
A film by Eric Perlman & Mark Wellman
Suggested Retail Price: $29.95 VHS, $34.95 PAL- Order
here ...
For
too many years paraplegics, amputees, quadriplegics,
and the blind have felt trapped by their disabilities...no more!
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Paraplegic
Mark Wellman and other outdoor disabled adventurers rock climb
the desert towers of Utah, sail in British Columbia, body-board
the big waves of Pipeline and Waimea Bay, scuba dive with sea
lions in Mexico and hang glide the California coast.
There
are more than 50 million people with disabilities in America.
Everyone works through adverse difficulties at some point in
their lives... emotional, mental or physical. This is the movie
that deals with that side of life and delivers this simple message:
Don't give up, and never give in. If you can't ever lose, then
you wouldn't ever win.
Even
the music of this program features the power and inspiration
of the disabled experience. Guitar master, Jason Becker was
lighting up stages and recording studios all over the world
when Lou Gehrig's disease disconnected his nervous system. Even
from a motorized wheelchair he was able to create some of the
astonishing music in this program. Despite being stricken with
muscular dystrophy, Ricky and Robbie Heisner formed a full-time
touring and recording band, VAN GOGH. Their driving melodies
and evocative lyrics add depth and dimension to the exploits
of the disabled athletes.
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Training,
courage and innovative equipment have taken Mark Wellman higher,
faster and further into the wilderness than most able-body people
ever go. The former Park Ranger has become a national hero for
his ascents of Yosemite's El Capitan and Half Dome. He has been
invited to address major corporations, throw out opening day
baseballs and meet with two presidents of the United States.
But Wellman is more than just a paraplegic with a national reputation,
he's a multi-sport athlete, driven to push his outer most limits.
Using
the latest technology in materials and biomechanical concepts,
Wellman and other disabled outdoor adventurers have developed
and adapted custom equipment to challenge the mountains, oceans,
and skies. Wellman and his "disabled" friends climb the forbidding
Fisher Towers of Utah, surf the Banzai Pipeline, hang glide
the Pacific winds of Northern California, scuba dive in Baja,
Mexico and solo sail in British Columbia.
Paralyzed
from the waste down in a climbing accident, Wellman fought through
the pain and depression of loss and turned disability into a
driving motivation to overcome his obstacles. He doesn't just
cope with the difficulties of life - he dominates them.
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Wellman
finds kindred spirits everywhere he goes. Climbing in Utah he
is joined by Eric Weihenmayer, blind from the age of 13. The climbing
leader is a double-leg amputee Hugh Herr, who custom builds special
legs and feet for various types of climbing. Sailing across the
cold Canadian waters of the English Bay is quadriplegic Larry
Boden, who independently controls his sailboat by use of a sip,
bite and puff method. Flying high over San Francisco is paraplegic
stunt pilot Dan Buchanan. Riding the big surf of Hawaii is Liz
Arlen, born with only one leg. Scuba diving with the sea lions
in La Paz, Mexico is paraplegic Bob Vogel.
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Beyond
the Barriers also includes fifteen minutes of artistically
created Music Videos by disabled musicians VAN GOGH, and by Jason
Becker.
Wellman and his friends do more than just push against physical
obstacles. They use the force of will to overcome the worst that
life has to offer. As Wellman says; "Wilderness adventure to
my legs. But what it gave back was far more important...the sharp
edge of risk, the power of teamwork, and a life full of challenge
and joy." No athlete ever achieves greatness without serious
motivation. Wellman and his friends use the demands of their disabilities
to drive than to the edge, past the pain and despair of loss to
new levels of triumph and joy. They have made adversity into an
ally. As Wellman says; "Everyone faces the world with different
abilities and disabilities. But everyone has at least one goal
in common... to go Beyond the Barriers."
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Suggested
Retail Price: $29.95 VHS, $34.95 PAL- Order here..
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