Josie Roest: Riding and Writing for WAS

My name is Josie Roest. I’m paralyzed from the stomach down due to an injury at birth. I have been with Wasatch Adaptive Sports (WAS) for roughly 4 years. As the name may suggest, they are an organization based around adaptations to sports including cycling, water activities, and skiing. I started out skiing with them, then a couple of years later I started biking. That’s when everything changed. I felt happier and at peace with who I was. I felt like I could belong somewhere. My doctors are happy because I’m staying healthy and active. I’m happy because WAS is constantly pushing me to do more and try harder to improve myself, which in turn betters my quality of life.

Over the summer I trained for the Summit Challenge in Park City. Through this cycling race, participants cycle on a trail then in a suburban area, eventually circling back to the beginning. There are 100, 50, and 12-mile courses. I chose to do the 12-mile course.  For roughly 1 to 2 months I trained through a 90-minute cycling lesson each week at Jordan River Parkway in Murray. On the day of the challenge, I was excited and nervous since I had not experienced a race before. I remember being scared and each of the participants saw it as a challenge to overcome. There was a small number of us entered into the challenge and most of us did the 12-mile course, and a few did the 50 miles. One by one we left to conquer the challenge. When it was my turn, my support rider and I set out keeping a steady pace so I didn’t tire out quickly. Most of the ride was about cadence more than anything. Sure there were hills, but with the steady pace and the help of WAS staff accompanying me, it went like a breeze. Once we got about three-fourths of the way through the course, both instructors accompanying me informed me that the upcoming hill was steep and long and that it would be difficult. Instead of continuing up the hill, we decided to turn back. When we crossed the finish line, it was the most amazing feeling! I didn’t care if I didn’t finish the entire 12 miles. I did three-fourths of it, which made me happy that I was able to handle more than I thought I could. Next year I will squash the 12 miles, but this year I am happy with my 10.

Last year I joined a group called Angel Hands Foundation where they help people with special or out of the normal conditions by taking them to hockey games, truck rallies, and get-togethers to relay stories to each other. That’s where I got referred to the Red Fred Project. Red Fred also helps people with unique or special conditions by writing a book about that child’s experiences to be published for the world to see. Each of the books Red Fred produces contains birds made out of commas as the characters. The featured child’s experiences are turned into a story for a younger audience to read and enjoy. I decided to write and dedicate my books to WAS for all the things that they have done for me. I have been able to be a part of each process of the book. The Red Fred team is amazing and I am glad to be a part it!