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National Ability Center, in Partnership with Outride and Osseointegration, Debuts Trailer for First-Ever Short Film, “Tread Setters”
The film follows four adaptive cyclists as they ride the 100-mile White Rim Trail in one day
PARK CITY, UTAH (June 14, 2023) – Today, the National Ability Center, a leading non-profit organization that provides world-class adaptive recreation and outdoor adventures for individuals and families of all abilities, in partnership with Outride and Osseointegration, released the trailer for its first-ever short film documentary, “Tread Setters.” The documentary follows four adaptive cyclists as they ride the 100-mile White Rim Trail in Canyonlands, Utah in one day. The four adaptive cyclists in the film are Annijke Wade, Josie Fouts, Roger Withers, and Steven Wilke.
“I never thought I would excel at anything athletically because of my disability, but I’ve turned my disability into my ability,” said Steven Wilke, adaptive cyclist featured in “Tread Setters” and longtime volunteer at the National Ability Center. “My disability has opened more doors for me than I ever thought possible. Through this film about my friends and I on the White Rim Trail, I aim to encourage younger people with disabilities to know that they can do anything. Outdoor recreation is a perfect avenue for a complete transformation of mind and body to become the best ‘you’ possible.”
Unlike other trails that start with an incline and end in a decline, the White Rim Trail is the opposite, making it one of the more difficult trails to ride. This unique terrain combined with heavy rain two nights before the ride made it even more challenging to manage for the production crew and four cyclists.
The film was made possible by the adaptive cyclists, producers, director as well as additional partners and production and photography team members:
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- Matt Didisheim: Executive Producer
- Tasha Tinagero: Executive Producer
- Louis Arévalo: Director
- Austin Smock: Cinematographer
- Annijke Wade: Adaptive Cyclist
- Josie Fouts: Adaptive Cyclist
- Roger Withers: Adaptive Cyclist
- Steven Wilke: Adaptive Cyclist
- Utah Office of Tourism: Annual Partner
“Working on a film that brought together such a diverse group of athletes and two impactful organizations has been extraordinary,” said Tasha Tinagero, Marketing and Strategic Partnerships Manager at Outride and Executive Producer of “Tread Setters.” “Witnessing the power of collaboration and the strength of unity in this project has been incredible. This process has truly been a testament to the transformative power of cycling and the broad potential for positive change when organizations like Outride and the NAC are at the forefront of a movement. This project developed into an endeavor where barriers were broken, stories were shared, and the human spirit soared.”
To watch the trailer for “Tread Setters,” visit the NAC’s YouTube channel. The full film will be exclusively debuted at SBT GRVL in August. “Tread Setters” can be seen at various film festivals near the end of 2023 and into 2024, with an official public release on YouTube and Vimeo to follow. Tune into the NAC’s social media channels to stay up to date on where and how to watch. To learn more about the National Ability Center’s programs or to become a volunteer, visit discovernac.org. To learn more about Outride, visit outridebike.org.
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About the National Ability Center
The National Ability Center provides world-class adaptive recreation and outdoor adventures for individuals and families with disabilities, physical, cognitive, and developmental, including competitive athletes, youth, veterans, and more. Rooted in Park City, UT for nearly 40 years, with an additional facility in Moab, the National Ability Center empowers participants by building self-esteem, confidence and lifetime skills through inclusive programming and activities such as alpine and Nordic skiing, snowboarding, horseback riding, cycling, swimming, rafting, archery, among others. With Vail’s EpicPromise as the National Ability Center’s largest annual community partner, NAC is globally recognized as a leader in adaptive sports. For more information, visit discovernac.org.
About Outride
Outride is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering communities’ cognitive, socio-emotional, and mental well-being through research, school-based cycling programs, and community grants. At Outride, we believe in the power of cycling to transform lives. We envision a world where billions of people use cycling to improve the well-being of their communities. Outride has a direct focus on expanding opportunities to access the benefits of cycling, partnering with programs that intentionally work to provide the social, emotional, and cognitive health benefits of cycling to underrepresented demographic groups.
