Announcer: And they're off, everybody!

This is 30 minutes.

I think this might be one of the biggest handcycle groups ever.

Kevin Falk: Last time I was here I had two legs.

Today I have one leg.

I do more sports now than I did with two legs.

(Cheering) Muffy Davis: So many of us here in Idaho love and value and treasure the outdoors.

That's why we choose to live here.

Myla Perotto: Aha!

Kevin Kraal: Myla!

Oh, my goodness!

Davis: And for people with disabilities, you don't have to give that up.

Kraal: Oh, man!

Woman: Woo!

Voice: Yeah, kiddo!

Wow!

Bob Babbitt: Every one of these people was told what they couldn't do.

Audience: Go, Dani!

Wooo!

Babbitt: They've learned what they can do.

And they can do plenty.

Ellie Kennedy: I never thought I'd ride a bike again.

Mark Sortino: They're athletes first.

They don't complain.

They're dealing with life as it's given to them.

Peggy Higgins: All the athletes that do this, and you know, their, their spirit.

.

.

Voice: Yeah!

Higgins: They defy impossible!

(Music) ANNOUNCER: FUNDING FOR OUTDOOR IDAHO IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE MOORE AND BETTIS FAMILY LEGACY OF BUILDING THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO; BY THE FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION; BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

(Music) Instructor: Nice!

Really trust that left foot.

Kandice Johnson: Our motto is "Every Body Can Climb," 'cause that's firmly what we believe, that anybody can climb, and that we will make it possible for them to climb.

NARRATOR: TUCKED AWAY IN THE SOUTHERN IDAHO ICITY OF TWIN FALLS, THE GEMSTONE CENTER HAS BEEN OFFERING ADAPTIVE ROCK CLIMBING CLINICS SINCE 2019.

Ellie Petersen: OK, CLIMBING.

Instructor: OK, let's do it.

Johnson: We adapt the wall to make it work for them.

So if they're in a wheelchair, we put side-climbers with them and get them up the wall by assisting with lower legs and upper arms.

Instructor: Pull, pull, pull, pull.

ELLIE, WHO HAS SPINA BIFIDA AND USES A WHEELCHAIR WHEN SHE'S NOT CLIMBING, IS TRYING TO MAKE IT TO THE TOP OF ONE OF THE ADAPTIVE WALLS.

Instructor: This is a high foot.

I'm sorry in advance.

ON THIS WALL, THE HANDHOLDS ARE LARGER.

THEY ALSO HAVE THE LETTERS OF THE ALPHABET ON THEM, INTRODUCING ANOTHER ASPECT OF LEARNING AND MOTIVATION.

Instructor: You got this!

B is for barely any more to go!

And A for almost done!

Ellie: A!

Instructor: Woo!

Alright, ring that bell for the fans downstairs!

Ellie's Father: Good job, Ellie!

(Bell rings) Instructor: Woo!

Alright, one down, two to go.

Nice job.

FOR SOME, CLIMBING HAS BECOME A FAMILY AFFAIR.

SAMANTHA AND YARITZA ARE TWINS WHO BOTH LOVE THE SPORT.

SAMANTHA HAS CEREBRAL PALSY, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR HER TO WALK.

BUT ON A VERTICAL SURFACE, SHE BECOMES A SPIDERWOMAN.

Instructor: Alright, let's push through that right foot - yeah!

Instructor: Big push, big push!

Yaritza Martinez: Good job, Samantha!

I see them here and I think it's like a miracle.

It's amazing.

I think everyone should have access to any sort of sport, any sort of activity.

Instructor: Grab with both hands.

Good.

Yeah!

Martinez: She's probably the bravest person I know.

It's insane.

Instructor: You're doing super good.

Tina Martinez: I was terrified.

I thought, "Oh, no, you know, a fall or something."

But she kept doing it and she's done really good.

Instructor: Nice!

You're so close!

You made it!

Kevin Kraal: Good.

High feet.

Ooh, really high feet.

Awesome.

KEVIN KRAAL IS A CLIMBER WHO VOLUNTEERS AT THE CLINICS.

HE'S BEEN TRAINING ONE YOUNG WOMAN IN PARTICULAR .

.

.

MYLA PEROTTO.

Kraal: Nice!

SEVEN YEARS AGO, MYLA WAS HIT WITH A RARE VIRUS THAT PARALYZED PARTS OF HER BODY.

Myla Perotto: At first I didn't want to do anything.

Like I was like, I don't like to be alive anymore, you know.

And then this came along and I really like this.

I honestly believe it strengthens me.

MYLA STILL HAS LIMITED FUNCTION ON HER RIGHT SIDE.

SO SHE HAS TO THROW THE FULL WEIGHT OF HER ARM UP IN ORDER TO GRASP A HOLD.

Myla: It's so hard.

I'm so tired.

We have to finish.

We cannot give up.

Kraal: She pushes herself.

She's got an incredible sense of humor.

She's wicked smart.

Nice high feet.

That's great, Myla!

She's who I want to be when I grow up, if I were to grow up, right?

Kraal: That's it.

That's it; pivot your hip against the wall.

There you go.

Alma Perotto: If you would have told me seven years ago when all this started that this would be where she was, I probably would have been questionable about it.

I feel that Gemstone has helped bring her back again.

Kraal: Nice!

Nice!

You got it!

Myla: We did it - woo hoo!

(Applause) Myla's Father: Good job, Myla!

Myla: Ugh.

Kraal: Alright, get your head in the game.

THREE MONTHS LATER, THE REAL DEAL.

MYLA AND KEVIN HAVE COME TO AUGER FALLS PARK NEAR TWIN FALLS TO PUT HER INDOOR SKILLS TO THE TEST.

Kraal: Ooh, nice smear.

God, nice.

That was a thin smear; that was really well done.

Myla: I'm a little nervous, but it's OK, I guess.

Kraal: Nice feet.

Myla: Aah!

I don't like this one.

It's OK, though.

Kraal: It's all you.

All you.

Woo!

Kraal: Get it, get it, get it, yeah!

The interesting thing is when I started climbing with her, I was really struck by her disability, and I don't even see it anymore.

Myla, you're doing so amazing!

I'm just watching an amazing climber exceed her limits every time she goes up.

Oh yeah, oh yeah!

Left foot out on that face.

There you go.

Myla: I've never gone this high on this one.

Kraal: No you haven't.

You got this.

Myla: OK.

I feel like I'm in an action movie now.

Kraal: Yeah, you are an action movie, girl.

Chris Perotto: The whole time I'm there I'm just like, "Wow", you know.

She was in a wheelchair.

Um, they thought she would be in a wheelchair for a long, long time, um, potentially for the rest of her life.

So it's, it's really good to see how far she's come.

Myla: Aha.

Kraal: Myla!

Oh, my goodness!

Myla: I can just step right here.

Kraal: Oh, man.

Woman: Myla!

Myla: See that?

Kraal: Yeah!

Woman: Nice, Myla!

Kraal: Woo!

That's astounding.

That would be hard for me to do.

Woman: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

(Laughs) Myla: When I get to the top, I feel like I've, uh, like I'm proud of myself, and like I did that.

Kraal: She knocked it out of the park today.

She, she climbed way better than I've ever see her climb today.

She was amazing.

Very nice.

Myla: That was the roughest.

Kraal: Lookit.

You're so amazing.

I can't stand it.

Myla: Wow, thanks!

MYLA IS JUST ONE OF THE GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ENJOYING THE OUTDOORS.

WITH BETTER ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT, INCREASED INCLUSION AND DECREASED STIGMA, THERE'S BEEN A SURGE IN WHAT ARE KNOWN AS PARA-SPORTS.

.

.

"PARA" BEING SHORT FOR "PARALLEL" TO OTHER SPORTS.

AND IDAHO IS AT THE FOREFRONT.

Muffy Davis: We have more people with disabilities at elite level - Paralympians - moving to the state.

But all, more, more people coming out wanting to try, and not realizing it was even possible.

IDAHOAN MUFFY DAVIS HAS WON SEVEN MEDALS IN THE PARALYMPICS, INCLUDING THREE GOLD MEDALS IN CYCLING.

Davis: I've always said, you know, "What do you want to do?

There's someone out there willing to help you do it."

And your disability does not have to be a limiting factor.

If you build it, they will come!

Voice: OK, grab your shovels, and I'll give the countdown.

In 3,2,1. .

.

AND BUILD IT THEY ARE.

THE J.A.

AND KATHRYN ALBERTSON FAMILY FOUNDATION IS CONSTRUCTING A STATE-OF-THE-ART INCLUSIVE TRAINING FACILITY IN BOISE.

Jennifer Skeesick: There is not another training space like this, anywhere in the country.

We really see it as a destination for people across the country to come and explore and learn, and then go home with a new confidence and a new realization of what's possible.

THE FIELDHOUSE WILL ALSO BE THE HOME FOR THE CHALLENGED ATHLETES FOUNDATION IN IDAHO.

C.A.F., AS IT'S KNOWN, PROVIDES MILLION OF DOLLARS IN TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT TO ADAPTIVE ATHLETES AROUND THE WORLD.

IN IDAHO, C.A.F.

IS FULLY FUNDED BY THE ALBERTSON FOUNDATION, ENABLING IT TO GIVE GRANTS YEAR-ROUND.

Skeesick: We have athletes that are wanting to go and do new and bold things.

And so let's make sure that's possible.

Because if someone shows up on a start line, we want to make sure that they have an opportunity to compete.

Announcer: And they're off, everybody!

This is 30 minutes.

SOME OF THE COUNTRY'S BEST ADAPTIVE CYCLISTS ARE CONVERGING ON SOUTHERN IDAHO FOR THE NATIONAL PARACYCLING ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS.

THE CRITERIUM, ONE OF FOUR EVENTS, IS A FAST RACE CIRCLING DOWNTOWN BOISE.

Skeesick: Adaptive athletes deserve that same, very high level, high exposure racing experience.

ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY HAVE OPENED UP THE SPORT TO RACERS AND NON-RACERS ALIKE.

Davis: It didn't even exist when I first had my accident in '89.

And now we've got these carbon fiber, fast, lightweight bikes.

Announcer: We're putting our hands together for these amazing athletes!

Let's see who's gonna get it.

Who's going to get the title?

Wow!

FOR IDAHOAN ELLIE KENNEDY, THE CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE A CHANCE TO COMPETE ON A NATIONAL STAGE CLOSE TO HOME.

AT 64, KENNEDY IS THE OLDEST FEMALE PARACYCLIST IN THE WORLD TO RACE IN THESE EVENTS.

A MILITARY VETERAN, SHE HAS ATAXIA, A NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE THAT CAN CAUSE BALANCE ISSUES.

Ellie Kennedy: They basically said you're never gonna ride a bike again.

BUT ELLIE FOUND A WAY, BY USING A SPECIAL RACING TRICYCLE.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S EASY, THOUGH.

THE BIKE IS HEAVY, AND TAKING CORNERS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS.

Kennedy: It is tricky, you know; it's completely opposite of the way that you would ride a regular bike.

ELLIE WILL BE COMPETING IN TWO RACES, INCLUCING THE TIME TRIAL TODAY, SHE'S SCOUTING THAT SITE WITH HER COACH, AND PRACTICING HER TURN.

Mark Sortino: Eyes ahead!

There you go!

Good.

Let's do it again.

She's very tenacious, very driven.

What you'll find when you're around these active   para athletes is that they're just, they don't complain.

They're, they're dealing with life as it's given to them.

THE DAY OF THE RACE, CYCLISTS ARE FACED WITH HIGH WINDS.

ELLIE WILL HAVE TO GO ALL OUT FOR NINE MILES.

(Beeping sound) (Music) Kennedy: Well, this is a time trial course, which is just you against the clock.

It's pretty much uphill most of the way out, and then mostly downhill on the way back.

You're going at pretty much 100, 110 percent the whole way.

(Cheering) Voices: Doing good, Ellie!

Oh, nice turn.

Keep going; you got it!

Kennedy: For me, it's just about doing my own race.

I mean that's really what it's about; it's not about what anyone else is doing.

I'd like to hit national standard.

But with this wind, for me it's really about being safe.

(Music) Kennedy: I felt good about it.

I was happy.

I wanted to be safe.

And I couldn't go the speed I wanted to coming back because of the wind, but that's fine.

TWO DAYS LATER, HER NEXT EVENT THE CHALLENGING ROAD RACE.

(Bells ringing) Kennedy: I never thought I'd ride a bike again.

It doesn't matter what your disability is, you can do something if you want to.

Even if you're not inclined to do sports, there's so many things that somebody can do just to get outside and have fun and be with people.

Voice: Way to go!

Take it all the way home now!

Bob Babbitt: The silliest thing you can ever do in life is underestimate somebody.

Cause every one of these people is told what they couldn't do.

And they've learned over time, and hopefully with the help of CAF, they've learned what they can do.

And they can do plenty.

Announcer: Ellie Kennedy of Idaho.

64 years of age, unofficially will be taking the gold in T2 for women.

Peggy Higgins: All the athletes that do this, and you know, their, their spirit; they defy impossible.

Announcer: Your 2021 National Champion, Ellie Kennedy!

(Cheering) Kennedy: That was amazing.

That was the goal for the year was to win nationals at home in Boise.

Announcer: It's a hometown race and now a hometown national title.

Coming from Boise, the winner, Ellie Kennedy!

Kennedy: It was very emotional, very, very emotional.

C.A.F.

FUNDS MANY TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES IN IDAHO.

INCLUDING THIS SKI CLINIC AT DOLLAR MOUNTAIN IN SUN VALLEY.

Photographer: Woo!

One more!

IT'S CO-SPONSORED WITH HIGHER GROUND, A THERAPEUTIC RECREATION GROUP PARTICIPANTS OF ALL AGES CAN COME FREE OF CHARGE TO TRY OUT ADAPTIVE SKIS AND TAKE SPECIAL LESSONS.

AND IF THEY LIKE THE SPORT, THEY CAN APPLY FOR A GRANT TO GET SOME EQUIPMENT.

KEVIN FALK, WHO LOST ONE OF HIS LEGS IN A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT, IS TRYING A SIT-SKI.

Kevin Falk: I'm higher than I was expecting to be, but it'll be good.

Instructor: When you're at Higher Ground, that's what happens!

Falk: Last time I was here, I had two legs.

Today I have one leg.

So I wanted to look at alternatives so I can still be up on the mountain, and I thought this was a good chance to, to try this.

KEVIN CHOSE A SIT-SKI BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE A CHANCE OF INJURING HIS REMAINING LEG IF HE WERE TO FALL WHILE SKIING STANDING UP.

BUT THERE'S A STEEP LEARNING CURVE.

PRETTY SOON, THOUGH, HE GETS THE HANG OF IT.

Instructor: And then you're gonna put those guys in ski mode.

Yep, just like that.

Just like that.

And look at Dane, look up.

Nice!

ON ANOTHER PART OF THE SLOPE, TYREL MURPHY HAS DECIDED TO SKI UPRIGHT, REMOVING HIS PROSTHETIC LEG Tyrel MurphY: I felt like I'd have more control.

If I want to come up and do it on my own, I want to be independent.

So if I fall down, I can get back up.

MURPHY, WHO LOST HIS LEG FROM A STREP INFECTION WHEN HE WAS A CHILD, HAS NEVER GONE DOWNHILL SKIING.

SO NOT ONLY IS HE LEARNING THE SPORT, BUT HE'S TRYING TO FIND HIS NEW CENTER OF GRAVITY.

Jeff Burley: Left outrigger, forward into the boot.

Nope.

Eh - Erk.

BEFORE LONG, THOUGH, HE STARTS RE-CALIBRATING HIS MIND AND BODY.

Burley: There it is.

Nice, nice.

TYREL'S TEACHER IS JEFF BURLEY, WHO RUNS THE HIGHER GROUND PROGRAM.

HE USES ONLY ONE SKI IN ORDER TO REPLICATE HIS STUDENT'S SITUATION AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

Burley: So you have to come forward, come forward into it.

Use that outrigger weight.

I can't just say, "Oh, do this."

And I do it with my ability and my two legs to make the turn, and you're telling them to do it and it's not possible.

If I do it, I know it can be done.

Big toe, big toe, little more, left outrigger.

Murphy: This has been on my bucket list for years, so to actually go out and ski is great.

It's so much fun.

You know, you're only limited by what you are willing to try, and if you're not willing to try it, then you're going to limit yourself.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL, KEVIN'S GETTING MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE WITH HIS SIT-SKI: Instructor: Alright.

Let's do it!

(Music) Instructor: Yahoo!

Woo!

Videographer: How'd that feel?

Falk: Good.

Scary but good.

THIS IS KEVIN'S LATEST SPORT.

HE'S ALSO A BICYCLIST.

Falk: I got this one.

AND HE PLAYS AND TEACHES WHEELCHAIR TENNIS.

Falk: I do more sports now than I did with two legs.

I just want to show people that whatever happens with you, that you can still do things.

Voice: Oh!

Burley: There's so many opportunities for people with disabilities now.

I love it.

Its - I get to be outside changing people's lives and giving them a higher quality of life.

Nice.

High five!

Murphy: Ooof.

THAT SAME WEEKEND, THE CHALLENGED ATHLETES FOUNDATION ALSO PUTS ON A CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CLINIC FOR CHILDREN.

CLARA, WHO LIVES WITH SPINA BIFIDA AND SEVERE SCIOLOSIS, TAKES TO THE SPORT RIGHT AWAY.

Instructor: Yeah, kiddo!

Wow!

Nice work!

Callie Longoria: It's amazing.

She has the opportunity to do things that, that everybody can do.

Being around other kids that are like her, um, it's good.

It motivates her and she, she doesn't feel any different.

Clara Longoria: It was really fun, actually.

Because I met some new people.

FOR PARALYMPIAN MUFFY DAVIS, WHO JOINS THE GROUP IN A LIVELY GAME OF TAG, IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE FROM WHAT SHE EXPERIENCED AFTER SHE WAS PARALYZED IN 1989.

Muffy Davis: Nothing like this existed.

I mean when I came back.

I was like the only person in my high school with a physical disability.

Um, so it was really hard.

I'm just like, how wonderful it is for these kids to have peers that they can look at and there's other people like them.

Woosh!

Thank you Clara, woo!

Team work, isn't it, huh?

And I look at these kids and I see that the future of the U.S. team is awesome.

Voice: There you go - woo hoo!

THE PRESENT IS LOOKING PRETTY GOOD, TOO.

DANI ARAVICH AND JOSH SWEENEY ARE TWO OF THE TALENTED SKIERS FROM IDAHO IN THE PARALYMPICS.

Dani Aravich: I think Nordic is the most technically challenging sport I've ever tried.

I, I can't stop until I get good at this, until I am the best at this!

THE NIGHT OF DANI'S PARALYMPIC RACE, HER PARENTS ATTEND A WATCH PARTY.

Voices: "Go Dani!"

(Bells ringing) DANI JUST MISSES GETTING INTO THE FINAL.

BUT HER MOM IS STILL PROUD.

Kate Aravich: I'm very excited about that.

I mean, she's brand new at this, and only been doing it a couple years.

And her skiing's come along really, really well, and she loves it.

Davis: Paralympic athletes train equally, if not harder, than some Olympic athletes.

We're all searching for that millisecond faster.

I used to call it the 'I word.'

When people would call me, "Oh, you're an inspiration," or "You're so inspiring," and I'd come home and I'd be like, "Oh, dad, they used the 'I word' today."

It was so frustrating.

But what I've come to realize is that's a gift if I can, by living my life, help, motivate and inspire and encourage others to do the best they can do.

And what does the world need more than inspiration right now?

Voice: Launching!

(Music) Joe Stone: Flying is really unique.

Paragliding is really unique.

You pull things out of a bag and all, and you somehow can fly.

I mean, it's quite the magical experience.

I was injured in 2010 while speed flying.

So I'm paralyzed from the chest down.

Kind of woke up into my worst nightmare.

And to be honest, I thought a nursing home was the rest of my life.

I knew nothing about disability.

Our vision is true inclusion in the community.

I think now we've done 15 adaptive tandems off this mountain.

Sari Lipp: I always say, "I'm going to live a full-throttle life and do everything I can to just try it and have the experience."

And this is one of them!

Stone: What we're using now is a trike that's made in France, and it's three wheels - two in the rear, one in the front.

It opens the door for more people.

Anybody can go flying.

(Music) Voice: Yeah!

Lipp: I love the outdoors.

I love adventure.

Me being outside, being able to be active, is kind of a mental health reset, um, with everything I have to deal with.

Richard Pethigal: So Sari, tell me, what do you feel like?

Lipp: Good.

Like a free feeling.

You know, we sit back as differently-abled population and wonder what certain things feel like.

Pethigal: Who's a bird?

Lipp: And being able to do that, we don't have to wonder anymore.

Stone: It's not just the one flight.

It opens your mind.

Of, well, if this is possible, like what else could I be doing?

Lipp: It was an amazing opportunity that I will forever cherish.

I could go up there again and again, and again.

(Music) Voices: Nice!

Bye, bye, Lance!

That was my favorite launch yet.

Stone: It really does show what inclusion can look like and should look like.

Right now is the best time ever to live with a disability.

The technology is at its peak.

It's never been as good as it is right now.

There are more organizations out there supporting people with disabilities to be able to get out with their friends and families and enjoy the outdoors.

And with all of that, it really brings in this connection to the earth in our community.

(Music) ANNOUNCER: FUNDING FOR OUTDOOR IDAHO IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE MOORE AND BETTIS FAMILY LEGACY OF BUILDING THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO; BY THE FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION; BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.