At the same time, the Colorado National Guard’s 8th Civil Support team was “invisibly” present to support the safety of the athletes and spectators of the event. The Navy was present for visibility purposes to market their special operations programs.

“The breed of athletes that come to the X Games are kind of extreme sports fanatics,” said Master Chief Petty Officer Joseph Howard with the Naval Recruiting Command, who is in charge of special operations recruiting, “so these are the kinds of professions that coincide with what we do for a living.”

This is the sixth year the Navy has participated in the Winter X Games, said Howard. This is also the CONG’s second year supporting the event.

“All in all, everybody who comes here to support the people that are actually doing the games, and the culture of fitness and sportsmanship is the more the merrier,” said Chief Petty Officer Mike Greenwood, an explosive ordinance disposal chief with the Navy Expedition Combat Command. “Come one, come all, as long as you’re supporting the X Games. That’s what I believe.”