Growing up in the Salt Lake Valley, I was always drawn to the rugged beauty of the Wasatch Range. If I wasn’t getting outside regularly, my life felt unsteady.In February 2020, while backcountry skiing in the southern Wasatch, I was involved in a horrific ski accident that nearly ended my life. I sustained numerous injuries, the most profound being a complete spinal cord injury between the T4 and T5 vertebrae, paralyzing me from the mid-chest down. In an instant, my physical identity was shattered. However, I realized that the method of getting outside wasn’t as important as just getting out there. Finding adaptive equipment and organizations like the National Ability Center proved to be key.First MOFOAfter a summer of riding off-road hand cycles with the National Ability Center, I was invited to participate in the annual MOFO Ride, which was started 15 years ago by Craig White, a local Park City supporter of the NAC. It was an all-day event, the biggest day since my injury, starting and ending on the trails of Round Valley and Park City Mountain. Shared with the amazing White family and the NAC community, the event overflowed with encouragement, great conversations, and smiles as wide as Utah’s horizons. For the first time since my injury, I felt normal again.Power of storytellingAfter my accident, I spent two weeks in the intensive care unit and began to wrap my head around how my disabilities could affect my work as a freelance journalist, photographer and videographer. Certain things were immediately out, but most were still possible with some adaptations. I also sensed that this new situation would open the door for more meaningful projects. For too long, stories in mainstream media about outdoor recreation have been told by and focused on the privileged majority. My experience inspired me to push for more diversity in these narratives, leading to the creation of “Tread Setters.” ‘Tread Setters’In “Tread Setters,” we highlight four athletes as well as myself, who come from marginalized communities not only in terms of disabilities but also gender and race. I hope that when members of the adaptive community watch this, they recognize a little of themselves in Josie, Steven, Roger and Annijke, and are motivated to get outside and find their own adventures.After watching this film, I hope people realize it’s not a huge leap to adjust expectations. The MOFO event serves as an annual reminder of this, allowing Parkites to experience the joy of adaptive sports firsthand.The incredible day of riding couldn’t happen without the support of Park City Mountain and Vail EpicPromise, and the trails they maintain with the help of Mountain Trails Foundation. If you’re out on the Park City Mountain trails on Sept. 28, you’re likely to see groups of riders in bright-colored MOFO jerseys on all kinds of bikes having a blast and enjoying the incredible trails that all Parkites love.Louis Arévalo is a National Ability Center participant and “Tread Setters” director.The post Guest Editorial: From MOFO rider to ‘Tread Setters’ filmmaker appeared first on Park Record.