It's been almost two years since Blair Morgan broke his back at a motocross race in Montreal.
"I was laying on the ground and I knew I was hurt really bad," Morgan recalled of the Sept. 20, 2008, accident. "I knew I broke my back."
In the world of motocross, what happened to Morgan's front and back tires at the Montreal Supercross is referred to as cross-rutting.
Both tires became momentarily caught in ruts on the track during a qualifying lap, and he was launched from his seat.
He severed his spinal cord upon impact with the ground. Doctors in Montreal told Morgan he was paralyzed from the chest down.
"I had a bit of a hope that maybe something could happen where the doctors could be wrong," Morgan said. "But after months and months, you accept it. It was almost like a dream, everything is different, and after time it sinks in."
The Prince Albert product boasts an impressive list of snocross and motocross accomplishments: five-time ESPN X-Games gold-medallist, six-time SSX (Clear Channel Super SnoCross) champion, two-time CMRC national motocross champion, and 1998 CMRC 250 national champion.
He was also included in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2005 for winning the most gold medals in snocross history.
Now the man with a propensity for flight, nicknamed 'Superman' by motocross fans, is settling in to a different way of life.
"I've just been laying low since I got hurt," said Morgan, a Carlton Comprehensive High School graduate. "I'm just really kind of adapting to my new life."
Morgan has been setting goals ever since the accident happened, the first being to get out of hospital.
"I wanted to get out of the hospital, I hated it there," said Morgan, who attended the SPCA celebrity golf tournament Thursday at Cooke Municipal Golf Course. "So I worked really hard."
He was released from Saskatoon City Hospital on Dec. 5, 2008.
"It was nice to get home," Morgan said. "I have two young kids (Breck, 6, and Corbyn, 9). It was kind of my goal to get home and be with them. Spending time with them is all I've been doing the last couple years. The kids definitely helped with motivation and everything like that, making me happy really."
Since moving back to the family farm just outside Prince Albert, Morgan has been slowly adjusting to life without the use of his legs.
"Now that I'm at home and everything, getting settled, I'm getting better at doing things like driving, and getting in and out of my truck - just everyday things. I'm still adapting. Some days I'll try some things, just the way I move in and out of the wheelchair. You learn different types of techniques."
Morgan raced competitively for about 20 years leading up to the accident. He said the injury-induced break has been a welcomed one for him and his family.
But he still manages to find time to ride an ATV, or a snowmobile when the white stuff is around.
The time away from racing has also allowed Morgan to rekindle his love for soccer. The Manchester United fan, a player himself in his younger days, now spends time coaching his brother's men's league team in Prince Albert.
Sooner or later, however, Superman plans to don the tights and cape, and hop back onto his vehicle of choice.
"If you told someone a guy is in a wheelchair, but he rides a motorcycle, they wouldn't believe you. Something like that is obviously a goal. I've heard of guys actually duct-taping their legs onto a motorcycle, and they get their buddies to start them off."
He isn't setting a date for his return to motor biking, but Morgan said he might have a customized bike by next summer.
Given his track record, Morgan should be back in the saddle sooner than later.
hey blair all the best to u the same thing happened to me in 2004 motocross jump and hit my friend in the air im a t7 in a chair for life but keep strong 1 day at a time i live in montreal as well