Hot wheelchair trickster Aaron Fotheringham is as active as ever. Three years after completing the world’s first wheelchair backflip at age 14, Aaron has multiple competition sponsors, a movie career, and is actively engaged in mapping out his future.
Adaptive Sport Turns Into Lucrative Career
Recently, Aaron appeared in an episode of reality show Secret Millionaire and got a cash donation of $20,000 from Century Software founder Gregory Haerr. Using a custom-made Colours in Motion wheelchair that is “pretty much indestructible,” Aaron competes at skate parks, usually against BMX riders.
With his own website and group on Facebook, the Vegas teen might be expected to go a little Lindsay Lohan.
Humor and Responsibility
But his five siblings keep it real, and Aaron’s bio shows a wry sense of humor: “Doesn’t smoke, doesn’t drink, can’t walk, won’t eat sushi, doesn’t like heights or spiders and calls his parents Fatheringham and Motheringham.”
He also takes his job of role model seriously, carving out time to spend with other kids who want to imitate his wheelchair stunts or simply meet their hero. The skate park phenom likes it when he’s recognized, but he doesn’t hang with groupies. He’d rather be around driven types like skaters and BMX bikers.
“We appreciate each other,” Aaron says.
Future Aspirations and Advice
Welding is something that Aaron is into these days. He’s designing his own HardCore Sitting wheelchair prototype, learning about materials and strength issues on his way to designing and building wheelchairs one day. After having earned more green stuff than most 17-year-olds, he’s looking toward future financial opportunities.
“I want to build Hardcore Sitting as a sport and as a business,” he says. “Hopefully, more people will do this and someday there will be competitions.”
Aaron aspires to get on the “mega-ramp” but you can bet it will be with a helmet. The most important thing all his hang time has taught him: “Wear the right protection.”
He’s also got some advice for other people in wheelchairs, whether they’re thinking about grinding at the local cement pond or just enjoy following Aaron’s success.
“Just try stuff,” he urges. “Falling is not so bad. Being scared gets you nowhere.”
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Watch a video of Aaron completing his famous move, and check out footage of Aaron tearing it up in a skate park and competing at the X-Games.
Want to know how Aaron’s mom deals with her famous son’s wipeouts, ambition and crazy schedule?
