“Severed My Spinal Cord”: After Life-Altering Injury Skiing Enthusiast Turns to an Unlikely Path

Adventurous sports like skiing can sometimes result in tragedies and unfortunate injuries. However, there exists a rare breed of athletes that do not let anything keep them down. One such athlete is Kendra Erhardt. She is a former downhill skier who grew up on snowy slopes and had an immense passion for the sport. Unfortunately, all that changed in 2019.

While Erhardt was skiing in Jasper in 2019, she rammed into a tree at 70km/h. Despite sustaining career-threatening injuries, she did not give up and with her determination, Erhardt is now ready to take over a different sport.

Kendra Erhardt’s unfortunate alpine skiing accident and future goal

Erhardt’s unfortunate accident was evidence of how quickly life can change. According to a Global News report, recalling her accident, Erhardt said, “I obliterated one vertebra and then severed my spinal cord and broke my back and a few ribs as well. Now I’m a full-time wheelchair user and a big adjustment.” This left her far away from the snow-capped slopes she once loved.

She also admitted that in the early years of her injuries, she constantly self-pitied and cried most of the time, reminiscing about her thrilling life before the accident. However, she did not let all this affect her mental and she continue to see potential in herself. Later in 2022, she took part in the Give it A Go Adaptive Clinic, a remarkable event offering individuals with disabilities a chance to explore and compete in water skiing across various categories, including seated skiing, standing, and vision-impaired.

This new program changed her life once again. She could now participate again in sports, even if it was a different sport. Erhardt is now able to go into the water and she is now an adaptive water skier. Just the fact that she can get out of her wheelchair gives her immense joy. The Give it A Go Adaptive Clinic gives Erhardt a chance to feel the thrill of adventure sport once again, something she missed from her downhill skiing days.

This newfound love for the water even earned her a remarkable achievement as she made the roster of the prestigious 2023 Canadian National Adaptive Water Ski Team. The team is currently training under the guidance of their dedicated coach, Todd Schafer, in a man-made lake on his property during the summer season. While Erhardt and her team continue to make strides toward adaptive water skiing, another passionate duo is making it easier for people with disabilities to take up another adventurous sport.

Adaptive mountain biking for people with disabilities

For many people with disabilities who are passionate about adventure sports, racing through a rugged mountain on a bike may seem impossible. However, one remarkable individual is determined to shatter these barriers and rewrite the rules of adventure sports. James Littlejohn is an incomplete paraplegic, who is revolutionizing adaptive mountain biking through his groundbreaking initiative, #AdaptMTB. Together with his partner, Kim, James founded this inspiring charity, aiming to empower individuals with disabilities to embrace the world of adaptive mountain biking. James wants everyone to savor the thrill, freedom, and mobility that comes with this high-speed sport.

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Mountain biking has personally been a life changer for James. Back in 1999, he was in an unfortunate dirt bike accident that completely altered his life. But he never let his disability define his limitations. He immersed himself in a sea of adaptive sports. From skiing to rowing and to waterskiing, James has reclaimed the joys of outdoor adventures. With his latest E-bike initiative, he aims to give all people with any disability to experience the wind atop a mountain despite their bodily difficulty. As for Erhardt, her career trajectory may have diverted from her initial goals, but she is still equally determined to conquer her new sport. Her story alone, despite her adversity, speaks volumes about her mental strength and her zest for adventure.

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