Utahn paralyzed 2 years ago gets back on the sled at Powder Mountain

EAGLE MOUNTAIN — It had been over two years since 20-year-old Terell Jensen had experienced the thrill of moving fast down a snowy mountain, yet here he was racing down Powder Mountain on a Tetraski, living a life that was nearly taken from him.

It was Nov. 24, 2019, and Jensen and his family were spending time together near Strawberry Reservoir for their annual trip to pick a Christmas tree and go sledding. Near the end of their trip, Jensen and his two brothers decided to go for one more run down the hill.

That final run changed life forever as Jensen hit a patch of icy snow and was thrown off the sled, landing on a rock. While he didn't hit his head, the accident caused him to break his C5, T5 and T6 vertebrae, paralyzing him from the chest down.

For the past couple of years, Jensen, who was used to leading a very physically active lifestyle, has relearned how to breathe on his own, how to talk, and what his dad said is most important: live.

"My dad is always telling me that I need to get out more," Jensen said with a laugh, knowing full well that nowadays it is much easier said than done.

Telling your son who cannot get out on his own that he needs to get out more may sound harsh, but Travis Jensen said that he still wants his son to enjoy life.

"You know, it's unfortunate the situation he's in, and obviously there are certain things that he will never be able to do again or dream of doing," Travis Jensen said. "At the same time, there are so many opportunities and so many things out there with technology and with adaptive equipment that provide opportunities for those who are disabled to be able to still enjoy life and to have a sense of purpose."

The adaptive equipment that he is talking about is the TetraSki, which is a specially designed ski that allows athletes to sit and control it with a joystick while a safety instructor, who also has controls, is tethered on.

"At first, (Terell) was like, 'I don't know about this,' his father said. "I kept saying, 'Dude, you gotta at least try it a couple of times. You can't just say no, because. At least try it twice, because the first time you'll be way nervous and not know what to think. You need to do it twice to fully comprehend it and enjoy it.'"

Travis Jensen acknowledged that getting back on that sled may be a little like returning to the scene of the accident, but he knew it was important for his son's healing.

"He never really said it, but I think there was some anxiety there," he said. "I think any of us would feel that way. Anyone who gets in an accident, whether it's a car accident or whatever, you gotta pick back up and do that same thing again."

Getting back in the sled

In December of last year, Terell Jensen tried the TetraSki and said that it brought back something that he had missed for so long: adrenaline.

"You definitely get a rush!" he said. "On the TetraSki, you get going 20 to 30 mph down a hill. It's definitely a different experience because you're going from using your own power and ability to now relying on making sure the equipment is working properly. It's definitely a mental challenge as well."

Travis Jensen agreed with his son, citing personal experience after having tested the TetraSki out. He also said that watching his son as he moved down the hill put things in perspective.

"I got to test run the TetraSki and I'll be honest, it's quick!" Travis Jensen said. "I'm thinking, 'I'm using my legs and core to kind of throw my weight around to keep myself balanced,' and I'm like, 'He has none of that.' Kudos to him, because to do what he did without being able to feel any of that, or be able to control any of that, that would be a little unnerving for me.

"That first time that he went, he only went down three times, and he was completely exhausted. That's the other thing that a lot of people don't understand or see. Yeah, you just did this simple thing, but when you have a paralysis, it is so taxing on your body mentally and physically, that what may seem fairly easy for you and me is extremely exhausting for them."

Even with the nerves and exhaustion, Terell Jensen not only tried the TetraSki once, but several more times leading up to a competition on March 25 at Powder Mountain in Weber County along with 23 other adaptive athletes.

He said it was a great experience that he can't wait to have again next season. His dad said that with the ski season over it's time to try something else, but he's not sure what to try.

What's next?

"(My parents) are wanting to get me hand cycling, and I don't know how thrilled I am about that one. But I told them I'd try it — no promises," Terell Jensen said.

Travis Jensen said he understands his son's reluctance to try new things, but he has always wanted his children to experience life.

"Toward the end of the last day of the race, I told him, 'They're going to start the e-bikes in a couple of weeks,' and he's like, 'No, no, no,' and I'm like, 'Yup,'" he said. "We've always been adventurous, and try to go do fun things, and I just don't want that to stop. You know, obviously, it's not the same, but that doesn't mean that we can't get out there and try new things that we would have never tried before. I'm always trying to tell him that it's unfortunate, but that doesn't mean that life's over. We'll figure it out together and make the most of it."

Terell Jensen said he knows that life is different, and there's not always something to smile about, but there is plenty to laugh about.

"You know that saying, 'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger?' I call bullcrap on that!" he laughed as he spoke about his current lack of muscle strength.

But he said how glad he is to still be here, and offered a little bit of advice.

"Just keep doing your best," he said. "Eventually everything will work out, right?"

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