Malmstrom Air Force Base, Great Falls Montana- American300 Never Quit Series showcased more bling then Baja today as XGames Gold Medalist Chris Ridgway, 'Monster Mike' Schultz and Jim Wazny shared their individual stories of tragedy and repair, triumphs and tribulations as the world's top amputee extreme sports athletes. 341st Logistical Readiness Squadron's vehicle maintenance shop was the first stop for the dirt bike racers followed by the best detour in the Air Force, an evening spent at the Airmen's Center.... aka the Detour.Sometimes Detours can be great...
Paul Thomas, owner of Julian Hard Cider and the two legged captain of the one legged team told the maintainers of the hazards, high percentage of DNF's and sadly even some of injuries that occur each and every year come Baja 1000 time in November " There are times when the race course isn't wider then a humvee and others when it's the width of this hanger" said Thomas, a veteran of the Gulf War where he served as a Navy Corpsmen assigned to Marine rifle platoons amongst other unit assignments... all on boots in the sand "I remember coming out of a corner at around 80 mph and their was this cow in the road, nothing I could do but 'hope and a prayer' wiggle around it... ended up just nicking it... nearly dumping it... but somehow didn't" added Chris Ridgway, as he jumped into the conversation, wanting to share as much about the realities of the Baja 1000 with our Airmen as possible.
The Baja 1000 isn't for everyone...
Especially amputees, as the American300 volunteers work their way around to all five Air Force Global Strike Command bases, they're educating Airmen about not only what it's like to have something as dear as your leg taken away from you... and how they each individually managed to pull through the life changing experience... they're sharing a passion for life.
Living is great...
By sharing their 'dark moments', their very personal moments of dispair with our Airmen... they are then also able to share their moments of joy, recovery... and the ingredents that allowed them to be where they are today. "Guys... I told the doctor that he had to take off my mangled leg... or I was going to go out into the hospital parking lot and have a friend blow my foot off with a 12g shotgun" reflected Ridgway " life had gotten that bad, I was that tired of being hooked on pain medications... that burned out on it all... " fortunately the doctor stepped in and helped Chris...
Not all Doctors, Friends, Co-workers Step in...
"I say choose your buddies wisely, work each day to surround yourself with people you can trust and who can trust you" says Jim Wazny " I was lucky, my support team was there for me the moment I ripped my leg off and nearly tore my arm off while practicing on our track that afternoon, but now that I work as a professional prosthetic technition... I can't tell you how many times I find myself working with folks who are just stumbling through life without a support network... without close friends they can lean on."
We all need true friends....
American300 and Malmstrom know each other well.... this is the 5th time the nonprofit has visited the base and brought amazing Americans to share their personal stories "When the Baja 1000 Tour members roll out we'll have added a new twist to the American300 Never Quit Series track record" said Robi Powers, the host of the series "I'm headed to London next month with SSG Jarrod White of F.E. Warren... because he won the Rowing Challenge back in April, I can't wait to see who wins our new challenge cause coming with me to southern california in November to see these guys spin up in their final Baja pre-race training camp is going be be a once in a life time experience." referring to the nonprofits partnership with Lt Gen Kowalski's leadership team in establishing the 'Baja 1000 Do Something Amazing Outdoors Challenge' - a challenge to the Airmen of the Command to head outdoors this summer and do something with fellow airmen that is reflective of the many opportunities available to a base through it's outdoor recreation office and surroundings. "I want to see your photos, stories and videos guys " said Thomas " cause Robi and the Command are going to select the top 3 Airmen's entries to be the winners who American300 will sponsor to my teams final training camp in Julian, California..."
Do something Amazing Outdoors the Summer...Stay tuned for the "Baja 1000 Do Something Amazing Outdoors this Summer" rules... they'll be posted both here and on Air Force Global Strike Command websites as well as all command Outdoor Recreation Services offices before next week. "I'd like to have June 20th... the longest day of the year be the first official day of the Baja Challenge" said Powers to a group of Airmen at the Detour Airmen's center " Can you guys think of a better way to officially kick off the challenge... then letting the longest day of the year be the first official day of fun."
Be safe, be smart and Wingman Up... for some serious outdoor fun this summer...
... just don't forget to tell us about it!
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PHOTOS - STORIES - VIDEOS at both American300 and American300 Warrior Tours
For more on Air Force Global Strike Command visit: www.afgsc.af.mil
For more on Paul Thomas' Julian Cider Hero Racing Teams: www.jhcheroracing.org
American300 is a nonprofit 501c3 focused on raising the resiliency of our Armed Forces Members, their Family Members and the Communities in which they live and operate in. No federal endorsement of sponsors or nonprofit is ever intended. www.American300.org
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