Because he can only skisitting down.
The "Vertical Ascent" episode of the "Summit of Ice and Snow" documentary series from Extreme Players tells the story of Zhong Chengzan’s journey from injury to rebirth, and his pursuit of the dream of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
A Life-Altering Change
On December 17, 2013,in HebeiChongliat the Wanlong Ski Resort,an accident completely shattered and reshaped the life of thisoutdoorveteran.
That skiing trip was a group activity organized by Zhong Chengzan’s “Happy Ski Team.” After a full day on the slopes, he was completely exhilarated. Standing at the mountaintop and looking down at the long stretch of runs below, he thought to himself: after this run, it’s time to hang up the skis—this final descent of the day should be savored.
Everyone rushed to Zhong Chengzan. His fellow skiers carefully pulled down his scarf to reveal a pale but conscious face. After a quick assessment, the mood turned grim when Zhong said, “I can’t feel my feet.”
After some effort, the skiers managed to get China’s best doctors to perform a nearly perfect surgery, repairing his body as much as possible. However, due to a lumbar fracture, Zhong Chengzan became paralyzed from the waist down. The doctors said he would likely spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
A Bird in a Cage
Back inGuangzhou,while recovering, Zhong Chengzan began adapting to his new life. Before being discharged from the hospital, his motorcycle had already been modified and was ready to take him over mountains and valleys. Back home, he rode his motorcycle every week. Amid the roar of the engine and the rush of the wind, he forgot that he couldn’t walk. The rapidly passing buildings, fields, and paths on both sides made Old Zhong feel like he had returned to the past—as if he were still able-bodied.
But the moment he stopped, the shadows would quietly creep back into his heart. Playing chess, drinking coffee, sipping tea—occasional rides weren’t the life he wanted. Zhong Chengzan knew that the outdoors wasn’t just his hobby; it was his way of existing in this world. Only in the outdoors could he feel like himself—feel like Zhong Chengzan.
With that realization, Zhong Chengzan didn’t hesitate any longer. He wanted to return to his former life—he wanted to ski again. But how could he ski? He had no idea.
Then one day, Zhong Chengzan came across a video that lit up his eyes. In the video, a man’s lower body was secured tightly inside a protective suit, which was connected to a snowboard. The board looked very narrow and seemed hard to balance on. The man held a pair of specially designed poles, one in each hand, deftly steering himself as he glided over the snow. The moment Zhong Chengzan saw the video, his tight heart finally relaxed—he saw hope for the rest of his life.
Regaining Freedom
Soon after, accompanied by several close friends, Zhong Chengzan went toAustriaLearn sit-skiing from Paralympic champion Martin. But the difficulty of sit-skiing far exceeded everyone’s initial expectations.
Zhong Chengnan’s legs were secured tightly inside protective sleeves, his entire body seated and hunched over to steer, using two specially designed ski poles to assist with propulsion. While descending, due to the lack of sensation in his legs, maintaining stability was a huge challenge. After several attempts, Zhong repeatedly fell, tumbling into the snow, struggling again and again. Even after two full days of effort, he still couldn’t grasp the basics. Being paralyzed, he felt overwhelmed by a sense of frustration, completely losing motivation. The once bold and fearless him even found himself on the verge of tears.
But on the third day, everything suddenly changed. Perhaps due to muscle memory built up during the first two days of training, the moment Zhong stepped onto the slope, he was actually able to ski normally. He used his ski poles to push against the ground and adjust his balance, gliding down the mountain with ease, smoothly controlling every turn. Though his expression remained tense and movements unrefined, he had finally found the knack. This learning speed even surprised Martin, who had never seen anyone pick it up so quickly. He encouraged Zhong to keep practicing after returning home and possibly compete in the Paralympics at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
A New Beginning
After enduring hardship, Zhong Chengnan became China’s first disabled person to return to the slopes. Sitting and skiing down, he started anew—regaining the freedom and joy he once knew.
Nowadays, Zhong Chengnan is already a well-known disabled skier. Not only has he taken his sport to new heights, but he also shoulders the responsibility of promoting disabled sports, helping to establish a disabled skiing team. Based on current information, he also stands a good chance of representing the country in the Paralympics in 2022. The disaster four years ago not only gave him the chance to realize his Olympic dream but also inspired other disabled individuals. More and more people with shattered dreams have found hope in life through outdoor pursuits.
This year, inspired by Beijing’s successful bid for the Winter Olympics and the national initiative “Three Hundred Million People on Snow,” as well as encouraged by leaders from the China Disabled Persons’ Federation and the Winter Olympics organizing committee, Zhong Chengnan decided to establish China’s first disabled skiing team, gearing up for the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympics.
For Zhong Chengnan, standing on the dream stage of the Winter Olympics is like a vertical climb in life. He has chosen to face the challenge head-on and embark on the journey of pursuing his dream.