By Zack Snider   Growing up at the foot of the Canadian Rockies, Christian Bagg has always had a passion for extreme outdoor sports. Mountain biking, snowboarding, climbing and caving were all part of his regular routine. In 1996, Bagg was competing in a ‘big-air’ snowboard competition when a crash landing off an icy jump fractured his back, resulting in paraplegia.   This life-changing injury put an abrupt halt to his ability to enjoy all the pastimes he loved most, right? Wrong! “I still do everything I want to do,” says Bagg. “The only difference is that now I must be heavily reliant upon technology and innovation.”   Since then, Bagg’s auspicious introduction into the crip world has inspired him to push the limits of wheelchair innovation by attempting to design the chair of the future.

8 Before becoming a wheelchair user, Bagg had been well on his way to devising new technology for mountain bikers, the daredevils of the cycling world.    As a rising star on the Alberta mountain bike racing circuit, Bagg aspired to building his own supreme line of bikes to compete with the best of the best. This ultimately led to his enrollment in the machinist apprenticeship program at the prestigious Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.   After the ‘big-air’ accident, Bagg utilized his experience from the mountain bike world to address his frustrations with the lack of technology in the current wheelchairs available.    Through first-hand knowledge, he planned to break the mold of traditional wheelchair models by implementing design concepts that would offer users more mobility, more usability, and, quite simply, a better ride.     Adopting suspension concepts from the automotive industry and ultra-light materials from aerospace advancements, Bagg began planning his masterpiece.   “I can’t believe no one had thought of this earlier,” says Bagg. “It’s such a logical connection.”   8

To ensure his wheelchair would address all the concerns felt by fellow wheelers, Bagg created a totally unique website called Crip College. The site gives wheelchair users from around the world an opportunity to give their input on how to improve the chair through the ‘Innovating the Wheelchair’ forms.   At Crip College, there are articles written by Bagg himself, his mother, and various guest authors, on topics ranging from motivation to sex. On the active message board, people from all over gather to chat about the latest products on the market, share their concerns, and create new friendships.   One of the greatest attributes of the international success of the website, however, is the ‘Tricks of the Trade’ section that teaches wheelchair users how to better-maneuver their chairs through everyday life. Through videos, photos and, of course, written instruction, Bagg and others teach people how to ride their wheelchairs over curbs, up and down stairs, escalators, and more.   8

With the help of Hamilton-based Stryker Canada, Bagg was well on his way to completing what would prove to be the most advanced manual wheelchair yet. He sold his concept to the large medical device company and since has been working as part of the design team on the construction of the chair – the Sorano, a.k.a. the ‘Stryker Sorano.’   First to launch this past spring were the Sorano wheels, a fundamental characteristic of the design. They are now the most lightweight wheelchair wheels available throughout the world.   Just recently, however, after much hype from chair users all over, the Sorano wheelchair was scheduled to hit the North American market this fall. It really is the first wheelchair that gives users exactly what they have been asking for.   “I’ve received thousands of suggestions for chair improvements,” says Bagg, “all of which confirm and support my design. It’s truly revolutionary; the only thing I kept the same was the shape of the wheels.”   8

The Sorano comes with the option of a linear drive system, which is changing history for quadriplegics. By using push levers located directly above the rear wheels, as well as the assistance of the first-ever gearing system, high-level quadriplegics are able to use the Sorano manual chair, instead of the ‘electric’ chairs to which they were previously limited.  The push-lever system will also include disc brakes.   The Sorano also features one of the lightest wheelchairs you can find today. To top it off, the offset spoke-bed in the wheels provides for a significantly narrower chair (3/4 inches narrower than typical manual chairs), allowing the user to squeeze through tight, inaccessible doorways.   The Stryker is built with a solid seat pan and backrest designed to prevent the onset of pressure sores. The chair is fully adjustable, so if your measurements are off when sizing for the chair, or if you grow uncomfortable with the initial set up, you can adjust it without having to buy another chair.   Another unique feature of the Stryker is the removable front end that can be switched out with various attachments for never-before-seen versatile performance in wheelchair sports, like basketball and tennis.  So instead of spending $5000 for a tennis chair, or another $4000 for a basketball chair, just change out the front end and you’re ready to try a new sport.  The adjustable/interchangeable front end makes it easier on the athlete since you’d only have to bring one chair to the game, rather than an everyday chair and a sports chair.   The current projected price range for the Sorano Stryker is $4500-$7500 and will be available to the public in fall 2005.   After nearly two years of development, Bagg and the Stryker design team are very excited to have an end product that surpasses all of their expectations. They welcome consumer feedback through either the Stryker Sorano or Crip College web sites.   After all, this wheelchair was intended to be the first of its kind, giving wheelchair users exactly what they are looking for.   Zack Snider is a marketing management student at Guelph University, has an interest in adaptive techniques for people with spinal cord injuries, and, when he has time, likes to cook, travel, play sports and write music.   © 2005 J Carlton Media LLC

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