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Got Ice? Get Climbing!
By Heather Hopkins,
Team FootStomp
Ice climbing was introduced
in the 1960s and has grown not just among daredevil groups, but for those looking
to challenge themselves in a new way, it’s the perfect combination of focus,
strength training, and tranquility. Adaptive ice climbing programs, like
Paradox Sports Ice - http://paradoxsports.org/causes/paradox-ice/ -
make the challenge possible
for anyone wanting to pursue adaptive ice climbing. Specialized adaptive
equipment and instruction is provided and some adventurers have even created
their own equipment.
Adaptive ice climber Sean
O’Neill is also an artist, which could be why he was inspired in part by
Leonardo da Vinci’s block-and-tackle system when he built most of his own ice
tools. On February 26, 2014, Sean O’Neill became the first paraplegic to ascend
what is said to be one of the most difficult ice climbs in the country, the 365
foot Bridal Veil Falls near Telluride, CO. "For
Sean to go and climb something like Bridal Veil Falls sends a really clear
message that life is what you make it," said Timmy O’Neill, co-founder of
Paradox Sports and Sean’s brother. Watch
as Sean accomplished his adventure in this six minute movie, “Prevail”, filmed
on location by his brother Timmy: https://vimeo.com/112216202. And learn more about his undertaking
in the Denver Post, March 6, 2014 article: http://www.denverpost.com/wintersports/ci_25290924/paraplegic-climber-inspires-ascent-frozen-bridal-veil-falls?source=infinite
Sean O’Neill leading an
adaptive ice climbing clinic just days after his 365 foot ice climb.
Timmy O'Neill and Doug Sandok, Executive Director of Paradox
Sports, were recently featured on a panel discussion, titled Adaptive
Equipment and Disabled Athletes, at the 2015 Film Festival Flix Mountain and
Adventure Film Festival. Listen in on ways their inspiring organization works
to adapt equipment to make it possible for “anyone to get into the wilderness
and up frozen waterfalls” and more! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmMZXV_Yo2I
Adaptive sports athlete,
David Poole, designed a unique adaptive tool to enable people with limited
mobility to ice climb. The tool keeps his legs bent and out of the way while he
focuses on muscling his way up the ice with just ice axes and arm strength.
Watch this cool video of David Poole’s first ice climbing ascent using his
apparatus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I04RO3icAZ4#t=152.
David Poole and his new adaptive ice climbing apparatus.
Pete Davis, aka “one-armed Pete”, has been rock
climbing since age 12, so ice climbing was an obvious adventure for him to seek
out. Pete has developed a custom ice axe attachment for his elbow to hand
prosthesis specifically for ice climbing.
Pete
Davis and his self-designed ice axe.
His inspiration and drive to climb to a higher
ground comes from a place no one else can touch but him. Many athletes and
adventure enthusiasts may be able to relate to the experience of achieving
goals, but tapping into one’s innermost motivation is a private journey. A
story on Pete in the Durango Telegraph (http://www.durangotelegraph.com/05-01-20/second1.htm)
reveals evidence of this. “It’s all such a deep personal challenge to be so
focused. It’s an addiction to a temporary higher level of engagement. I’ve
never found that intensity anywhere else in my life. It’s not you against the
wall. It’s you against yourself.” The addiction also can change your path in
life, and others along the way, as Pete’s life plan reveals: “I’d like to teach
kids like me that retreating from a challenge is the worst possible thing to
do,” he says. “I’d urge those kids to try something no matter how unrealistic
that thing may seem. Because you really never know what you can do.”
So…got
ice? Well…get climbing!
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