Staying Jolley
Sam Jolley is a self-proclaimed adrenaline junkie.
Growing up, he spent most of his time racing dirt bikes. He spent his high school years at South Sevier High School located in rural Utah, where after-school activities were in short supply. “There wasn’t anything to do out there but find a dirt bike,” Sam said. So, he did just that.
As he grew older, his childhood dreams became his life as he began competing in motocross races throughout Utah and the surrounding states.
Though, an accident during a race on New Year’s Day of 2003 ended his life on two wheels. Jolley suffered several serious injuries, and he was left paralyzed from the waist down with also little dexterity in his hands.
Today, Sam is rebuilding his active lifestyle through exercising and adrenaline-filled activities that accommodate his disability, like paragliding.
Sam Jolley pumps out a rep as he works out Tuesday, Jan. 02, 2018, at VASA Fitness in American Fork, Utah. Jolley was once an avid motocross rider, but in 2003 a crash left him paralyzed from the waist down.
Sam Jolley transfers from his wheelchair to a piece of exercise equipment at VASA Fitness in American Fork, Utah. From a young age, Jolley took to motocross to fulfill his love of adrenaline-filled activities. “That’s when I knew I was born to be on wheels…I just wasn’t planning on these wheels,” he said.
Sam Jolley tightens hooks affixed to his wrists as he works out at VASA Fitness in American Fork, Utah. The hooks allow him to get better grip on weights, since Jolley has a lack of dexterity in his fingers in addition to being paraplegic.
Sam Jolley reaches back to put on his sweatshirt at his home in Pleasant Grove, Utah, before going out with his son.
Sam Jolley watches old footage of himself tandem paragliding as trophies from his motocross career sit on a shelf at his home in Pleasant Grove, Utah. “The bike things sort of grew up with me," said Jolley of his passion for motocross. "It’s always been my peaceful time in the middle of chaos.”
Sam Jolley waves to a neighbor as they drive by while he gets into his truck with his son at Jolley's home in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Jolley's son lives with his mother in a rural town about an hour away. “I get him on the weekends," explained Jolley. "He’s been a big part of my life.”
Sam Jolley throws a stray dodgeball back into the mix as his son, Treven Jolley, 14, left, competes in a pick-up dodgeball match at Get Air Hang Time in Orem, Utah. Jolley's son lives with his mother in a rural town about an hour away. “I get him on the weekends," explained Jolley. "He’s been a big part of my life.”
Sam Jolley practices ground handling and other paragliding skills with the help of Mark Rich, a Draper resident with Project Airtime, before taking flight at the Flight Park State Recreation Area in Draper, Utah. Jolley learned how to paraglide with Project Airtime, a Draper-based non-profit that aims to get everyone into the skies.
Sam Jolley paraglides through the air in the direction of Lake Mountain at the Flight Park State Recreation Area in Draper, Utah. Jolley explained that he often tells people, “In the midst of all of your struggle, don’t forget to have fun.”