This month’s spotlight is Sebastian out of Ontario, CA! Sebastian recently attended the 2025 KBF Mountain Bike Camp. He lives with a C6 complete spinal cord injury and is passionate about adaptive sports, describing mountain biking as a powerful way to reconnect with nature and overcome some of the physical limitations he faces in daily life.

“I love adaptive mountain biking because it represents the ultimate form of overcoming the challenges I face as a wheelchair user,” Sebastian says. “Living with a C6 complete spinal cord injury, I’ve become accustomed to looking at the world through the lens of what I can and can’t do in my wheelchair – being stopped by sidewalk cracks, bumps, or the lack of paved paths to nature trails that I once enjoyed. Getting away from the paved world and into nature is a form of therapy in itself, while also allowing me to stay active and get the exercise I need.”

Sebastian is incredibly active, dedicating half of his week to sports and recreation. He plays wheelchair rugby, handcycles, surfs, and has tried everything from deep sea fishing and sailing to tennis, 5Ks, and even over-the-line. He’s hoping to complete his first triathlon by the end of the year. He’s been able to participate in these activities thanks to local SCI foundations and adaptive recreation programs in his area. “These organizations have been incredibly supportive in helping me access equipment that would otherwise be financially out of reach, which has allowed me to discover my passion for adaptive sports and understand how transformative they can be for people with spinal cord injuries.”

Sebastian describes himself as someone drawn to adventure and endurance, saying: “when you combine those two, magic happens.” His mindset has only strengthened post-injury. “I’ve always loved pushing the boundaries of what we consider possible for humans to accomplish, and that mindset hasn’t changed even after my injury. If anything, it’s made me even more curious about redefining what’s possible in the adaptive sports world.”

Through sports, he’s found community, motivation, and healing. “I’ve already seen the transformative power of adaptive sports in my own life and in others I’ve encouraged to participate in wheelchair sports.” He adds, “After spending time isolated following my injury, I’ve recently built up the confidence to start participating in wheelchair sports, which has been one of the best things to happen to me since my accident.”

The KBF Mountain Bike Camp was also a turning point for Sebastian in other ways. “The KBF aMTB made me overcome my fear of flight and travel. If it wasn’t for the camp I would still be afraid to visit new places. Now I’m confident in my ability to visit new places and trying new things. The community was phenomenal, and I loved every minute of it. Being able to spend time with not only people with disabilities, but also those who help facilitate our recreation has been a life changing experience.”