Opening the Outdoors: The Story of Extreme Motus and the Ad…

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Opening the Outdoors: The Story of Extreme Motus and the Adventures of Sam & Ryan

Summary: This article will tell the story of Extreme Motus, from its origins designing an all-terrain wheelchair to the real-life adventures of Sam and Ryan. Readers will learn what makes the chair unique, how it opens new possibilities for mobility, and how repre- sentation in media reinforces inclusion. Through case studies in adaptive disc golf, Bryce Canyon, Zion, and more, the article will highlight practical ways accessibility and adventure can truly go hand in hand.

INTRODUCTION – THE BARRIERS THAT SHOULDN’T EXIST For many families, the outdoors is where the best memories are made—hiking trails, camping, exploring national parks, or even just a game at the local park. But for families who include a person with a mobility challenge, those opportunities often feel out of reach. Traditional wheelchairs simply aren’t designed for sand, gravel, or steep trails. The result is exclusion, not because of a lack of desire, but because of equipment that wasn’t built with adventure in mind. At Extreme Motus, we believe that accessibility shouldn’t stop where the sidewalk ends. That belief inspired a chair built for the toughest terrain and the deepest friendships—one that gave rise

to the story of “Sam and Ryan.” This is our history, our mission, and our ongoing adventure. THE HISTORY OF EXTREME MOTUS Extreme Motus was founded with one clear goal: to create an all-terrain wheelchair that makes the outdoors accessible to everyone. Too many people were being left behind—at beach- es, national parks, and playgrounds—because standard mobili- ty equipment wasn’t designed for those spaces. Our founders set out to engineer a solution that was tough, lightweight, and adaptable. The first prototypes appeared in Utah, where rugged trails and sandy landscapes provided the perfect proving ground.

RYAN GRASSLEY, is the Chief Marketing Officer of Extreme Motus. He has worked with families worldwide to expand access to the outdoors for people with mobility challenges. He is passionate about blending storytelling, technology, and advocacy to build a more inclusive world.

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The Extreme Motus All-Terrain Wheelchair

The aluminum frames, oversized tires, and every safety feature were tested against real-world obstacles. Over time, the design evolved into a production-ready chair that could handle beach- es, mountains, rivers, and everything in between. Today, Extreme Motus wheelchairs are used not just in the United States but in Canada, Australia, Mexico, and the UK. They’ve rolled across beaches, desert dunes, mountain paths, and even snow-packed trails. The vision was never to build a “specialty product” for one activity, but a versatile tool that could go anywhere life takes you. WHAT MAKES OUR ALL-TERRAIN WHEELCHAIR GREAT The Extreme Motus all-terrain wheelchair isn’t just a modifica- tion of a standard chair—it’s a complete rethinking of what mo- bility means outdoors. Here’s what sets it apart: • Balloon Tires for Any Surface Extra-wide Wheeleez® balloon tires act as natural suspension, gliding over sand, gravel, grass, and even floating in shallow wa-

ter. What stops traditional wheels is just another playground for ours. • Lightweight Aluminum Frame At just 55 pounds, the frame is easy to transport and can be disas- sembled in seconds using quick-release pins—no tools required. Families can throw it in the trunk and be on the move without a second thought. • Engineered Stability A long wheelbase and balanced center of gravity make the chair stable on hills and uneven ground. Independent disk brakes give the operator full control during descents. • Customization for Every Rider Options include a 5-point harness, racing seat, handlebar acces- sories, panniers, and even extended footrests. The chair isn’t one- size-fits-all—it’s one-size-fits-you. • All-Terrain Versatility From beaches to red-rock deserts to snowy paths, the Extreme Motus is designed to thrive where traditional wheelchairs fail.

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The end result? Freedom. The chair doesn’t just open trails; it opens possibilities. HOW SAM AND RYAN JOINED THE JOURNEY This is where I come into the story. My name is Ryan, and my lifelong friend is Sam. We grew up in the same Utah communi- ty—I was close with Sam’s older brother Nick, and our families often crossed paths. Years later, I discovered Extreme Motus and instantly knew my friend Sam would be the perfect face of the company. Here was a company building the very thing I knew could change his life: a way to get outdoors without limits. I reached out, created some video content, and eventually joined the com- pany full time as Chief Marketing Officer. From there, Sam and I teamed up to tell our story—real adventures captured on video and shared online. That partnership became “The Sam and Ryan Show,” but more than that, it became a way to prove to the world what was pos- sible. Together, we’ve rolled through national parks, joined adap- tive sports, and shared laughter on trails most people said were “off limits.”

wheelchair. The oversized tires rolled smoothly across the grass and dirt, letting us keep pace with other players. Every throw of the disc came with a sense of inclusion—this was no “separate” version of the sport. It was the same game, played side by side. Other players stopped, curious about the chair, asking ques- tions, and cheering us on. By the end, what began as a casual out- ing became a statement: sports don’t need to be reengineered for inclusion; sometimes, the right equipment is all it takes.

YouTube Video: Adaptive Disc Golf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVL989CmfDA

BRYCE CANYON – RETURNING AFTER 33 YEARS For many people, Bryce Canyon National Park is a bucket-list destination—a place where the towering hoodoos rise like stone cathedrals, glowing orange and red in the shifting desert light. But for Sam and his family, Bryce Canyon once symbolized some- thing else: a door that was closing. Sam had visited the park once before, at just five years old, car- ried on his father Roger’s back in a hiking backpack. When they reached the end of that hike, Roger turned to his wife Christine and said, “ This is probably the last time we’ll be able to visit Bryce Canyon .” At the time, it felt true. Sam was getting older, growing heavier, and the rugged trails of Bryce seemed out of reach for- ever. Thirty-three years later, everything changed. With the Extreme Motus all-terrain wheelchair, Sam was no longer limited to view- ing Bryce from the visitor center or paved overlook. He was able to descend into the canyon itself, navigating the famous Wall Street and Queens Garden Loop with his family, friends, and a little help from strangers along the way. RACING DOWN WALL STREET Our adventure began on the iconic Wall Street trail, a series of switchbacks that cut sharply into the canyon floor. Pushing the Motus downhill felt less like walking and more like running—the chair seemed to pull us forward, turning the descent into a roll- ercoaster ride.

ADVENTURES WORTH SHARING

ADAPTIVE DISC GOLF Disc golf is often played in wide-open parks with uneven grass, dirt trails, and tree-lined fairways. For most wheelchairs, those conditions make the game impossible. But for us, it be- came an afternoon of competition and fun. For this adventure, we modified Sam’s Motus and mounted a clay pigeon thrower to the front of his chair. Sam would launch the disks by pulling a string with his mouth. We were pleasantly surprised by how easy all of these mods were to implement. We invented adaptive disk golf in an afternoon. Sam and I set out on the course with the Extreme Motus

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Bob and Mark, our friends from Road Trippin’ with Bob and Mark, were there to document the experience. But as Sam and I leaned into the winding trail, laughter echoing off the canyon walls, they were left in the dust. The moment was pure joy: two friends racing through a place that, for decades, had been con- sidered off-limits. OBSTACLES ON THE TRAIL Of course, the trail wasn’t without challenges. At one point, the path narrowed and twisted into a sharp turn, eventually becoming a short flight of stone steps. The Motus couldn’t roll through on its own. We had to lift and angle the chair, carefully maneuvering until Sam was safely back on track. Farther down, the trail became so tight we were forced to turn back and look for an alternate route. What we found was no less daunting: a steep drop into a dry creek bed followed by a rocky climb out the other side. As I weighed the options, a group of hikers approached. Without hesitation, they offered to help. THE POWER OF STRANGERS This is something we’ve experienced often on our adventures: the kindness of strangers who want to be part of the journey. For these hikers, lending a hand wasn’t just about moving a wheel- chair—it was about sharing in the adventure, making sure Sam had the same chance to experience the canyon’s magic as any- one else. Together, we navigated the descent and the climb, each set of hands steadying the chair as we pushed forward. It wasn’t just a problem solved; it was a reminder of how community and acces- sibility go hand in hand. A MYSTICAL MOMENT Not every memory from that day was about struggle or prob- lem-solving. Some were simply magical. As we entered one of the narrowest parts of Wall Street, a man stood off to the side playing a pan flute. The notes echoed through the towering rock walls, creating an atmosphere that felt otherworldly. For a moment, the music and the canyon merged into something timeless, and Sam and I rolled forward in awe. WHY THIS DAY MATTERED For Sam, the day was more than an outdoor adventure—it was the fulfillment of a dream thought lost decades ago. For me, it was another reminder of why the Extreme Motus exists. We weren’t just checking off a trail; we were rewriting a family story, showing that Bryce Canyon wasn’t the “last time” after all. And for everyone who passed us on the trail—hikers who saw the Motus in action, who lent their hands, or who simply heard our laughter echoing through the canyon—it was proof that ac- cessibility doesn’t diminish an experience. If anything, it deepens it.

YouTube Video: Bryce Canyon Adventure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3ZUnuFjnkI

WHO WANTS AN UNDERDOG? Not all of our Extreme Motus adventures take place on moun- tain trails or inside national parks. Adventures like the Bryce Canyon story can be an almost spiritual experience. Most of our adventures are about friends goofing around. Sometimes they happen in the most unexpected places—like under an aban- doned train bridge in the middle of the desert. That’s where we set out to attempt what might just be a world first: the underdog in an all-terrain wheelchair. Someone should probably call Guin- ness. WHAT EXACTLY IS AN UNDERDOG? If you’ve ever played on a swing set, you probably already know. An underdog is when you push someone so hard that in- stead of stopping at their back, you keep running and dive un- derneath as they swing up and over you. It’s the boldest move on any playground—statistically the one most likely to end in injury, and in some places, it’s even been banned. For kids, though, it’s a rite of passage. It’s the moment when swinging becomes flying, if only for a second. And somehow, de- spite all our years of adventures, Sam had never gotten one. LESSONS IN GRAVITY (AND CONSEQUENCES) Of course, the underdog carries risks. I knew that firsthand. Back in 4th grade, I gave my friend Peter Jay an underdog so powerful he nearly landed on the roof of Brookside School. Un- fortunately, he came down on the tetherball court instead. Mr. J had just finished teaching us about gravity that morning, and we thought we’d test the theory. Peter tested it a little too hard. The playground went silent as kids looked skyward, half-be- lieving Peter had learned to fly. He hadn’t. And broke both arms when he landed. Pete had to walk around for the rest of the school year with both arms in casts that held his arms at right angles from his body. To this day, I don’t know how he managed to eat lunch—or go to the bathroom—in that condition. Peter

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forgave me eventually, but he never let me give him another un- derdog. That memory stuck with me, which is why, as we prepared to send Sam soaring, I felt both excited and terrified. No one should have to wait 41 years for their first underdog. But I also didn’t want him to relive Pete’s fate. THE FIRST UNDERDOG With the Extreme Motus chair rigged into a swing beneath the train bridge, we gave Sam a push. The momentum built, the ropes tightened, and suddenly it was time. I sprinted forward, ducked under the arc of the swing, and Sam shot upward, laugh- ing with pure delight. It worked. The world’s first underdog in an all-terrain wheel- chair. POWERED BY LAUGHTER Sam’s laugh is more than just a sound—it’s the fuel that pow- ers our company. And that day, it was in full force. In fact, he laughed so hard that the chair seemed to become self-propelled for a moment, thanks to a perfectly timed fart. That’s how we know an adventure has been a success: when the laughter gets so strong it takes on a life of its own. No records were broken that day—at least not officially—but something more important happened. A 41-year wait ended. A childhood milestone was finally claimed. And once again, the Ex- treme Motus chair proved that joy doesn’t have to stop where the pavement does.

Sam and I had been dreaming of taking the Extreme Motus into Zion for years. And while Angel’s Landing—with its sheer drop-offs and chains bolted into cliff walls—wasn’t in the cards for us, we set our sights on something equally iconic: The Nar- rows. A SHUTTLE PROBLEM SOLVED Zion is a popular park, so private vehicles aren’t allowed in most areas during peak season. Instead, a shuttle system carries visitors into the canyon. My biggest concern, honestly, wasn’t the hike itself—it was the logistics of getting Sam and the chair onto a crowded shuttle bus. The plan sounded complicated: unload the chair, fold it up, maneuver Sam into a bus seat with the help of our friend Dave, then carry the cushion and wheelchair separately while packed in with hundreds of other visitors. Just thinking about it was ex- hausting. Fortunately, our friend Dave had the good sense to suggest asking a ranger about alternatives. At the visitor center, we ex- plained our situation. The ranger nodded, jotted down a gate code, and handed it to us with a smile. “Go ahead,” he said. Minutes later, we drove straight into the canyon, parking Sam’s adventure van at the Temple of Sinawava—the trailhead to The Narrows. Ours was the only private vehicle in the lot, and the adventure was about to begin. INTO THE GATEWAY The Narrows hike begins with the Riverside Walk, a paved path that runs along the Virgin River and snakes between tower- ing cliffs. This portion of the trail is wheelchair accessible, and for most visitors it’s the “gateway” to the canyon. For us, it was just the warm-up. Even here, the scenery was jaw-dropping. The Virgin Riv- er shimmered beside us, canyon walls soared hundreds of feet overhead, and the air buzzed with the conversations of hikers

eager to plunge into the water ahead. And then we reached the river itself.

ROLLING THROUGH THE VIRGIN RIVER The Narrows is less of a trail and more of a riverbed walk. De- pending on the season, the water ranges from ankle-deep to chest-high, and the current can be swift in places. We had seen pictures from customers who had already used the Motus in the Narrows, so we knew it was possible—but knowing something in theory is very different from pushing your best friend into a slot canyon river. The big balloon tires worked beautifully. In shallow water, they rolled across rocks and gravel. In deeper pools, they began to bob and float slightly, almost taking on a life of their own. Sam grinned as the chair rocked gently with the current.“It’s smoother than the trail,”I told him, half-surprised. He nodded in agreement. But as with all our adventures, there were moments that test-

YouTube Video: Underdog Story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy0ypwXdzAI

ZION NATIONAL PARK – INTO THE NARROWS Zion National Park is one of Utah’s crown jewels—visited by more than five million people each year, its red cliffs and sculpted canyons draw travelers from all over the world. Hikes like Angel’s Landing and The Narrows are legendary, bucket-list experienc- es for many.

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ed us.

THE DEEP SECTION At one point, the water rose to my chest. Suddenly, the fun became serious. The Extreme Motus chair does float, but it’s also top-heavy, which means if I slipped on a rock and let go, Sam could tip over. I hesitated, weighing the risks, when a group of fellow hikers approached. Once again, strangers stepped in, eager to be part of the adventure. I explained the situation, and they each took a side of the chair, steadying it as we pushed through the gently moving river together. Moments like these happen often. People want to help. And for them, lending a hand isn’t an inconvenience—it becomes a highlight of their own Zion experience. By the time we emerged on the other side, they were smiling as wide as Sam was. WHAT PEOPLE SEE (AND DON’T SAY) Later, when I was editing the video of our hike, I noticed some- thing funny. In the background of nearly every shot, other hikers had stopped walking to watch us. They stared as our little band of misfits—me, Sam, Dave, and the floating Extreme Motus—rolled past them. In the moment, I was too focused to notice. But watching later, it made me laugh. Maybe on our next adventure we should bring a flag that reads: “It’s okay to ask about our all-terrain wheelchair.” Because i it looks like there are a lot of questions in the back- ground of this video. THE SOUNDTRACK OF THE NARROWS What makes The Narrows unforgettable isn’t just the visuals— it’s the sounds. The rush of water over rocks. The echo of voices bouncing off canyon walls. The occasional birdcall or rustle of leaves overhead. For a while, you forget the world outside exists. Sam and I moved through it all together, sometimes in silence, sometimes laughing, always aware that this wasn’t just another hike. It was proof. Proof that with the right equipment and a little creativity, one of the most famous hikes in America could be ac- cessible to wheelchair users.

INCLUSION MEANS GOING EVERYWHERE TOGETHER The story of Extreme Motus is about more than a piece of equipment. It’s about breaking down barriers—physical, social, and emotional—that keep people with mobility challenges from fully participating in life. The power of the Extreme Motus chair extends beyond help- ing Sam to be included. It has opened up the our friendship to new outdoor possibilities. It has allowed his family to plan vaca- tions without worrying if the destination has sidewalks. The most beautiful locations on our world aren’t paved. They are located in special protected places. Nature preserves, Nation- al and State parks. And all those places can be made accessible with the right piece of mobility equipment. Through the history of the company, the innovation of the wheelchair, and the adventures Sam and I have shared, the mes- sage is clear: accessibility is possible. Adventure is possible. Inclu- sion is possible. If you’d like to learn more or request a demo of the all-ter- rain wheelchair, visit ExtremeMotus.com. Together, we can keep opening the outdoors—for everyone.

YouTube Video: Zion National Park Adventure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95kLS-skeKs

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