Tread Setters

In October 2022 a group of para-cyclists/adaptive athletes attempt to ride the White Rim Trail in a day with the hope of creating awareness around people with disabilities and growing a more inclusive cycling community.
Join Josie Fouts, Steven Wilke, Roger Withers and Annijke Wade (was raised in Sonoma Valley) on their journey of acceptance, defiance and discovery through the heart of Canyonlands National Park.

  • Louis Arévalo
    Director
  • Matt Didisheim
    Producer
  • Tasha Tinagero
    Producer
  • Josie Fouts
    Key Cast
  • Roger Withers
    Key Cast
  • Steven Wilke
    Key Cast
  • Annijke Wade
    Key Cast
  • Austin Smock
    Director of Photography
  • Hennie van Jaarsden
    Editor
  • Rugile Kaladyte
    Second Camera
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    Outdoor Adventure, Cycling
  • Runtime:
    35 minutes 43 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 6, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    39,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Louis Arévalo

Louis is a Salt Lake City-based environmental portrait photographer and filmmaker who specializes in outdoor adventure and recreation spaces. His goal is to highlight individuals within their element, show their unique perspectives, and inspire others to embrace their passions and share their voices.

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Director Statement

Before joining the disabled community in 2020 via a ski accident that left me paralyzed from the chest down my exposure to people with disabilities had been limited to infrequent, chance encounters and occasionally catching the Paralympics on the television. I had no idea that nearly 1 in 4 Americans live with a disability. 1 in 4! And that there is a HUGE spectrum within this group.

In the past I have fallen into the trap of harshly judging others on their style or approaches to achieving their athletic goals. Now, living as a person with a disability and having lost access to so many wonderful things, places and experiences, my perspective has changed. When the National Ability Center approached me to document a group of adaptive athletes attempting to ride the White Rim Trail in a day I was immediately on board.

The last three years have not been easy for me. Not in the least. But as I discovered and have been welcomed into the adaptive sports community I've learned that with the right support our passions are limitless. And that there needs to be more representation. Tread Setters falls into the traditional "hero's journey" category and offers a non-Hollywood ending by embracing the independent living principle - The Dignity of Risk. In other words, not insisting on any particular outcome to tell a certain tale and instead allowing those living with a disability the opportunity to fail.

The film Tread Setters is a peek into the lives and experiences of four beautiful humans, each with their own physical disability, who are continuously adapting to the world around them. Please keep in mind while watching this film that this is a very narrow view and representation of the adaptive community and that there is plenty of room for more of these stories to be shared.