Are Sam and Ryan Brothers?
Quick answer
Sam and I aren’t brothers by blood — we’re best friends of 30+ years. I’m now Sam’s caregiver, and we hit the trail almost every day in the Extreme Motus all-terrain wheelchair. The Sam & Ryan show is a window into what’s possible when you have the right gear and treat your friend like a normal dude instead of a fragile patient.
Are You Guys Brothers?
“Is that your brother?”
It’s the #1 question we get on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Along with “Are you Sam’s dad?” or “How are you guys related?”
The short answer is: No, we aren’t brothers by blood. But after 30 years of friendship, diaper changes (both as babies and now), and thousands of miles on the trail, the bond is as real as it gets.
From Childhood Friends to Caregiver Partnership
Ryan and Sam are old friends. Our parents went to the same university and church, and there is a legendary photo somewhere of Ryan and Sam’s older brother, Nick, in diapers together while Sam’s mom babysat.
We grew up in the same small town, but as we hit our 40s, the relationship evolved. Ryan, who has spent years as a filmmaker and adventurer, saw that Sam—who lives with Cerebral Palsy—was often stuck on the sidelines. Hanging out with Sam usually meant board games or movies, simply because the world isn’t built for a standard wheelchair.
Today, Ryan has officially become Sam’s friend and caregiver. This shift changed everything. It wasn’t just about “visiting” Sam anymore; it was about doing life with him. But to do that safely and enjoyably, we realized we needed better tools.
The Gear That Makes Both Our Lives Better
Being a caregiver is physically demanding. Being a rider with special needs can be isolating. We realized that if we wanted to stay best friends and keep adventuring, we needed equipment that solved problems for both of us.
1. The Extreme Motus All-Terrain Wheelchair
This is the heart of the “Sam and Ryan Show.” Before this chair, Ryan was breaking his back trying to push a standard chair through dirt.
- For Sam: He gets to feel the wind, the water (yes, it floats!), and the adrenaline of a skatepark.
- For Ryan: The lightweight aluminum frame and massive low-pressure tires mean he can push Sam over boulders or through sand with one hand. It turned “work” into “play.”
2. The Motus Mover (The Caregiver’s Best Friend)
One of the hardest parts of being a caregiver is the logistics of transport. Lifting a heavy chair into a trunk ten times a day is a recipe for a blown-out back.
- The Solution: We developed the Motus Mover, a hitch-mounted carrier. Ryan can now load the chair in seconds without any heavy lifting, and the dirt stays outside the truck. It’s a small piece of gear that made “spontaneous” adventures actually possible.
3. The Motus Protector
We often transport the chair in the back of a pickup. There is nothing worse for a rider than sitting down into a seat filled with road grit, dust, or rain.
- The Solution: The Motus Protector cover ensures that when Sam gets into his seat, it’s clean and dry. It’s a respect thing—Sam deserves a clean ride, and Ryan saves hours of cleaning.
Treating Sam Like a “Normal Dude”
The internet often gets “outraged” when they see Ryan pushing Sam through a skatepark or down a snowy hill. One viewer even called the police because they thought our adventures were too dangerous.
They see a disability. Ryan sees his best friend.
Ryan treats Sam exactly like he treats his other friends—which usually involves dumb jokes, sarcastic comments, and a bit of roughhousing. If Sam were sitting in an assisted living center watching daytime TV, he’d be “safe,” but he’d be bored to death. We’d rather get a little banged up on a trail than let life pass us by.
The “Stand By Me” Bond
There’s a famous quote from the movie Stand By Me: “I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?”
Ryan is 45 years old, and every morning at 9:00 AM, Sam calls him to ask if they are “going on an adventure today.” Most 45-year-olds don’t have a best friend who wants to play every day.
Extreme Motus isn’t just a wheelchair company; it’s a friendship company. We build these tools so that other caregivers and riders can stop being “stuck” and start being “partners in crime.”
→ Find a Sam-and-Ryan adventure of your own.
You don’t have to drive to Utah to try a Motus. We’ve helped 59 parks, zoos, and adaptive sports programs across the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK put one on their property. Find a Motus near you on our interactive map → — take it for a test push and see what kind of adventures open up.
Quick FAQ:
- Are you brothers? No, just best friends.
- Who is the caregiver? Ryan assists Sam with his daily needs and mobility.
- Does Sam like the “dangerous” stuff? He’s the one usually asking to go faster.
- Where can I get that chair? Right here on our site!
Since 2019, Sam and Ryan have been demonstrating that nature is wheelchair accessible with the Extreme Motus All Terrain Wheelchair. From National Parks to Skateparks, their adventures prove that a manual off-road wheelchair can offer laughter and joy while navigating diverse terrains.
Join us as we continue to share these inspiring journeys.
Light, comfortable, and compact, the Extreme Motus glides over sand, rocks, grass, gravel, and even floats in water.
It’s more than a outdoor wheelchair; it’s your ticket to freedom. Embrace the outdoors with confidence, knowing our off-road wheelchair is engineered for durability and ease of use.
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