Whitehorse athlete touts benefits of 'skateboarding, but in wheelchairs' - Action News
Home WebMail Friday, November 22, 2024, 07:31 PM | Calgary | -11.4°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
NorthVideo

Whitehorse athlete touts benefits of 'skateboarding, but in wheelchairs'

Whitehorse athlete Darryl Tait says WCMX, or wheelchair motocross, is a lot of fun, but also teaches practical skills and instills confidence in children eager for a more independent life.

Darryl Tait says WCMX instils confidence and teaches wheelchair users practical skills

RAW: Darryl Tait competes in Texas WCMX event

8 years ago
Duration 0:15
Whitehorse athlete Darryl Tait is hoping to raise awareness in Canada about the growing sport of WCMX, or wheelchair motocross.

Whitehorse athlete Darryl Tait is hoping to raise awareness in Canada about the growing sport of WCMX, or wheelchair motocross.

He hasjust returned from the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas, where he participatedin an annual event that's part competition,part clinic to work with children interested in learning whatTaitdescribes as skateboarding, but with wheelchairs.

Taittook second place in his competition, which was better than he thought he'd do.

But it's the work in the clinic that the older athletes do with children as young as threeyearsold thatbrings Tait, and others, to tears.WCMX is a sport and a lot of fun, Tait said, but it also teaches the kids confidence and practical skills that can make their days much more enjoyable.

Darryl Tait, left, Brooklyn Gibson, centre, and the founder of WCMX, Aaron Fotheringham (submitted by Darryl Tait)

'If they see a curbcut, they can jump it'

"They learn all these skills in the skatepark, but they can take them out into theireveryday [life] and if there's any challenges with wheelchair accessibility,they can overcome them with those skills," he said.

"So if they see a curbcut, they can jump it or make it seem like it's more fun, just thinking outside the box, pretty much."

Mike Box, left, is a like a Santa Claus, who builds properly fitted wheelchairs for kids who are being held back by chairs that are too big for them. (submitted by Darryl Tait)
A lot of the credit goes to Mike Box, Tait said.

Box is known as a sort of Santa Clauswho makes custom-built wheelchairs forchildren.

Their ownchairs are often too big for them and as a result, their parents have to continually push them around, said Tait.

"Then Mike builds a properly fitted chair for them and they jump in it and suddenly their world becomes totally independent for them.

"They can do everything on their own, and now the parents are freaking out because they're chasing their kids, going down ramps and trying to learn wheelies and stuff."

The sport is mainly centred in the United States, Taitsaid, but starting up in other countries as well.

Taitsaid hehope to see Canada added to that list soon.

Darryl Tait with Mayli Gibson at the wheelchair motocross clinic in Texas. (submitted by Darryl Tait.)