Photo by Whitehorse Star
READY TO ROLL 鈥� Darryl Tait, pictured at Second Heaven Skatepark in Riverdale in September, was recruited to compete at a wheelchair motocross event in Texas.
鈥楴o limitation' for Texas-bound Tait
Whitehorse wheelchair athlete Darryl Tait has refused to let his injury keep him down.
Whitehorse wheelchair athlete Darryl Tait has refused to let his injury keep him down.
The 24-year-old who lost the use of his legs after a snowmobile accident in 2009 has maintained a constant presence at Yukon skateparks and Mount Sima's ski hill.
This weekend, he's aiming to inspire a whole new generation of wheelchair athletes at a wheelchair motocross event in Dallas, Texas.
Tait left the territory yesterday to compete in Rise Adaptive Sports' third annual Wheelchair Motocross event this weekend.
"It's not like these events happen very often, but there's slowly more and more,鈥濃�圱ait told the Star. "To be able to meet with the guys and ride with them and try to push and progress the sport ... I'm looking forward to it.鈥�
Friday's competition will include a variety of skill levels, including professionals who will square off for a variety of cash payouts.
Then on Saturday, the athletes will host a clinic for those looking for tips on how to use their wheelchairs in a skatepark.
"Basically, you just go into the skatepark and use your wheelchair just like a skateboard doing hand plants, airs, back flips, rails, gaps, whatever you want to do,鈥濃�圱ait explained.
"It's going to be a blast. I'm pretty excited.鈥�
The Yukoner is looking forward to introducing newcomers to the sport and "showing them that there's no limitation to their every day.鈥�
Wheelchairs can be used as toys, not just a medical device, he stressed.
Tait received an invite to the event from California wheelchair designer Mike Box. Box built the chair that Tait uses currently.
"Everyone has their own chair that is uniquely custom-made to their own body,鈥濃�圱ait explained.
Rise Adaptive Sports then chipped in $500 towards Tait's flight to the event.
"Thanks to them, I'm able to go attend this event and hang out and meet friends that I don't get to see all the time,鈥� he said.
In 2009, Tait was involved in a snowmobile accident in New Hampshire that left him paralyzed from the waist down.
Since then, he has refused to give up his love for extreme sports, and has became the first Canadian to compete in the adaptive snocross category at last year's X Games.
He is also a multiple winner of the King of the Hill snowmobile category, part of the Sima Uphill鈥圕hallenge.
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Comments (1)
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trena irving on Apr 16, 2014 at 12:01 pm
Darryl, you are the man! Have a blast in Texas and live it to the max! I have your newspaper article up in my class and I refer to your success story often in my teaching. Rock on.