The National Ability Center (NAC), in partnership with Outride and Osseointegration International, released the trailer for its first 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 cyclists are Annijke Wade, Josie Fouts, Roger Withers, and Steven Wilke.
NAC is a nonprofit organization that provides adaptive recreation and outdoor adventures for individuals and families of all abilities. Outride is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering communities’ cognitive, socioemotional, and mental well-being through research, school-based cycling programs, and community grants.
“I never thought I would excel at anything athletically because of my disability, but I’ve turned my disability into my ability,” said Wilke, a longtime volunteer at the NAC. “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 cyclists.
“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 the film. “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.”
The film will be exclusively debuted in August at SBT GRVL in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and can be seen at film festivals in 2023 and 2024, with an official public release on YouTube and Vimeo to follow.
To see the trailer for “Tread Setters,” visit the NAC’s YouTube channel.
