The National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWG) are taking place in Minneapolis July 17–22. It’s the largest event of its kind, offering more than 600 veterans with spinal cord injury and disease the opportunity to compete in 24 sports.
For many athletes, the NVWG is their first exposure to competitive wheelchair sports, but there are a few who have returned several times just for the camaraderie. To keep things interesting, the NVWG are hosted in a different city each year, while organizers change up the menu of events to reflect participants’ preferences.
Over the years, I’ve noticed a trend in the events offered at the NVWG. In the 1980s, wheelchair basketball, track and field and swimming were the favorites. The following years saw wheelchair rugby, wheelchair softball and the obstacle course called “slalom” begin to take hold.
These days, racing wheelchairs on the track have become passé, while sports we see in our backyards and local bars are trending, such as 9-ball billiards, disc golf and cornhole. This year, the organizers have chosen to introduce axe throwing as an exhibition event. There’s no doubt the folks in Minnesota are proud of their Viking heritage, and I guess Vikings like to throw axes?
Regardless, I have to give them credit for coming up with something that can be competitive and representative of the Norse warrior culture, but it took some time to let that choice of competition sink in a bit. After all, how many times have I reminded my kids to stop throwing scissors at each other?
I also recall an axe-throwing incident that occurred a few years ago when a Fox & Friends co-host threw an axe, but the Minneapolis native missed his intended target and instead hit a U.S. Military Academy at West Point drummer. Who knew that host with terrible aim would become our secretary of defense?
Nevertheless, if the NVWG organizers chose axe throwing, then I have to assume they deemed the sport relatively safe and probably no more dangerous than air rifle and archery.
But if not axe throwing, what else is uniquely Minnesota that most of our veterans attending the NVWG can relate to?
Spam!
The blue can of cheap meat became a ubiquitous part of the U.S. soldier’s diet during World War II, and today the delicacy continues to be produced just south of Minneapolis.
Whether it’s eating hot dogs at Nathan’s Famous in Coney Island, N.Y., or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier in San Diego, competitive eating is now a thing, so why not a Spam-eating contest? Aside from the risk of nitrite poisoning, I would think ingesting a few pounds of canned processed pork would be a lot safer than a quadriplegic with an axe. No?
All joking aside, NVWG organizers give careful consideration to which events will be offered, and I’m sure the health and safety of our veterans are paramount. So, I have an idea for a competition that’s less likely to send you to the local emergency room — drone racing.
While flying drones to spy on neighbors is nothing new, racing drones has become quite competitive, and I think it would be a good fit for the NVWG.
In regard to the competition’s format, it’s similar to that of NVWG’s slalom event, where the goal is to complete the obstacle course as quickly as possible. Race courses vary, as do the drones’ capabilities, but you can expect to see speeds reaching up to 70 mph at competitions. Not only are these events fun for the pilots, but they’ve become a great spectator sport, as well.
One of the best things about getting started in drone racing is that you can find everything you need online. In addition to the drone and its controller, competitors wear a head-mounted display that looks like a pair of fancy goggles. These devices provide a live-streamed image feed from the drone, so it’s like being in the cockpit of the aircraft. While the required equipment is pretty high-tech, you can buy a starter kit that includes everything you need to be competitive for less than $1,000.
If you’re interested in racing drones, you’ll need to register your drone with the Federal Aviation Administration. Furthermore, if you intend on making money as a drone racer or in any way profit from flying your drone, you’ll need to acquire a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.
Flying drones with proficiency usually requires good hand-eye coordination, so I can understand why some folks with quadriplegia might be deterred. However, there are options, thanks to some determined people with plenty of ingenuity.
For example, there’s a man with quadriplegia living on an island off the coast of France who operates his wheelchair with a chin controller and is now able to fly a drone. With the help of his friend and a 3D printer, he mounted a standard drone controller to his wheelchair and uses a mouth stylus to manipulate the joysticks. Once he felt comfortable with his new setup, he pursued his commercial drone license and nowadays uses the drone for his aerial photography business.
While others with quadriplegia continue to improvise by designing their own mouth controller devices, there’s one guy in Michigan who has taken the idea of operating drones hands-free to a new dimension.
As detailed in the Research Update section in the May issue of our sister publication PN, a man with quadriplegia used electrodes implanted in his brain to pilot a virtual drone through an obstacle course.
He did so by imagining he was moving his fingers on a device that controlled the simulated drone. Using a brain-computer interface, an artificial intelligence model interpreted the signals from his brain. Researchers say they could have used a real drone, but doing so would have raised safety concerns. Oh well, maybe next time.
While flying drones recreationally is fun, some competitive folks might want to take it to the next level. Fortunately, there are competitions already established in the United States and abroad. No need for an adaptive division because whether you’re seated in a lounge chair or a wheelchair, only your ability to pilot the aircraft matters. No standing is required.
Perhaps the best part about racing drones is that you don’t have to spend time at the gym, drink those awful protein shakes or wear spandex. All you need is a drone and enough cash in your pocket to cover the entry fee.
I realize an axe is a lot cheaper than a drone, but I wish the NVWG organizers would consider offering drone racing as an exhibition sport sometime soon. I’m sure the West Point drummers would appreciate it.
In the meantime, I hope you’ll check out a few of the many drone racing videos available through various websites and social media platforms. After all, it’s never too late to pick up a new hobby.
As always, email me at al@pvamag.com and share your thoughts.