A "complete" spinal cord injury means having no voluntary motor or conscious sensory function below the injury site.Diagnosed with a complete spinal cord injury following a crash at the Jeep King of the Mountain race in 2007, Tara Llanes has worked hard to build a complete life without limitations. After years of a successful professional BMX and downhill racing career, including 2 US national championships, 4 World Championship medals and 4 ESPN X-Games medals, Tara has developed a focus and drive that continues to serve her in every challenge she faces. Most recently Tara is preparing to get back on technical riding trails for the first time since her accident.
Two years after her accident, which included intensive rehabilitation at Craig Hospital and time working with Project Walk, Tara was ready to put her competitive nature back to work. She had her sights set on completing the Hawaii Iron Man at the end of 2009. Unfortunately a long and painful recovery after undergoing surgery to enlarge her bladder caused her to miss the qualifications for the Iron Man. The surgery allowed to her to train for longer periods of time with proper hydration and, while she missed her initial goal, the surgery gave given her a lot more freedom in her daily life. Reflecting on her decision to pursue the Iron Man event, Tara says that she needed a focus that was different than mountain biking. Her love for the sport is so strong that she didn’t want to participate in something similar for fear of comparing her new experiences to her old ones.
Now four years post accident Tara will be back on her very own mountain bike for the first time, thanks to the generosity and support of her friends, family and even people she has never met. Her friend, Chantal Felten, spearheaded fundraising to purchase a three-wheel off-road hand bike for Tara. In only a few weeks they raised the required $7000 and the bike was delivered to Obsession: Bikes on November 9. The mechanics at the shop are excited to be a part of the project, as it’s not everyday they have the opportunity to build up a custom three-wheel hand bike from Poland. 'The Explorer', made by Sport-On, is the only off-road hand-cycle with suspension.
This new bike represents more than an opportunity for Tara to check out our famous North Shore mountain bike trails, it is an opportunity for her to participate in the community that she has remained a big part of since her accident. She has maintained strong ties to the mountain bike community including putting on the Tara Llanes Classic, a race that raises funds for spinal cord research and rehabilitation facilities and well as working as a sales rep for Pearl Izumi.
Tara is still pushing herself, finding solutions for the challenges that she faces and making an impact on the bike industry.
Stay tuned for a follow up as Tara's bike is completed and she checks out what the North Shore has to offer!
I to have been riding and racing mountain bikes (downhill and cross country) for the past 20 years within Australia and Canada (Whistler) and have experienced a back injury during my working and sporting life. The one thing that has always held true is my drive and passion for riding and racing my bikes. It is this drive within us that pushes us forward and to never let anything holds us back.
Truly an inspirational effort Tara.
Hope to see you at Crankworx 2012, look out for Team Kranky.
Cheers.
I'm sure that Tara will show us how it should be done )
Something personal and peaceful. Feels like home... A warm fire...
That bike looks Rad...
The mountain biking community is "close-nit", the way it should be.!!
I got big respect for U
www.pinkbike.com/photo/7520084
www.pinkbike.com/photo/4317625
if so what happened to this bike?
dolekop.com/fotky/88615-michal-kosik-true-story