Ryan
I was injured skiing in February of 2022 and sustained a C6 incomplete SCI at Crystal Mountain. Since being injured, I have been committed to re-learning how to ski independently on a bi-ski and eventually a monoski, but adaptive mountain biking has stolen my heart! I got my own Bowhead back in March of 2024 with the help of a KBF Active Fund grant, and I have been riding as much as possible in Washington, Canada and Bend, Oregon. I’m new to the mountain biking community and I absolutely love it and want to be a part of it forever. As a quad, it has been hard to find sports that I can excel in and do independently, so being able to ride my Bowhead without assistance has been the most freeing experience since being injured. I have been lucky enough to participate in many camps and events year round with Oregon Adaptive Sports, Outdoors for All, Evergreen Trails Association, AIROW project, Hartford Ski Spectacular (KBF sponsored me), Squamish Adaptive Mountain Biking Association and Rocky Mountain Adaptive, and they all have had major impacts on my life and identity as a disabled person. I love meeting other wheelchair users through camps and events and building connections with amazing organizations that support adaptive sports!