't been to the top of the mountain yet to take in the vistas. "It's just fun and relaxation, and it's so much fun to see them all interacting with each other."
Activities like this also allow the spouses to bond, which they have very little time for while they're at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington, with their loved ones, Josie Salzman said. Her husband, Army Sgt. J.R. Salzman, lost his right arm below the elbow in Iraq on Dec. 19.
"You see (the other spouses) at Walter Reed," Josie said. "But you're so focused on him and taking care of him and making sure he's at his appointments and getting the right meds, that you talk to the spouses but you don't get to go out for the day and just hang out and relax."
This, however provide that time and, she said, it was just plain fun. "I'm not stopping 'til they make me," Josie said. "I want to hug the person that created this and never, ever, ever let them go! Ever!"
"Definitely a huge, huge thank you to whoever put this together for us so we had the opportunity to do this stuff," Sgt. Salzman said. "I'm one of the new guys. Two -and -a half months ago I got blown up in Iraq and lost my arm, and now I'm here in Vail tubing."
The whoops and hollers as groups came screaming down the trails were evidence of the fun the veterans and their guests were having.
"When you go skiing and snowboarding you're just kind of out there with your instructor," Marine Lance Cpl. Kade Hinkhouse said. "This is like a group thing where we can all hang out together."
Hinkhouse lost his right leg above the knee and suffered a traumatic brain injury Oct. 8, 2005, in Iraq.
After the group photo this morning, it's back to work learning to ski or snowboard before attending their farewell dinner at the Vail Firehouse.
This article is sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Wounded Veterans Ski Vail's Slopes
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
March 10, 2007 – Walter Reed Army Medical Center patients participating in the Vail Veterans Program's winter sports clinic took their newfound skiing skills to the next level here yesterday. As Army Sgt. Dennis Cline finished his last run on the "bunny hill," he reflected on the progress he'd made from his first private lesson the day before.
"I thought I was going to be a little bit off-whack," Cline, who lost his left arm below the elbow Sept. 11, 2006, while serving in Afghanistan, said. "When I got here, my instructor taught me to ski without a pole and use your balance and use your body more to do stuff."
The self-proclaimed "outdoor freak" has gained a lot of confidence with the lessons. "We're going to try to get up on ... top of the mountain," Cline said.
Dave Callahan, an adaptive ski instructor who has worked with the Vail Veterans Program since the beginning, said progress doesn't always come as quickly as the veterans would like. He was working with Army Staff Sgt. Bryan Gansner, who was a skier before a July 28 bomb blast in Iraq shattered both of Gansner's heels as well as damaging the knee cap and both bones in his lower right leg.
"I think that he wasn't sure how much learning would be involved in mono-skiing," Callahan said. "Because he was a skier before, he figured he'd just take off."
A lot of the movements are similar, but a lot of them are different enough that it's like starting over, Callahan added. "Once he starts getting his turns down, he'll start to make comparisons to stand-up skiing," he said.
Gansner said he's lucky to not have lost any limbs but that he still has a lot of pain. Having been a skier for most of his life, he said he's excited about the prospect of skiing again, despite the pain.
"That was one of my concerns, actually, when I was in the hospital was that I wouldn't be able to (ski) again," he said. "I was very excited to get out here and I was excited to mono-ski, too."
Though he can still stand and walk, Gansner chose to use a mono-ski to spare his joints some of the jarring experienced with regular skis. "It's going good," Gansner said. "I'm just not as good on it yet as I was on my skis."
Once Gansner had mastered turns and speed control on the mono-ski, Callahan planned to take the veteran further up the mountain where he could put his newly honed skills to use on more difficult terrain.
Cline said he was amazed at the outpouring of support from the community.
"It's amazing," he said. "Whether the people really support the reason or the cause (of the war), ... 99 percent of the time they support the soldiers, (and) I'd rather them support us and not care about the reason."
The Vail community has embraced the veterans, providing free lodging, meals, equipments, lift tickets and lessons. Cheryl Jenson, director of the Vail Veterans Program, said that 90 percent of the airfare was donated as well.
This article is sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
March 10, 2007 – Walter Reed Army Medical Center patients participating in the Vail Veterans Program's winter sports clinic took their newfound skiing skills to the next level here yesterday. As Army Sgt. Dennis Cline finished his last run on the "bunny hill," he reflected on the progress he'd made from his first private lesson the day before.
"I thought I was going to be a little bit off-whack," Cline, who lost his left arm below the elbow Sept. 11, 2006, while serving in Afghanistan, said. "When I got here, my instructor taught me to ski without a pole and use your balance and use your body more to do stuff."
The self-proclaimed "outdoor freak" has gained a lot of confidence with the lessons. "We're going to try to get up on ... top of the mountain," Cline said.
Dave Callahan, an adaptive ski instructor who has worked with the Vail Veterans Program since the beginning, said progress doesn't always come as quickly as the veterans would like. He was working with Army Staff Sgt. Bryan Gansner, who was a skier before a July 28 bomb blast in Iraq shattered both of Gansner's heels as well as damaging the knee cap and both bones in his lower right leg.
"I think that he wasn't sure how much learning would be involved in mono-skiing," Callahan said. "Because he was a skier before, he figured he'd just take off."
A lot of the movements are similar, but a lot of them are different enough that it's like starting over, Callahan added. "Once he starts getting his turns down, he'll start to make comparisons to stand-up skiing," he said.
Gansner said he's lucky to not have lost any limbs but that he still has a lot of pain. Having been a skier for most of his life, he said he's excited about the prospect of skiing again, despite the pain.
"That was one of my concerns, actually, when I was in the hospital was that I wouldn't be able to (ski) again," he said. "I was very excited to get out here and I was excited to mono-ski, too."
Though he can still stand and walk, Gansner chose to use a mono-ski to spare his joints some of the jarring experienced with regular skis. "It's going good," Gansner said. "I'm just not as good on it yet as I was on my skis."
Once Gansner had mastered turns and speed control on the mono-ski, Callahan planned to take the veteran further up the mountain where he could put his newly honed skills to use on more difficult terrain.
Cline said he was amazed at the outpouring of support from the community.
"It's amazing," he said. "Whether the people really support the reason or the cause (of the war), ... 99 percent of the time they support the soldiers, (and) I'd rather them support us and not care about the reason."
The Vail community has embraced the veterans, providing free lodging, meals, equipments, lift tickets and lessons. Cheryl Jenson, director of the Vail Veterans Program, said that 90 percent of the airfare was donated as well.
This article is sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
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