Military members and veterans cheered one another on as they raced the Nordic trails at YMCA of the Rockies Snow Mountain Ranch. As adaptive skiers crossed the finish line, they were met with applause by their coaches.

The high-spirited and tenacious group was part of the United Kingdom Armed Forces Para-Snowsport Team. From March 18-26, the team stayed at Snow Mountain Ranch as part of its International Camp.

The team partnered with the Invictus Foundation to bring international athletes with them to Grand County, as well. This included four people from Ukraine, one person from Poland and one from Columbia.

The teammates spent the week Nordic skiing and snowshoeing at Snow Mountain Ranch as well as Alpine skiing and snowboarding at Winter Park Resort with the National Sports Center for the Disabled. Grand County, home to the National Sports Center, provides a unique opportunity for adaptive sports.

Luis Alberto Cruz, of Columbia, called his experience “amazing” and said he had never been to Colorado before. Cruz is a veteran of the Columbian army, and he was injured during a nighttime ambush. He said his legs were amputated due to gangrene. Now, he gets to experience a new opportunity through sit-skiing.

Cruz won first place in the 1.5K race at Snow Mountain Ranch on March 24. He competed alongside skiers of all abilities. The course challenged skiers to push their limits as they reimagined their abilities post injury.

Elizabeth Winfield, chief operations officer for the snowsports team and founder of its Nordic program, said she and the team’s Nordic director, Carl Simmons, organized the races at YMCA and provided a supportive atmosphere for the veterans and volunteers.

Although there were winners in each race, each athlete helped their teammates get to the finish line. At the end of the races, the snowsports team presented the Snow Mountain Ranch staff with sweaters, thanking them for their hospitality.

In addition to Grand County, the team has traveled to countries including Germany, Sweden, Norway, Lithuania and others. The program allows members to see the world as they build relationships with fellow adaptive athletes.