Today I want to introduce you to an adventurist that truly inspires others to live adventurously! Domonic Corradin is the epitome of adventure and I want to share his unique story from his perspective:

From Domonic Corradin:

I grew up in a small town in western Michigan, on a 10-acre “hobby farm”. As a young kid, I spent my days feeding the horses and goats, collecting the eggs from the chicken coop, and stacking firewood for the wood stove. When I was done with my chores and school, I played any and every sport I could get my grubby, little fingers on: from baseball, track, wrestling, basketball and then soccer became my passion. I grew up around sports and later in life became identified as an extreme athlete.

My sophomore year in high school during my off-season of soccer, I was involved in a traumatic car crash coming home from a training session. I lost control of my car on an icy curve, hurling my car into a tree and crushing my spine upon impact. I spent five days in intensive care including reconstructive surgery to my back. Then, I spent another six weeks in a rehabilitation hospital; to learn how to now live life from a wheelchair. My soccer career looked to be done and life was going to be a whole different game from now on.

Fortunately, I was visited in the hospital by 2 disabled mentors, both of whom were near the same age as me. Both were going to school and living life independently even though they were disabled like me. This, coupled with my recreational therapist being adamant about bringing me to practices and tournaments of all different wheelchair sports, gave me hope and desire to realize, I could still have the rush of competing, and I could return to the environment I loved so much.

Once I was discharged from the hospital, I began a rigorous physical therapy regiment and pushed my body harder than ever before. I had wheelchair racing in my sights and I was going to be a competitor once again. I entered my first race less than six months after my injury date, and continued racing for two years before switching to basketball during my senior year. I played one season of junior ball before going to college in Arizona and being recruited by the Phoenix Suns Wheelchair Basketball Team. I had found my home once again, just on a different type of “playing field”.

With my focus concentrating on my next game or race, I trained to be faster, stronger, and all the while making, unbeknownst to me, daily life even easier. When I was training for a 25K race transfers out of my bed and rolling up a hill in my everyday chair were that much less of as challenge. My health was better and I spent a lot less time in the hospital or even being sick, for that matter. People I’d met during my competitions became the best of friends and mentors. I was back!

Very early on in my new life, I was asked to visit other kids in the hospitals whom now faced the same daunting realization I did not all that long ago. I didn’t think I had it all figured out yet myself but, I was determined to help — however I could. I knew the difference it made to me when someone showed me that life was not over just yet, and I wanted to give that same spark to anyone and everyone. It was time for me to spread my knowledge and passion. I was going to be the one to pay-it-forward.

After years of playing every wheelchair sport at my grasp, I moved to the less orthodox and more extreme sports. I left the courts and started really pushing the limits of my mind and body, pushing past my fears in the air and sea. I began scuba diving and ski diving with groups across the country, and even climbed a rock wall here and there. I was always trying to better myself in any and all ways. Additionally, I wanted to find new ways to impart this new found joy onto others I’d meet along the way.

Fast forward a few years and a lifetime of experiences to when I meet the powers that be at the Triumph-Foundation. Right away I knew, this was going to be the organization I wanted to help out and excel by bringing extreme abilities to individuals (including myself) with disabilities –extreme sports, especially hand cycling.

For the last year now, I have organized the handcycling program and events for the Triumph-Foundation, based in Canyon Country, CA. I coordinate and run multiple monthly ride clinics; introducing the sport of handcycling for individuals with spinal cord injuries. I also work with various other organizations such as: MotivateME, Think First Injury Prevention, Alpha Resource Center, Project Walk and Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital lecturing at numerous schools, events, and attend support groups to provide peer support, and mentoring to individuals with SCI (spinal cord injuries).

Domonic has two exciting trips coming up, He is racing in the Zion Half Marathon with 4 other handcyclists on March 14th and then heading to China on the 17th for 19 days to do a 500K handcycle trek in the Yunnan province with a few other guys. We will have these adventures and more as Domonic reports back to us from the road.

In the mean time, check out his YouTube channel, blog and Facebook page:

http://www.extremeabilities.com

https://www.facebook.com/extremeabilities