Wounded warriors: ‘I can do this

Wounded warriors: ‘I can do this’


By Nick Cruit
BONANZA STAFF WRITER
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Sgt. John Bott, who started the day three tracking — skiing on one ski with outriggers— learns to mono ski Wednesday afternoon during the Wounded Warrior Ability Camp at Alpine Meadows. Bott had mono skied one time before but wanted to try three tracking because it would be more challenging.
Sgt. John Bott, who started the day three tracking — skiing on one ski with outriggers— learns to mono ski Wednesday afternoon during the Wounded Warrior Ability Camp at Alpine Meadows. Bott had mono skied one time before but wanted to try three tracking because it would be more challenging.ENLARGE
Sgt. John Bott, who started the day three tracking — skiing on one ski with outriggers— learns to mono ski Wednesday afternoon during the Wounded Warrior Ability Camp at Alpine Meadows. Bott had mono skied one time before but wanted to try three tracking because it would be more challenging.
Bonanza Photo - Jen Schmidt
Sean White learns to snowboard with a little help from disabled sports instructor Kevin Kuhns during the Wounded Warrior clinics Wednesday at Alpine Meadows. White, now a below-knee amputee on the right side, was wounded during his service when a roadside bomb hit under his Humvee and tossed him out of the vehicle.
Sean White learns to snowboard with a little help from disabled sports instructor Kevin Kuhns during the Wounded Warrior clinics Wednesday at Alpine Meadows. White, now a below-knee amputee on the right side, was wounded during his service when a roadside bomb hit under his Humvee and tossed him out of the vehicle.ENLARGE

Sean White learns to snowboard with a little help from disabled sports instructor Kevin Kuhns during the Wounded Warrior clinics Wednesday at Alpine Meadows. White, now a below-knee amputee on the right side, was wounded during his service when a roadside bomb hit under his Humvee and tossed him out of the vehicle.
Bonanza Photo - Jen Schmidt

After a soft landing in the snow, Army Pvt. Richard Samudio is in high spirits on his first day learning how to ski during the Wounded Warrior Ability Camp Wednesday at Alpine Meadows. Samudio lost his leg when he was hit with two grenades while doing mounted patrol on a humvee in Baghdad.
After a soft landing in the snow, Army Pvt. Richard Samudio is in high spirits on his first day learning how to ski during the Wounded Warrior Ability Camp Wednesday at Alpine Meadows. Samudio lost his leg when he was hit with two grenades while doing mounted patrol on a humvee in Baghdad.ENLARGE

After a soft landing in the snow, Army Pvt. Richard Samudio is in high spirits on his first day learning how to ski during the Wounded Warrior Ability Camp Wednesday at Alpine Meadows. Samudio lost his leg when he was hit with two grenades while doing mounted patrol on a humvee in Baghdad.
Bonanza Photo - Jen Schmidt

After a long day of learning to snowboard wounded soldier Sean White, a below-knee amputee, and instructor Kevin Kuhns, take a break in the sun near the bottom of Subway Chair.
After a long day of learning to snowboard wounded soldier Sean White, a below-knee amputee, and instructor Kevin Kuhns, take a break in the sun near the bottom of Subway Chair.ENLARGE

After a long day of learning to snowboard wounded soldier Sean White, a below-knee amputee, and instructor Kevin Kuhns, take a break in the sun near the bottom of Subway Chair.
Bonanza Photo - Jen Schmidt

ALPINE MEADOWS — In November, 1968, just four months after losing his leg in the Vietnam War, Doug Pringle stood on one ski across from a World War II Veteran who had also lost a leg in war.

He would learn to ski for the first time that day.

On Wednesday, Pvt. Richard Samudio took to the slopes of Alpine Meadows Ski Resort in a similar position.

It was just over three months ago that Samudio, 24, lost his leg in the Iraq War, struck by two grenades while performing mounted patrol atop a humvee in Baghdad. He would also learn to ski for the first time on one leg.