Sometimes its good to sit back and see where you have come from. We appreciate all
our experiences and adventures and those who have be part of them. This is what makes us
who we are, we may not own all of them but that part we a play makes us proud. This is what this page tells, some of those stories. Maybe these stories could be part of your journey?
Over 20 years ago our true adventures began when we took a big gulp, put our money where our mouth was and stepped out into the world to offer our skills in adventure sports and adaptive engineering.
In 2000 work started with Back UP NZ. It ran its pilot course in the summer of 2002 and over a 10 year period Gilligan's Isl was involved to assist the co-foundation of what is now a national charity in New Zealand.
Its aim was, and is to this day, to get people with disabilities in the outdoors and, in some cases, using the outdoors as physical rehabilitation.
Wayne came on the Back Up NZ first pilot course in 2002. He appears in photos and now is passing on the magic of his wisdom as he has been a huge motivator, participant and director of the things we have discovered. His journey illustrates the collaboration of like minds.
His get up and go for it attitude motivated all of us to learn new things and try in a safe, constructive way. See blogs for one of the many things he was involved with.
I had the great pleasure of meeting Ross Ormsby skiing in 2004 he then become involved in Back Up NZ courses. He is a flipping all round awesome bloke whose sense of adventure continues boundless.
"I've always wanted to go see what's at the bottom of that waterfall" was the opening line which began this adventure.
Ross had broken his neck aged 16 in a rugby accident, and so uses a wheelchair to get round. Getting to the top view point of the falls was no issue as the 200 metre track led from a car park, but that's also where the water fell 55 metre.
With use of a paragliding harness, a kayak, climbing gear and a top team what could have been deemed as impossible was achieved. I have no doubt that what come out of this adventure was not just abseiling down 55 metre but showing and motivating many that with a bit of planning it is possible to achieve goals thought out of reach.
This main photo appeared as part of the Adaptive chapter in Mountain training Rock climbing skills and techniques 2009 second addition which J Gilligan wrote.
Work begin with Battle Back Centre and the Royal British legion initiative to help provide activities to those who are wounded, injured, and/or sick, whether serving military or veteran.
The opportunity to provide adaptive engineering, development/delivery inclusive sports read in blogs
The long hard work as finally got it out there, the Inclusive Climbing book as a creation was a chance to pass on all the possibilities and options for inclusive climbing techniques and sum up the combined years of experience of its authors.
The snowboard is one of the many examples of adaptive engineering which Gilligan's Isl has been involved with. Taken from the conception of the idea in 2002 to functioning activity in present day, this is a piece of kit which can get near anywhere in mountain ski snowboard resort.
The person-centred design was created to fit to someone who wanted to be independent but required support for their lower body or limbs. The board follows the all the principles of snowboarding so is not skiing, which makes it unique.
Blogs
We aim to bring to you some of the things and goings on we have been involved with in our time in inclusive adventurous sports and hopefully motivate, inspire or inform.