Amputee Veterans Take To The Ski Slopes

The snow centre in Hemel Hempstead is welcoming newcomers into the Armed Forces Para Snowsport Team.

The team currently has more than 150 members and is continuing to grow in popularity.

Veterans with injuries from their time in service are learning how to take to the slopes with both skiing and snowboarding.

Darren Swift is the only above the knee double amputee snowboarder in the world and he's been showing other veterans how to safely take to the slopes.

One of the newcomers is Lee Loyd, who has been shown the ropes by Mr Swift. They've been learning the basics but are now looking ahead with possible sights set on the Paralympics in the future. 

Mr Loyd is a double amputee after a bomb went off near him whilst he was deployed in Afghanistan five years ago.

He said he had never considered taking part in skiing or snowboarding before his injury. 

"I'd never done any winter sports beforehand and I just wanted to do something that would be more of a challenge."

Darren Swift, also known as 'Swifty', says Lee is making great progress within the sport.

"Lee has just come on leaps and bounds - literally. He's been fantastic."

The Adaptive Ski Team is continuing to grow in strengths and is hoping to become more popular each year.

For Roch, who is also an adaptive skier, it was a chance to learn a new way of skiing and revisit the sport he loved.

"To get back and get over that hurdle and say yes I can do it - I just have to learn it a different way" 

The team offers veterans a chance to form strong friendships with others who have shared similar experiences and find a sport that is right for them on their road to recovery.