Flight Lieutenant Mike Threlfall was one of a dedicated team of instructors training nine amputees and three spinally injured students from across the services in "Adaptive Skiing", the term given to skiing with any kind of disability.

Mike, a physical training officer in charge of parachute training at RAF Brize Norton, explained how he became involved with the unique scheme: "I was already qualified as a BASI (British Association of Snowsport Instructors] instructor and I wanted to take that to the next level, so decided to focus on Adaptive skiing. It's been a hugely rewarding experience."

The concept of the ski course had been one year in the making, to create opportunities for the 80 or so military personnel who are serving with a disability.

The first-of-its-kind course, which took place in cooperation with Disability Snowsport UK and the BASI, is part of a wider programme known as "Battle Back", which encourages wounded personnel to participate in not just skiing, but all the adventurous training activities that they took part in before they were injured and which their able-bodied comrades regularly take part in.