The inspirational Talan Skeels-Piggins discusses with Jack Giordmaina his battle to race motorcycles while overcoming countless obstacles…
To many he is initially recognisable as a former Royal Navy fighter or a Paralympian alpine skier who competed at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics – but slaloming down mountains is not the only manner in which Talan Skeels-Piggins likes to get his adrenalin pumping.
That other rush comes from his love for motorcycles, which was the reason he travelled to the BT Sport studios in Stratford this past week as he made a guest appearance on MotoGP Tonight.
But it would be too simple to only mention this ‘love’ without filling in the blanks: blanks that include desire, determination, and the ability to fight against the odds, with all of these characteristics going a long way to make Skeels-Piggins’ story the more remarkable considering that he was paralysed from the chest down following a motorcycle accident in 2003.
Although many would have forgone any hope of being able to ride a motorcycle again, Skeels-Piggins helped form the Bike Experience in 2010, a charity to help paraplegic riders. But it was also during this process that he himself discovered the urge to ride again.
“I initially decided to set up a biking experience for people who had disabilities that still wanted to ride a bike, but while I was helping with this I was going on courses and got my Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications at the California Superbike School,” he says.
“Then I had a thought about actually racing. I started doing a few track days towards the end of 2010 and I felt the passion for riding return. I then contacted the local authorities and eventually they were willing to grant me a racing licence, as long as I could prove I was safe enough to ride at these events. Once that was all sorted I became the first ever paraplegic motorcycle rider to be given a racing licence.”
However, despite already making huge leaps the transition to track racing proved not to be plain sailing for the 44-year-old.
“Being able to race did come with its complications. I always had to start from the back of the grid, as I needed two people to make sure I was on the bike securely before I left the grid. Also, I couldn’t use the foot pedals to change gear on the bike because of my disability, so I had to find someone to help me come up with an electronic system that enabled me to change gear.”
Like many who have suffered a life-changing accident Skeels-Piggins acknowledges that it took time to come to terms with the predicament he found himself in.
“It was difficult for me after the crash. Suddenly my whole life was turned upside down and I did not know what I could do with it. It took a while to get over the crash but my blood soon started to boil while I was sitting at home as I felt the sudden urge to now do something with my life.
“When I was in the Navy I was captain of the Skiing team for Scotland, Northern England and the Northern Ireland Command Team. Skiing, along with motorcycle racing, was a huge passion of mine, but I never dreamt of getting back on a bike at that time, so I decided that I would get back into skiing.”
The return to skiing was laced with much success and culminated with his qualification for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
“I was pleased with the progression I made in skiing. I finished fifth in the Korean Championships in 2009 and then I went on to win two Bronze medals at the NorAm Cup in Kimberly, Canada that qualified me for the 2010 Winter Olympics. It was disappointing not to come away with any medals from Vancouver, but to actually be there and have my friends and family supporting me was an amazing feeling that I wouldn’t change for the world.”
So what now for Skeels-Piggins? Well, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to you that he hopes to continue inspiring people with disabilities.
“My aim now is to continue convincing people who have disabilities that they are just as useful as any other able-bodied individual. If I can inspire someone to make the best of what life can still offer them then I will consider my job a success.”
From aspiring to then inspiring, it’s hard not to be amazed and awe-struck by this remarkable individual who seemingly knows no bounds.