For any wheelchair user, competing and taking part in extreme sporting events seems like an impossibility. There is simply no way an average wheelchair that is built for indoor use would be able to compete in any extreme sporting events. Indoor wheelchairs that are designed for day to day use have an average cost between $12,000 – $25,000 for a manual push wheelchair. They are far too expensive to risk damage in an event like the Dirty Dash.
However, with the Extreme Motus Emma X3 wheelchair, anything is possible. This all-terrain wheelchair can traverse over difficult terrain such as gravel, grass, sand and even ice.
With that in mind, Sam Durst and his parents, Roger and Christine, decided to put the Emma X3 all-terrain wheelchair to the test. They decided to see if this all-terrain wheelchair really worked in every terrain, by running the ‘Dirty Dash’ in Utah.
Running the Course
This isn’t the easiest race in the world, even for seasoned runners, and is called the ‘Dirty Dash’ for a reason. Not only is this race 5 kilometres long, which is enough of a trek for someone in a wheelchair, but there are multitudes of obstructions throughout the journey. Mud pits, slides, foam baths, and mud and sludge everywhere- these obstacles are enough for any abled bodied person to struggle with, but for someone in a wheelchair, it could be considered impossible.
This course would wreck any average wheelchair. But not the Emma X3 all-terrain wheelchair.
This wheelchair by Extreme Motus is designed for rough terrain. It can travel through gravel, sand and yes, even mud. The wheelchair also floats, meaning that it can travel through even the wettest and muddiest part of the ‘dirty dash’.
This video below shows Sam, his family, and his friends running this muddy trail.
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As you can see from the video, Sam, with the use of the all-terrain wheelchair, was able to tackle all the different kinds of obstacles on the course.
Of course, at times, this wasn’t easy. With the help of other people, Sam was lifted, pulled and helped through some of the more difficult obstacles. Fortunately, the Emma X3 weighs just 49 pounds, meaning that no one was lifting too heavy a weight.
Everyone crossed the finish line cold, muddy, but incredibly happy. The real testament to the amazing impact this all-terrain wheelchair can have was when Sam said ‘I am having the time of my life.’
If you have a loved one who needs the support of a wheelchair but also wants to enjoy the outdoors and extreme activities, consider getting them one of these all-terrain wheelchairs, so they never have to miss out on anything.