Extreme Motus Stories: Meet the Dursts (Sam’s First Adventure)

Where it all started

The first place Sam and I took the Extreme Motus all-terrain wheelchair was Wayne Bartholomew Family Park in Springville, Utah. The park is a great proving ground because it has nearly every type of terrain in one easy-to-reach location: paved paths, grass, gravel, dirt, sand, and a river you can roll right into.

That day, the Motus handled everything we threw at it. Rocks, grass, sand, and even a quick float in the river. Sam still complains about how cold the river water was — but if you watch the video, he was clearly enjoying himself. Sam will say yes to almost certain death, but he’s not too crazy about being cold.

Meet the Dursts

The Dursts are the family at the heart of this whole company. Sam was born with cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair full-time. His parents, his brother Nick, and the extended family have been on every step of this journey — the early experiments, the social media moments that exploded, the trip-of-a-lifetime adventures that became the proof that an off-road wheelchair could change everything.

Before the Motus, family trips had to be planned around what was wheelchair-accessible. Trails were off-limits. Beaches were off-limits. Snow was off-limits. Sam either stayed home or sat in the car while everyone else went exploring.

After the Motus, none of that was true anymore.

The video

In this video, Sam and his mother retell the story of their first adventure in the Motus. It’s worth watching even if you’ve seen our other videos — the perspective from his family changes the whole story.

What’s happened since

Since that first day at the park, Sam has been on hundreds of adventures — trips that weren’t possible before he had the right chair:

• Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Arches National Parks — hiking trails Sam never thought he’d see in person
• Goblin Valley and Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Parks — Utah’s slickrock and dunes
• Lower Calf Creek Falls — 6-mile round-trip hike to a 126-ft waterfall
• The Delicate Arch trail — the trip that made his mother cry, with the family standing under the arch together for the first time
• The Dirty Dash — mud-run obstacle course, including the floating water sections
• Adaptive scuba diving through Just Breathe Adaptive
• Land speed records at Knolls Recreation Area
• Skateparks, snow trails, beaches, lakes, rivers — the full list would be long

The viral TikTok video of Sam in the water at a Utah reservoir hit 1 million views. None of it happens without the Dursts saying yes — every time — to whatever new adventure I texted them about.

Why their story matters

If you’re researching the Motus for yourself or a family member, the Dursts’ story is the most useful proof we have. Not specs, not marketing copy — just one family who used the chair to put adventure back into their lives.

Sam went from spending most of his time inside to spending real, regular time outdoors with people who love him. The chair made that possible. The family made it real.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Sam Durst?
Sam is the rider you see in most Extreme Motus videos. He has cerebral palsy, uses a wheelchair full-time, and has been our test pilot and friend since the very first Motus prototype.

Who are the Dursts?
Sam’s family — his parents, his brother Nick, and extended family. They’ve been on every step of this journey.

Where was Sam’s first all-terrain wheelchair adventure?
Wayne Bartholomew Family Park in Springville, Utah.

How many adventures has Sam been on in the Motus?
Hundreds. National parks, state parks, beaches, snow trails, mud runs, scuba dives, skateparks, and a recreational off-road wheelchair land speed record.

Are Sam and Ryan brothers?
No — best friends. Read the full Are Sam and Ryan Brothers? story.