Carlos has spent time off the ground. Under a paramotor wing, and clipped to a zip line cable. This October he's buckling into the passenger seat of a Lamborghini Huracán.
His advice for getting there is short. "Just keep moving forward."
Meet Carlos.
Carlos is from Waukegan, Illinois, a suburb north of Chicago. He's a wheelchair user, a member of our community, and someone who picks his hobbies based on how fast his heart rate climbs.
How a Christmas party got him into adaptive sports.
His first adaptive sport wasn't planned. GLASA (the Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association) hosted a Christmas party, there was a basketball court, and Carlos gave it a go.
That was the start. These days he's moved on from the court to what he calls "adrenaline-type activities"
Here's just a few of the activities he's tried.
WCMX. Wheelchair motocross. Think skatepark ramps, bowls and drops, ridden in a chair
Handcycling Wheelchair handcycling using an adaptive cycle, a great way to get outdoors.
Paramotoring. Powered paragliding, with a motor and a wing.
Archery. Using a bow and arrow to hit the target.
Rock-climbing. Using a pully system to get to the top.
Zip lining. Self-explanatory, and very high up.
If you've never tried an adaptive sport and don't know where to begin, Carlos's story is a good reminder that a local adaptive sports club is usually the easiest door in. One party, one basketball, and here we are.
Can you go paramotoring or zip lining in a wheelchair?
Yes. Carlos has done both, and when we asked what he's most proud of as an adaptive athlete, his answer was simple: paramotoring and zip lining.
We also asked what bucket-list experience people wouldn't expect a wheelchair user to have done. Same answer.
That tells you something. For a lot of people, flying is a "someday" item. Carlos has already ticked it off, twice over, in two different ways. (Want to try it yourself? Talk to an adaptive sports organisation near you first; they'll know which operators have worked with wheelchair users before.)
Next up: a Lamborghini Huracán ride-along.
In October, Carlos is doing a ride-along in a Lamborghini Huracán. After paramotoring, a supercar is probably the most grounded thing on his list. We'd still like a video, Carlos.
What keeps him going.
Family and friends. When things get tough, that's who Carlos leans on.
No big speech about it, and he doesn't need one. The people around you matter, especially on the days the chair, the weather and your own head all seem to be working against you.
His advice if you're new to using a wheelchair.
We asked Carlos what he'd say to someone newly using a wheelchair who's worried their old dreams are off the table. Here's what he told us:
"Just keep moving forward just cause you’re in a wheelchair. Doesn’t mean nothing. Conquer your fears, you got this."
That's coming from someone who has flown with a motor strapped to his back. Worth listening to.
The gear that keeps him rolling.
Carlos says his adaptive equipment helps him do the stuff he loves, from sports to everyday life. That's the job of good gear: it works quietly in the background so you can get on with the parts that matter to you.
If you're looking to keep your hands free for the ride, LapStacker holds your bag, your coffee and whatever else the day throws at you. Zip. Clip. Go.
Keep moving forward.
We'll leave the last word to Carlos:
"Just got to keep moving forward. Never look back."
Follow Carlos for more of his adventures.
Instagram - carlos_murillo1994
YouTube - carlosmurillo8016
Got a story you'd like to share with the Adaptdefy community? Get in touch
Happy Adaptdefying.
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