The “White Glove” Delivery: How a Joke Landed Me in Iceland

I’ve been making content and selling all-terrain wheelchairs for Extreme Motus for nearly seven years. In that time, I’ve heard from thousands of people across the globe who want to get off the pavement and back into nature.

There is just one problem: International shipping is a nightmare.

Whenever I get an inquiry from outside the U.S., the shipping quotes are often as expensive as the chair itself. Years ago, I started telling people—mostly as a joke—that we offered a “White Glove Delivery Service.” I’d tell them, “Listen, a plane ticket is actually cheaper than FedEx. If you buy the ticket, I’ll fly the chair to you myself.”

Usually, that’s where the conversation ends. I make the joke, they realize the cost, and I never hear from them again.

Until Kata from Iceland called.

The Leap of Faith

I made my usual plane ticket joke. Without missing a beat, Kata said, “Sounds good.”

I’ll be honest: if a friend told me they were sending thousands of dollars to a company in another country, and that company promised to hop on a plane and fly a wheelchair to Iceland, I’d tell them they were being scammed. It sounds like the plot of a late-night infomercial.

But Kata sent the money. And I got on the plane.

Testing the Waters (and the Waterfalls)

I arrived in Reykjavik to meet my newest customer, Adam Arny. Adam is currently the one and only Extreme Motus user in the entire country of Iceland.

Normally, when I’m on an adventure, I’m working with my buddy Sam. Sam is… well, he’s vocal. He goes ballistic with joy the second we hit the dirt. With Sam, it’s easy to know he’s having a blast.

Adam, however, is non-verbal. As we set off to explore Iceland’s famous Golden Circle, I was nervous. After his family spent the money, and after I had traveled over 3,500 miles to deliver this chair, I desperately wanted him to like it. But as we pushed through the rugged terrain, I couldn’t quite tell.

Then, his mother beamed at me. “Look how happy he is!”

I looked closer, and there it was: a smile that made the entire trip worth it. Seeing a kid finally being included in the adventure—seeing him access places that were previously off-limits—that is the true magic behind what we do.

Exploring the Golden Circle

Adam took me on a tour of his beautiful country that I’ll never forget. We tested the chair’s limits across:

• Þingvellir National Park: Navigating the rift between tectonic plates.
• Geysir Geothermal Area: Watching the earth literally steam beneath our wheels.
• Gullfoss Waterfall: One of the most powerful sights I’ve ever seen.

Adam didn’t spend much time looking at the waterfall itself; instead, he seemed captivated by the sheer sound and power of the water crashing down at Gullfoss.

More Than Just a Delivery

Between chasing rainbows, posing for the national newspaper, and—believe it or not—meeting the former President of Iceland, I fell head-over-heels in love with the Icelandic people.

I spent the rest of my trip “real estate shopping” (in my head, at least) and hanging out with my new lifelong friends, Kata and Adam.

I still message Kata occasionally to ask if she’s found a neighbor who wants a chair. Not because I’m a pushy salesman, but because I’m looking for any excuse to get back to Iceland.

Until then, Adam Arny is holding down the fort as the king of the Icelandic trails.

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Ready for your own adventure?

Whether you live in Utah or Iceland, we want to help you get outside. Check out the Extreme Motus all terrain wheelchair and see where it can take you.