After a spinal cord injury left Christina Virthoulkas Paraplegic six and a half years ago, I couldn’t imagine a life “doing the same over and over again.”
The “adrenaline addict” self -described was one of the first free -style riders in Australia until a motorcycle accident led to a complete loss of movement and feel under its vertebrae T5.
A motocross movement stained with a 50 -meter metal ramp left it with a broken column, a fractured skull, lacerated spleen, fractured ribs, fluid in the lungs and paralyzed the chest down.
When he woke up remarkably, he had lost most of his abdominal balance, all the control of his intestines and the ability to regulate his temperature.
Fast progress until more than half decade later, and the 28 -year -old has found the same joy in sport since before her accident, now in drift.
He discovered that overvalued a specially tight car, until he loses the traction and slides to the sides around the corners, gives the same race that the motorcycle jump used.
The trick is to keep control while the tires lose traction.
‘Why I love drift’
Christina Virthoulkas obtains a wave of adrenaline to drift. (Supplied: Christina Virthoulkas)
One of the main reasons why he loves drifting is that he helps him forget that “it is not on the same field as everyone else,” said Virthoulkas.
In his motorcycle days, he competed for more than five years in local and state motocross titles and was one of Australian’s first free rider.
While there are some vagrants for male there, he understands that she is the first woman.
“That is why I love to derive so much … I can’t think of another sport that a paralyzed person can do where we are not separated from the non -disabled community.”
She said.
“If the drift became an Olympic sport, I would not need to be in the Paralympics.
“I think that’s why I love it, because when I’m outside, I feel normal. It’s probably not a correct word to say, but that’s exactly how I feel.
“I feel I am not at a disadvantage.”
However, Vress drives in a modified car with manual controls instead of standing brakes or a clutch.
Christina Virthoulkas says that if the drift became an Olympic sport, there would be no need to have a separate category for athletes for para. (Supplied: Christina Virthoulkas)
It also leads an automatic, while other drivers opt for manual cars, since they offer more control and precise management of the accelerator and allow the clutch, a key technique used in the sport.
“People tell me: ‘You are in an automatic, Christina, and you are doing everything for your hands: brakes, accelerators, driving, everything,” he said.
“And when people tell me, I’m like, ‘I don’t give myself enough credit.’
‘They scare me a little’
Virthoulkas drifted when someone who follows her on social networks suggested that he go down and try.
He had set aside motorcycle driving to concentrate on again learning how to live his life in a wheelchair.
Christina Virthoulkas drives a modified car with manual controls. (Supplied: Christina Virthoulkas)
“I simply thought: ‘Hmm, that sounds fun, it’s something I would do.” He said.
“He replied the exact type of love and fun and feeling inside my soul that made him jump a dirt bike.
“The amount of joy and endorphins that I obtained from that success of dopamine … I only had this moment of epiphany, that I thought, ‘My God, I can still do something that will make me enjoy life as much as before the wheelchair’.”
Christina Virthoulkas competed in local and state motorcycle competitions before her accident. (Supplied: Grant Schwartzkopff)
Getting to a level where you can compete in events is the objective of Virthoulkas, but currently participates by fun.
However, it is a dangerous sport at any level.
“However, I am very difficult to be afraid. You must remember that I used to jump bicycles of earth … so in a car, I feel much safer,” he said.
“Now that I know what is needed to derive, and what really leads children to do that, and I know how fast things can go wrong … sometimes they scare me a little.”
‘All our purpose in life’
Now a Red Bull Wings for Life World Run ambassador and with the aim of helping to make drift cars for wheelchairs users more accessible, Vishoulkas wants to continue pressing to do things with his life.
“I can’t understand living my life doing the same again and again, as, I feel that our whole purpose in life is coming here and experiencing all emotions,” he said.
Christina Virthoulkas wants to experience all the emotions of life, not just good. (Supplied: Christina Virthoulkas)
“People want to be happy … but the goal of life is to experience other emotions, the sad, the difficult ones, because that is the goal of life.
“Because when you get these happy and fun moments, you can appreciate them much more.”
