3 #HighFivesAthletes going BIG in 3 different sports! Meet KYLE RICHARDSON (Big wave surfer), LANDON MCGAULEY (Mountain Bike park jumper) & TREVOR KENNISON (sit ski boss)!
AT HIGH FIVES WE ARE DRIVEN BY THE POSSIBILITIES OF GETTING INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SUFFERED LIFE-changing INJURIES BACK TO THE LIVES THEY HAD LIVED BEFORE THEIR INJURY.
WHEN SOMEONE BECOMES INJURED AND MISSES THE FEELING OF BEING OUT IN THE outdoors, HIGH FIVES COMES IN AND HELPS MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO GET BACK OUT THERE AND CAPTURE THE PASSION AND ENJOYMENT THAT THEY HAD BEFORE THEIR ACCIDENT.
IF AN ATHLETE WANTS TO GET OUT AND PURSUE A PASSION HIGH FIVES IS THERE.
NONE OF THIS IS POSSIBLE WITHOUT AMAZING ADVANCEMENTS IN ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT. NEW SIT SKIS, SURFBOARDS, AND ADAPTIVE MOUNTAIN BIKES ARE CONSTANTLY IN DEVELOPMENT TO ALLOW DISABLED INDIVIDUALS TO PUSH THEMSELVES AND THE SPORT THAT THEY LOVE. COMPANIES LIKE BOWHEAD ARE LITERALLY REINVENTING THE WHEEL TO FACILITATE PROGRESSION AND THESE ATHLETES ARE USING THEIR EQUIPMENT TO INSPIRE, PROGRESS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY HAVE THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES.
Kyle Richardson
AFTER A SEVERE bacterial EAR INFECTION CAUSED FROM SURFING IN VENTURA, CA AND THE ADVERSE REACTION TO THE DRUGS ADMINISTERED IN AN ATTEMPT TO TREAT THE SYMPTOMS, KYLE LOST HIS MOBILITY.
THE bacterial INFECTION AND ATTEMPT TO TREAT IT, resulted in a multi-system aunonomic condition lEAVING HIM WITHOUT THE USE OF HIS LEGS.
KYLE TOOK LITTLE TIME TO FEEL SORRY FOR HIMSELF, INSTEAD HE FOCUSED ON HIS RETURN TO SURFING. THE PLAN, GET BACK IN THE WATER AND COME BACK STRONGER THAN EVER.
if this 45 foot wave is any indication IT IS SAFE TO SAY KYLE IS EXECUTING THIS PLAN PERFECTLY AND CERTAINLY SHOWS NO SIGN OF SLOWING DOWN.
For the first time since injury when I’m in the water I don’t feel like I’m doing an adaptive activity or that I have an injury. I can see limitations with the injury but I’m surfing, traveling and competing with able bodied guys. Doing the tow ins this last year really changed my possibilites as an adaptive surfer and just a waveskier. Big risk = big reward. This sport has been the most healing thing since being in the chair , the people , the feeling, the freedom… I’m back !!
As far as high fives goes I’m so lucky to have the high fives crew now behind me and getting involved in my journey. I’m so stoked to see where this all leads for me and other adaptive surfers involved with high fives. It’s a big honor and privilege to have the people I do behind me. I’ve made some lifetime relationships along the way and completely changed my way of seeing obstacles. Can’t thank high fives enough for the opportunities. Can’t wait to pay it forward
dropping into a 50 foot wave able bodied is certaintly not something for the faint hearted, doing the same thing while sitting down is a whole another level. Keep Crushing it Kyle!
AFTER SUSTAINING A SPINAL CORD WHILE IN A DOWNHILL RACE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, LANDON MCGAULEY HAD HIS BIGGEST PASSION TAKEN AWAY FROM HIM.
UNABLE TO FIND AN ADAPTIVE MOUNTAIN BIKE THAT ALLOWED LANDON TO RIDE THE WAY HE WANTED, HE JUST DIDNT RIDE FOR THE LAST 8 YEARS.
THAT WAS BEFORE HE WAS INTRODUCED TO THE BOWHEAD REACH ADAPTIVE MOUNTAIN BIKE. THE BOWHEAD HAS ALLOWED LANDON TO PUSH HIMSELF AGAIN AND HE COULDNT BE HAPPIER TO BE BACK RIDING BIKES AGAIN.
It feels absolutely incredible to get out on the bike again and get the feeling of being nervous at the top of the feature and then so satisfied when (hopefully) it all works out.
Landing this jump was one of the best feelings ever, I had tried to ride it the previous week but wasnt able to find enough speed. I ended up coming up short, hitting my chin on the handlebars.
After playing with some adjustments on the Bowhead, I got the top speed of the bike up.
Sitting on the top of the in run, looking at the jump brought back some emotions. That time on top of the in run waiting to hit something for the first time is a pretty special. You have to take control of your fears and emotions and picture it working how you have planned and prepared for it to.
3…2…1… drop.
Down the berm, over the roller, off of the ramp. It felt like a long time I was in the air but I knew as soon as I came off the ramp that it was going to go well.
Forunately this one worked incredible. Finding more speed into the ramp worked perfectly and I came down right where I wanted too. The Bowhead Bike handled perfectly giving me the perfect pop off of the lip and making the landing nice and smooth.
I couldnt be more stoked to back out riding with my friends. It is so great to have found a way to do something I love so much that i had long thought I would never do again.
Trevor Kennison, is a name that really needs no introduction. If you have followed the snowsport world even a little bit over the last two years there is no doubt you have seen videos or pictures of Trevor doing things that no one else alive can do on a sit ski.
Trevor’s passion, drive, love of life, and infectious positive attitude is enough to light up any room. We are so proud to call Trevor our friend, brother, and family.
We have no doubt that Trevor will continue to blow minds with a giant smile on his face for many years to come, Keep being you Trevor!
No point looking at the past and trying to change things you cant. I just focus on the present and try and squeeze the most out of every second of life.
Sit skiing has given me so much. So many good memories, good times and good friends. I’m just going to keep skiing and having fun and if people are stoked on my skiing that’s awesome!
