Paralyzed snowmobiler could go home soon

A former competitive snowmobiler who lost the use of his legs at an event last fall says he looks forward to leaving a Vancouver hospital in a few months.

Darryl Tait, 20, of Whitehorse has been recovering at the spinal unit of the GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre since November, gradually building up his strength from the snowmobile jumping accident that paralyzed him a month before.

Tait was competing in the New Hampshire Grass Drags on Oct. 11, 2009,when he tried to perform a backflip, but his machine somehow lost powerand crashed to the ground, severing his spine and breaking some ribs.

'Have to make a living'

He is now set to be discharged from the rehabilitation centre in early March, and could return home a few weeks after that. Volunteers in Whitehorse are renovating a condominium for him to live in.

"I'm definitely going to have to make a living for myself. How I'm going to do that, I'm not quite sure yet," Tait told CBC News in an interview from the centre.

"I'm going to try as hard as I can to try do that up north because I love the North; it's been my life. I want to continue that and not be forced, because of my disability, to go down south."

Tait said the Canadian Snowboard Federation has asked him to help develop a snowboard that can be used by people whose lower bodies are paralyzed.

"I'm really stoked on it," he said. "I've always kept telling my buddy Matt that I don't want to be a skier, I still want to be a snowboarder."

Standing upright

Family members say the support from people in the North Tait has roots in Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Atlin, B.C. has played a major role in his recovery.

His mother, Barb Tait, said a significant moment was when Tait was able to stand upright using braces. She said the braces could eventually help him perform routine tasks.

"Even just getting around the kitchen doing things upright, some tasks, maybe that will be down the road, too," she said.

Tait and his parents are currently preparing for their first big field trip since the accident to the Winter X Games, which starts Thursday in Aspen, Colo.

Tait had hoped to compete there before his accident, but some competitors have invited him to the event anyway.