Who Wants an Underdog? Sam’s First Swing at 41 (Extreme Motus)
Quick answer
We turned an Extreme Motus all-terrain wheelchair into a swing under an abandoned desert train bridge and gave Sam the first underdog of his 41-year life. He laughed so hard he farted, which we consider a successful adventure. The chair was unmodified — just hooked to the bridge with climbing straps. Watch the video below. (Do not, under any circumstances, recreate this without serious anchor points and adult supervision. Underdogs are statistically the most dangerous move on any playground.)
Today might be the world’s first underdog performed in an all-terrain wheelchair while hanging from an abandoned train bridge in the middle of the desert. Someone call the Guinness Book of World Records.
What is an underdog?
An underdog is what happens when you push a friend on a swingset so hard you run right underneath them. Statistically the most powerful and dangerous move on any playground. If anyone gets injured on a swingset, there’s a 95% chance someone underdogged them. Banned in some states. Should probably be banned in all of them.
A cautionary tale: Peter Jay, 4th grade, gravity experiment
One time in 4th grade I gave Peter Jay an underdog so powerful he almost landed on the roof of Brookside School. The roof would have been preferable to the tetherball court where he actually landed. Mr. J had been teaching us about gravity that morning and we wanted to test the theory.
As the playground filled with kids watched Peter flying through the air like Superman, some genuinely started to believe he could fly. He could not. When he landed, Peter broke both of his arms. He spent the rest of the school year with each arm in a cast at a 90-degree angle from his body. None of us dared ask how he went to the bathroom in that getup. Peter eventually forgave me — we’re still friends — but he never let me give him an underdog again.
Sam’s first underdog (at 41)
This whole Peter Jay history weighed heavily on my mind as we prepared to give Sam the first underdog of his 41-year life. Nobody should have to wait that long — but I also really didn’t want him to get hurt.
We rigged the Motus to the bridge with climbing straps, kept the swing arc conservative, and stayed within reach. Nobody had to visit the school nurse.
Sam enjoyed it enough that the chair briefly became self-propelled — Sam laughed so hard he farted. This is the official mark of a successful Extreme Motus Adventure. Our company is powered by Sam’s laugh, and if we can get him laughing so hard he loses all control, it’s a great day for everyone.
FAQ: Wheelchair adventures (and underdogs)
Did this damage the chair?
No. The Extreme Motus frame is CNC-machined aluminum rated for adult riders plus reasonable shock loads. We rigged the straps around the main frame (not the wheels) and kept swing arc conservative. We don’t recommend this as a regular use case — but the chair handled it without complaint.
Should I try this with my own all-terrain wheelchair?
Honestly? Probably not — at least not without a proper anchor point, climbing-rated straps, adult helpers within arm’s reach, and a rider who’s stoked about it. Underdogs are dangerous on regular swingsets. Doing it from a bridge raises the stakes considerably. We had two strong people, climbing-grade straps, and a soft landing area planned. If you’re going to do something like this, do it carefully.
What other “Sam Adventures” should I watch?
The full series lives on the Extreme Motus YouTube channel — Delicate Arch, Lower Calf Creek Falls, beach trips, ice fishing, the Dirty Dash, and more. Subscribe and you’ll get a notification every time Sam farts at a national landmark.
Where can I get an Extreme Motus all-terrain wheelchair?
Direct from us. The standard Motus is $4,500. 2026 price guide covers the broader market.
Got an adventure idea?
If you have a wild adventure suggestion you think Sam should try (within reason — Peter Jay would like everyone to remember Peter Jay), send it our way.
Ryan Brown
Owner, Extreme Motus
ryan@extrememotus.com
See the Extreme Motus · 2026 Price Guide
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.
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