Mike Schultz: The Unstoppable Force in Adaptive Sports

A Legacy of Innovation and Competition

Few action sports athletes know as well as Mike Schultz what it takes to win—how much it depends on mental and emotional strength as much as, sometimes more than, physical strength.

Schultz was a motocross and snowmobile racer at the height of his abilities in 2008 when he suffered a knee injury that resulted in the amputation of his left leg above the knee. Re-learning how to walk using a prosthetic was the baseline for Schultz; he wanted to return to competition, better than ever.

Building a Legacy with BioDapt

The rigors of competing in his chosen sports were mismatched with the standard prosthetic Schultz was using, and he quickly learned that to compete at his highest level, he would need to build his own.

He did—what he termed Moto Knee and Versa Foot—and founded a company, BioDapt, to manufacture them widely once he realized how badly adaptive sports needed higher-performing gear. He also learned how to snowboard in 2009—after his accident—and has since competed in two Olympics (PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022) and racked up 18 World Cup wins.

A New Era of Performance

Now, most of his competitors are also using BioDapt equipment. Approximately 30 out of 42 athletes on the World Cup circuit right now in the men’s and women’s lower limb classes (LL1 and LL2) use Schultz’s prosthetics, though not all of the 42 athletes are amputees.

At Pyeongchang 2018, 15 athletes from six countries used BioDapt equipment, resulting in 11 medals—including Schultz’s gold in snowboard cross and silver in banked slalom.

The Future of Adaptive Sports

Schultz competes in the SB-LL1 class, or athletes who have a significant impairment to one leg, such as amputation above the knee (as Schultz does) or a significant combined impairment in two legs.

There’s no question that Schultz and other BioDapt athletes’ success at these Games has created an association in people’s minds between the equipment and snowboarding, but that’s far from its only—or even primary—use.

“A lot of people see BioDapt on TV with the Paralympics and think of it as a snowboarding leg, but that’s just one of the several uses for our gear,” Schultz said.

Conclusion

Mike Schultz is a true pioneer in adaptive sports, pushing the boundaries of what is possible and inspiring countless athletes around the world. With his unwavering dedication to his craft and his commitment to helping others, he will undoubtedly continue to make a lasting impact on the world of action sports.

FAQs

Q: What is BioDapt?

A: BioDapt is a company founded by Mike Schultz to manufacture high-performance prosthetics for adaptive sports athletes.

Q: What is the SB-LL1 class in adaptive snowboarding?

A: The SB-LL1 class is for athletes who have a significant impairment to one leg, such as amputation above the knee (as Schultz does) or a significant combined impairment in two legs.

Q: How many athletes use BioDapt equipment?

A: Approximately 30 out of 42 athletes on the World Cup circuit right now in the men’s and women’s lower limb classes (LL1 and LL2) use Schultz’s prosthetics.