At the first stop of the Qashqai Urban Challenge in Newcastle, Uk, the Northshore/ladder bridge portion of the contest. I practiced the course and was riding super well and feeling super confident. I was even the first person to make it across the skinny. After dialing in a few runs, Vanderham and I set up for a helmet cam run for the Fox website. Thomas was in front and I was chase cam. We both dropped into the course and started flowing through it. Once we got to the "skinny" (a good 12 feet off the ground and 4 inches wide and 18 feet long) Vanderham coasted acrossed it and as I approached it my balance was a bit off. I thought I would make it to the end, so I kept it straight. Right before the bridge became wider my rear tire slipped off the skinny causing my bike to fall in an unexpedected way. I ended up falling backwards from over 12 feet up and hitting a wall with my back, then hitting the ground keeping me in an upright position.

After the shock of the fall I quickly noticed that I could not move my legs, and I had no feeling to them at all and with my upper body holding up my weight of my butt off the ground I started screaming. I was overrun with emotion, it wasnt the pain it was fear of my legs not working. For a moment my world had stopped....I thought it was over, I was paralyzed. It was a nightmare.

The medical staff was there in an instant and before I knew it I was being loaded into the ambulance on a back board and neck brace. I just could not help but think this could not be happening. By this time, my legs had started moving again and I just remeber for the next few hours I just kept rolling my ankles around and around in circles, cause I felt like if I stopped I would not be able to start up again.

McCaul jumped in the ambulance with me and I was so grateful to have a friend there with me. It really helped having him there...he kept my head straight and keep me strong.

I get to the hospital and get Ct scans, x-rays, MRI's etc. All to find out that I had a burst fracture in my L1 Vertebrae. After meeting with doctor after doctor and weighing the options the decision was to go through with the surgery.

By this time my wife, Kara had made it to the UK to help me along. It was very comforting and helpful to have her there.

After laying flat on my back for five days I went in surgery on Wednesday morning at 9am. The doctor's fused my L1 to my T12 and L2 using 3 ti-rods, and 4 screws.

Surgery was a total success. I had one of the best surgeons in Europe, Mr. Nissin. I am truly grateful.

The next morning at 10am I had my first PT session and they sat me up in bed. I sat up and I was extremely dizzy and my legs were super wobbly. It took me 5 mins before I could stand properly. After a short walk around the ward I realized how sore my entire body was.

Each day it got a little easier. I was over being in the hospital and convinced the doctor to let me go back to the hotel with Kara. So I was released on Saturday. It is now Monday and I am feeling better each and every day. Today we took a trip to Fox Europe and said whats up to everyone, got some coffee and now I am ready for some dinner.

I am looking forward to getting home and starting to work out and get better. I am bummed that I could not finish the trip, but am grateful to know that I am going to make a full recovery in a few months.

I just want to thank everyone for their messages, phone calls, comments, emails, etc. Thanks specifically to: My wife Kara, Cam, Claw, Scott Hart, Gardy, Strait, PB, Jamie, and all the rest of the guys, Wayne from Fox, Robbie from Red Bull, the C-dale crew, the NJ crew and my entire family...I could not have made it this far with out you.

Keep checking in...I will keep everyone posted on my progress.

Ride always,

AC