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Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Limb deficiency
Origin of Impairment
Acquired
Classification
SB-LL1
Further personal information
Family
Daughter Skylar
Residence
United States
Occupation
Athlete, Public Speaker
Languages
English
Higher education
Business, Commerce - DeVry University: United States
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
He first tried Para snowboarding in 2015 in Colorado, United States of America, through the Sunshine Kids Foundation. Prior to losing his leg he had been a skateboarder since age seven.
Why this sport?
He was initially exposed to Para snowboarding after watching the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi during his treatment. Although he had initially wanted to get back into skateboarding, after he met US Para snowboarder Brenna Huckaby at a cancer group trip he was inspired to switch to snowboarding. He became more inspired after watching another US Para snowboarder, Mike Schultz, on television talking about his prosthetic leg. "When I was in treatment I was watching [Keith] Gabel, [Evan] Strong and [Mike] Shea [competing in Sochi]. Experiencing that moment and going through treatment while they stood on that podium inspired me to work towards getting back on a board but this time a snowboard. Brenna had the same cancer as me but decided to amputate her leg early on because it was so severe that it was really her only option to successfully survive treatment. So, they amputated her leg and she started snowboarding. I was like, 'OK, it is possible'. A few weeks after they cut off my leg I was watching TV in my room and randomly this talk show came on. Here's this guy, Mike Schultz, talking about his prosthetic and sharing his story and I was like, 'No way, that's the leg I need'. I was thinking back to Brenna and sent her a message asking what leg she used, and she said, 'You need to talk to Mike'. All these dots were connecting."
International debut
Year
2017
Competing for
United States
Tournament
World Cup
Location
New Zealand
General interest
Nicknames
Sendy (Athlete, 10 Feb 2018)
Hobbies
Skateboarding, motorcycling, spending time outdoors and at the beach, hiking, animals, surfing. (teamusa.org, 21 Jun 2020)
Most influential person in career
His daughter. "My life changed tremendously [when she was born]. There were a lot of things happening at that time, and for me when she was born, it immediately flipped the switch for me. It really helped me drive more for my success and my goals because I wasn't only doing it for myself, I was also doing it for my daughter." (teamusa.org, 21 Jun 2020)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"Our success is challenged by the way we live. Success is turning dreams into commitments, grow your roots and go." (Athlete, 10 Feb 2018)
Ambitions
To win two gold medals at the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing. (teamusa.org, 21 Jun 2020)
Impairment
At age 17 his left leg was amputated above the knee due to a form of bone cancer known as osteosarcoma. He had been diagnosed a year earlier, and after a year of chemotherapy and a complete knee replacement, his body rejected the replacement and he made the decision to have the leg amputated. (discovernac.org, 2016, gofundme.com, 2016)
Other information
INSPIRATIONAL DAUGHTER
He says his biggest motivation after the amputation of his leg was his daughter Skylar, who was age five months when his cancer was diagnosed. "One of the hardest parts that reminded me when I was on snow, what I was doing and why I was there, was leaving Skylar behind. I had her at such a young age. Skateboarding may have been a leading factor [in him taking up snowboarding] but the thing that finished the journey was her. I am doing this not for me but for her. I would snowboard as long as I could. I would skip lunch and just go, go, go because I knew what I was working towards. Being a girl dad has changed my life. I really try to teach her anything and everything I can." (teamusa.org, 21 Jun 2020; dailyjournalonline.com, 22 Apr 2018)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
He has served as an ambassador for Wiggle Your Toes, a US organisation that helps amputees. In November 2019 he became programme coordinator for Steamboat Adaptive Recreational Sports [STARS] in Steamboat Springs, CO, United States of America. He was involved in the programme as a teenager when he was battling cancer. "I want to give back what I was given and help people experience the life-changing opportunity that shows them they are more capable than what they thought and shows them that somebody believes in them." (teamusa.org, 21 Jun 2020; steamboatpilot.com, 15 Nov 2019)
He says his biggest motivation after the amputation of his leg was his daughter Skylar, who was age five months when his cancer was diagnosed. "One of the hardest parts that reminded me when I was on snow, what I was doing and why I was there, was leaving Skylar behind. I had her at such a young age. Skateboarding may have been a leading factor [in him taking up snowboarding] but the thing that finished the journey was her. I am doing this not for me but for her. I would snowboard as long as I could. I would skip lunch and just go, go, go because I knew what I was working towards. Being a girl dad has changed my life. I really try to teach her anything and everything I can." (teamusa.org, 21 Jun 2020; dailyjournalonline.com, 22 Apr 2018)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
He has served as an ambassador for Wiggle Your Toes, a US organisation that helps amputees. In November 2019 he became programme coordinator for Steamboat Adaptive Recreational Sports [STARS] in Steamboat Springs, CO, United States of America. He was involved in the programme as a teenager when he was battling cancer. "I want to give back what I was given and help people experience the life-changing opportunity that shows them they are more capable than what they thought and shows them that somebody believes in them." (teamusa.org, 21 Jun 2020; steamboatpilot.com, 15 Nov 2019)
Results
| Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Snowboard Cross SB-LL1 | Final | 2018-03-12 | 3 | |
| Men's Banked Slalom SB-LL1 | Final | 2018-03-16 | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Banked Slalom SB-LL1 | Race 1 | 2019-03-27 | 2 | |
| Men's Snowboard Cross SB-LL1 | Race 1 | 2019-03-30 | 1 |
