ASPEN, Colo. — The National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic began in 1987 with a mission to involve disabled veterans in challenging, therapeutic outdoor experiences and education.
From 90 people congregating at Powderhorn Mountain Resort in its early years, the clinic has now grown to over 400 yearly participants. The group found a new home at Snowmass Mountain to accommodate the scores of veterans looking to find their freedom in activities like skiing, sled hockey, fishing and rock climbing.
Like many other in-person events with large crowds, the clinic was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. Unsure what the future of the pandemic looked like, event staff at the VA created a backup plan to host a virtual event in 2021.
The Disabled Veterans Winter sports clinic returned, but with a few changes.
This year, VA staff prepared five days of live presentations including a keynote speech from Medal of Honor recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams.
The Zoom sessions included topics such as adaptive equipment, whole health, self-defense, yoga and veteran testimonials.
For participants like Marine Corps Veteran Hector Rivera, listening to the stories of other veterans helped him feel reconnected in such an isolating time.
U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer Four Hershel “Woody” Williams (Photo: US Dept of Veterans Affairs)
“Hearing some of these stories from other veterans of what they're doing to overcome the obstacles of either the pandemic, or what they’ve done before – it is amazing,” Hector said.
Typically, the annual clinic offers activities for veterans to learn and take home with them outside of Colorado. It’s these activities that are vital to the experience for disabled veterans, adapting the slogan “miracles on a mountainside” by challenging veterans to reach goals they thought couldn’t be achieved.
Without being able to host activities in-person this year, instructors like Rachel Thompson encouraged activities that veterans can do from their homes.
“Some of these activities you think, 'Isn't this supposed to be the winter sports clinic?' Some of them aren't, but the idea is to expose veterans.” Rachel Said. “At its core, this is a rehabilitation event.”
Staying active can benefit not only physical health, but mental health as well. Whole Health, the VA’s approach to supporting a healthy well-being, aims its focus at what matters to you, and not what is the matter with you. By taking a personal inventory of sleep, food, friends, exercise and opportunities to learn, veterans can take their first step toward a newfound independence.
For Hector, staying close to his family and veteran friends is what matters most. Having shared experiences and feelings with other vets can be therapeutic for Hector, who often checks in on his friends to let them know they are not alone.
“We put ourselves in check, because we don’t want to become another statistic,” Hector said. “If it’s been six months and my buddy calls me, we'll be talking like it was yesterday. We understand each other.”
A demonstration of a skiing simulator during a virtual session (Credit: US Dept of Veterans Affairs)
By challenging veterans to overcome obstacles in life, the Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic has helped vets reach new heights. Without meeting in-person, the staff of the clinic continued to offer helpful resources for those looking to better their lives.
The Whole Health session, along with encouraging testimonials and adaptive sports education, will be made publicly available on the clinic's website for those who miss the clinic on April 12. Here, veterans can find ways to cope with the challenges in their lives, as well learn from firsthand experiences of what can be done in a world that seems impossible to overcome.
