Aaron “WHEELZ” Fotheringham
WCMX athlete from Las Vegas, Nevada.
Aaron was born with Spina Bifida, a birth defect affecting his spinal cord, leaving him without the use of his legs. He is the third of six adopted siblings.
Aaron is driven by an unbreakable spirit that allows him to overcome anything. Even as a baby and young child, he achieved milestones like rolling over, sitting up, and crawling (using only his arms) on schedule. Within days of getting his first walker, he was off and moving. Crutches came next, and Aaron quickly mastered them, often donning a Superman cape and zooming down the hall, convinced he could fly.
At 8, Aaron began skating at skateparks when his BMX-riding brother, Brian, encouraged him to drop in. Though initially scared, Aaron fell hard but didn’t quit. He tried again and was hooked.
Early on, Aaron competed in BMX Freestyle events, winning a few, including the 2005 Vegas AmJam BMX Finals, but his real love was the joy of riding and spending time with friends at Las Vegas skateparks.
Aaron’s passion extends beyond fun. He aims to change how people view those in wheelchairs and inspire others to see their own challenges differently. His appeal is universal; you don’t need to have a disability to be moved by his abilities.
Over time, Aaron has pushed his limits with increasingly difficult stunts. In 2005, he mastered a mid-air 180-degree turn, and on July 13, 2006, he landed the first-ever wheelchair backflip. Four years later, he completed the first-ever double backflip at Woodward Camp on August 26, 2010. Aaron has since toured with Nitro Circus. In 2011, he nailed his first front flip in New Zealand, and in 2012, he stunned Brazilians with a 50-ft jump off the Mega Ramp in his chair. A four-time WCMX World Champion, Aaron also achieved the first Wheelchair Flair/backflip 180.
After posting the backflip online, Aaron’s life changed. He’s traveled the world performing and speaking, coaching disabled children at camps, and being featured in media worldwide. Aaron enjoys mentoring kids with disabilities, showing them how a wheelchair can be a tool, not a limitation, and teaching them new tricks. He dreams of someday designing the ultimate wheelchair.
Aaron’s mission goes beyond his passion for what he does—he strives to reshape perceptions of people in wheelchairs and inspire others to tackle their own challenges head-on. His story proves that inspiration knows no boundaries.
