SCI Superstar: Nick Scott

Wheelchair Pro bodybuilder, motivational speaker and even a wheelchair ballroom dancer, Nick Scott is without question the global promoter of wheelchair bodybuilding.

It may be a self-given moniker, but it’s hard to disagree. An incomplete T12-L1 injury, Nick is one of the buffest men you’ll ever see with a SCI. Read this entry (with videos)

Crazy never-before-seen wheelchair tricks

There are wheelchair tricks, and then there are the wheelchair tricks we dig up at SPINALpedia. We’ve profiled some impressive wheelchair tricks before, big tricks like like Aaron “Wheelz” Fotheringham’s 50ft wheelchair jump or quirky tricks like Johnny Hollenstein’s huge portraits he paints with his wheels.

And there are always new videos popping up online. We’ve chosen three of our favorite s that either completely blew us away or tickled us pink. Get ready for three big OMG wheelchair-trick moments.

Our first video literally will make you gasp. It shows the only wheelchair-user stunt cheerleader on the planet doing a routine with his team – WheelchairPS (Partner Stunt) – at the USASF Worlds 2012 .

As they perform, you’ll see Rick, the team member in the wheelchair (he has full upper-body movement) do a majority of the lifts. And needless to say, yeah his upper body is HUGE. Read this entry

Podcast 96: Annette Hormozian

In podcast 96, Tiffiny is joined by Annette Hormozian, a wheelchair ballroom dancer from California who’s been dancing her entire life, both before and post injury (she was injured 24 years ago when the car she was riding in went off a cliff). Annette grew up doing belly dancing and traditional Assyrian dance, but transitioned to ballroom dance a couple years ago.

In this episode Tiffiny and Annette discuss how she got back into dance and finding her self-esteem after her injury, why dance is an opportunity to erase stereotypes and her recent journey into wheelchair ballroom dancing. She even won 1st place last year at the American DanceWheels Foundation’s 1st Annual Wheelchair Dance Competition (at Cheryl Burke’s Mountain View studio) last year, winning the power wheelchair division.

Annette also shares her secret for keeping her dress out of her wheels while she dances (not easy!), how wheelers can regain their confidence and more importantly, how people interested in wheelchair ballroom dance can try it out themselves.

Listen below. Run time is 55 minutes.

No Free Rides is brought to you by Easystand

Links:

Visit American Dance Wheels Foundation

Watch wheelchair ballroom dance videos from American Dance Wheels

[powerpress]

Slip, sliding (and swimming) independently

Float like a rock? I don’t think so. People with paralysis can do some pretty magical things in the water, and the water can do some pretty awesome things to us as well.  But a lot of folks with spinal cord injuries really don’t like the water. And the biggest reason we’re scared – we can’t swim (or we think we can’t rather).

This is why you got to check out our H20 inspired videos below, including an amazing video of a C6 quadriplegic who’s learned how to swim completely on her own (and with none of those silly floaties that always get in the way and always poke you in the face).

Our first video is pretty much the fantasy I have in the dead of winter each year – a tropical paradise where no one gives a sniff about litigation. Meaning – they’ll let quadriplegics go on their waterslides. This is the awesome opportunity that Chris Colwell, a C5-6 quad (and active member of SPINALpedia (who’s made 600 plus videos) took advantage of while living the high life in Dubai.

The world famous Atlantis Resort has a location there, and they have a huge water park called ‘Aquaventure,’ which includes a super fun rapids ride. Read this entry

SCI Superstar: Briana Walker

Model, hip-hop dancer, motivational speaker and author, Briana Walker is a bright and fun California girl who did something amazing – she got head deep in the world of modeling only a year after her injury.

When she was 23, her entire world changed after she fainted while behind the wheel (becoming a T11-12 paraplegic as a result), but within a year she had found her niche in disabled modeling, and made the cover of Mobility Management Magazine.

And Briana has gone on to much bigger modeling gigs since. Whether you know her from the Overstock.com commercials, seen her dance at the Abilities Expo or maybe she came to your school to speak, here’s the back story on Briana Walker, the fierce platinum blonde who’s trademark attitude – enduring till the end – has made her beloved by people all around the globe. Read this entry

Make it burn (oh yeahhh)

Bally’s, the YMCA, Lifetime Fitness, getting a good workout if you have a spinal cord injury isn’t always the easiest thing. Sure, when you first get injured you get access to a physical therapy gym, but once you’re discharged, where then?

This has always then a pickle for spinal cord injured people. Watch these videos showing how you can still get a great workout, whether at home or by using simple modifications on machines at the standard gym.

In the first video, we’re sharing what is possibly one of the BEST exercise machines to be developed for wheelchair-users (and has been getting quite the buzz) – the Wheeler’s Paramill.

Sure, it costs a cool $4 k, but it can transform your exercise experience if pushing your chair long distances is how you get cardio. And it’s been making the rounds at the Abilities Expo this year (a great place to try it out). Read this entry

SCI Superstar: Rep. Jim Langevin

Zooming the halls of the U.S. Congress on his back wheels (thanks to his iBot wheelchair) is the first quadriplegic to win a seat in the U.S. Congress – Rep. Jim Langevin. This amazing man has been representing his beloved state of Rhode Island since 2001, a state he’s from and has been supporting his entire life.

A democrat, one of the most well known bachelors in Congress and a fervent supporter of disability rights, Rep. Jim Langevin is one cool dude. Oh, and he has a thing for Ben Affleck movies too. Read this entry

Stop hatin’ on Lady Gaga’s gold wheelchair

Love her or hate her, Lady Gaga never does anything subtly. After undergoing surgery on her hip last month (she has synovitis, an inflammation of the joints that causes pain, swelling and reduced range of motion; sounds like HO!), she was told she had to use a wheelchair until it heals, perhaps as long as 4 months.
So in true Gaga form, she went and commissioned the most pimped out wheelchair of all time from famed jewelry designer Ken Borochov (if only other pimped out wheelchairs got as much attention as this chair!). He made her a crown and a suit of armor previously (nice job Ken). Read this entry

The top ten wheelchair jean designers of 2013

Out of everything I’ve tried to wear in my wheelchair, jeans have always been one of the most disappointing things I’ve put on. They just never look right. Bulky, awkward, unflattering – jeans rarely look good when you’re sitting.  No joke, I stopped wearing jeans altogether until skinny jeans and jeggings came out.

But there are dozens of companies making wheelchair jeans. It sounds kind of silly, “wheelchair jeans,” “Yes, I’m going to buy a pair of wheelchair jeans,” but jeans tailored for people sitting exists. Here are the 10 big wheelchair jeans brands to know. Read this entry