Single Soldiers hit slopes at Winter X Games in Aspen
Soldiers pose for a photo during the BOSS trip to the Winter X Games Jan. 24 to 27 in Aspen, Colo. Soldiers had the opportunity to ski, snowboard and watch the games. Photo by: Sgt. Sean Morgan, BOSS.
BOSS-Winter-X-Games_0816.jpg
2
2013
130208080248.jpg
1ID
|
Story by: Julie Fiedler
1ST INF. DIV. POST
Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers hosted a group of 46 Soldiers at ESPN's Winter X Games Jan. 24 to 27 in Aspen, Colo.
Soldiers had the opportunity to rent skis or snowboards during the weekend. But the major draw was free passes to the games, according to BOSS President Sgt. Sean Morgan.
"(Soldiers) got a special guest pass to the ESPN (Winter) X Games," Morgan said. "Those passes are very expensive and they just gave them to us because we're Soldiers. They were very excited for us to be up there."
The passes gave Soldiers access to the events, including areas right up front by the fences.
"It's basically a front row seat to the event," Morgan said.
The passes also provided access to special tented areas with free food and big screen TVs, where Soldiers could watch the games.
In addition to providing a weekend of sporting events, the trip also provided Soldiers with some much-needed relaxation, Morgan said.
"There were a few (Soldiers) who are going to (the National Training Center), so it was a chance to get them to unwind before they have to go out to NTC for 30 days," Morgan said. "And there were Soldiers that just came back from deployment (so it helped) them wind down from being deployed and got them back into the swing of things."
For Morgan, the highlight of the trip was learning how to ski for the first time.
"I had never skied before. It did not go well," he said laughing.
Although Morgan stuck to the bunny hills, "I can say that I actually skied in Aspen," he said.
The weekend trip kicked off with a 14-hour bus ride that departed at midnight from Fort Riley. Soldiers returned by leaving Aspen at 9 a.m. Jan. 27 and arriving to post at 2 a.m. Jan. 28.
As a thank you to the representatives from Snow Mass and ESPN for making the trip possible, Morgan had the Arts and Crafts Center frame photos of the BOSS group to send them.
"We gave them a group photo of us," Morgan said. "Marilyn (Paras) at Arts and Crafts did a real nice frame for us and did a ski-themed matte."
The next BOSS trip is planned for Las Vegas on Memorial Day weekend. Tickets cost $450, including airfare and lodging. Tickets are already on sale.
For more information, Soldiers can contact their BOSS representative or call 785-239-2677 (BOSS).