Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
PLEASANT GROVE — Sam Durst had been to Arches National Park before, but this time was different.
For the first 36 years of his life, he was left behind, with one of his parents, while the rest of his family went hiking. But in the fall of 2019, something came along that gave Durst the opportunity to experience Delicate Arch with his whole family — paving the way for many more adventures for himself and others.
Durst has cerebral palsy, and in 2019, he was introduced to an all-terrain wheelchair by a childhood friend, Ryan Grassley, who just so happened to be the chief marketing officer at Extreme Motus. Over the next few years, the two friends would go on adventures together and film them for the world to see, gaining over 100 million views on social media.
Today, Durst and the Extreme Motus crew are working hard to not only spread the word of an adventure-filled life for all who want it, but to provide opportunities for an all-access experience in state and national parks. In fact, during the recent legislative session, they took the chair to the Capitol with the hope of getting senators to put their chairs at state and national parks.
"What we're trying to do is make the outdoors more accessible by allowing our wheelchairs," said Adam Beesley, CEO at Extreme Motus. "The Americans with Disabilities Act is made to get people with disabilities into places we all should be able to go. We have parking spaces and signals at stop lights and, by law, we have to have these things, but there's nothing in the outdoor world.
"It's like ADA compliance ends at the sidewalk."
Beesley said having chairs at state and national parks is more cost-effective and less invasive to the landscape.
"Instead of spending millions of dollars to make parking lots bigger, we want our chairs available on-site, so that anyone can go to a park and use them," he said. "We're working on legislation right now to get that wording into some of these bills so that they have to recognize it."
A planning group is set up in April with state representatives and other stakeholders, including Utah House Rep. Doug Welton, R-Payson, who said he shares the goal for more access to these spaces.
"My hope is to facilitate a conversation that leads to better access to our state and even national parks," Welton said. "We have new technological advances that can help facilitate access to the beauties of our state without compromising the rugged nature of these lands that we all enjoy. I believe there is a path forward for the state to help facilitate access. The sheer joy on the faces of those who have been able to access these areas for the first time is infectious and heartwarming."
'Sheer joy'
"Sheer joy" is how many have described the expression on Durst's face when he is riding the Motis, and it's no wonder. In each one of his videos, Durst is smiling ear-to-ear with accompanying laughter. Both Beesley and Grassley said showing the world the joy on Durst's face when he goes on hikes and rolls down grassy hills has given many families hope for a life they didn't know was possible.
"We had a man purchase the chair, and his wife used it one time and then she passed away," Beesley recalled. "The man called and talked to Ryan afterward, and said that he didn't regret one minute of it, and that it was the best thing that happened. After she passed, he donated the chair to someone else.
"There's a couple who bought two chairs for their twin sons who have mobility issues, and they have been able to take them out hiking," he said. "There are so many families, and every single one of them has their own story to share — and we're just grateful we get to be a part of it."
Without access to chairs like these, you're not just excluding the person with cerebral palsy or whatever their disability is; you're excluding that person's whole family and circle of friends from visiting these places.
–Ryan Grassley
It hasn't just been those with mobility issues who have benefitted from Durst sharing his joy, but seeing the videos put on TikTok has inspired millions to get outside. Durst recently received a message from a viewer who suffers the effects of long-COVID, thanking him for his positive outlook on life.
"Before I got COVID, I liked to do triathlons and generally be out in nature," the message read. "Now I'm often housebound and sometimes can barely get out of bed. I was surfing TikTok today and your video absolutely made my day. I binge-watched a few more of your videos and realized that you are an inspiration. Your happiness has touched my life in a very deep way. … Your laughter is contagious and you have been a light in my often dark world. … I really think it's cool how you embrace your different-ability and how you make it so easy for people to 'catch' your joy."
The Extreme Motus still has some obstacles to overcome before being accessible to anyone, but the company does have ways for families in need to have access to a chair when they need it. Grassley explained they loan out a few chairs to those who need it, and said they really are about providing these experiences to people who deserve it most.
"Without access to chairs like these, you're not just excluding the person with cerebral palsy or whatever their disability is; you're excluding that person's whole family and circle of friends from visiting these places," Grassley said. "We have free loaner chairs that you can pick up in Pleasant Grove, and it doesn't cost anything. Our purpose and goal is just to get this available to as many people as possible."
To learn more about Extreme Motus, visit extrememotus.com. Experience Durst's unbridled joy on TikTok @extrememotus.
