Words: Ryan Dunfee

An episode of Salomon Freeski TV aired last winter in which Josh Dueck, the Canadian Paralympic and Winter X Games medalist, landed the first ever backflip on a sit ski. Josh’s act was seen with admiration around the world. But for me, Dueck’s story raised some questions.

On Janaury 27th, 2005, on a gorgeous sunny day at Aspen’s Snowmass Mountain, I decided on my first run of my first day in town that the first jump at the top of the terrain park, which I had only seen from the top, looked good. I sat on my tails to get what I thought was the necessary speed, stood up, and popped hard.

Before I knew it I was thirty feet in the air with the landing well behind me. I overshot it so badly that I never even saw it. I watched trees pass by, then the groomer tracks nearing below me. Finally, in one horrible smack, my tailbone hit the ground at full force. When I pulled myself together, I had no feeling or movement in my legs. The only thing I remember thinking is, ” I hope I can get laid in a wheelchair. “

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Photo: Alain Sleager