33-year-old
Chris Koch was born with no arms or legs for reasons unknown, but that didn't stop him from seeking out an adventure to
Europe. Though
Koch has gone once before, this time, he made a
point of flying solo. No artificial legs, no friends other than the ones he would meet and visit on his trip, and just a backpack and a skateboard. Koch says that it was something he just had to do.
"I wanted to do a little bit of soul searching, and challenge myself, and get people's reactions.
People notice me differently when I'm rolling around on a skateboard than if I'm walking on my artificial legs," He says laughing.
"There's people that I worked with at the
Calgary airport for two and a half years, didn't know I was even missing legs
... They must have just thought I hobbled around funny like a little garden gnome," Koch says.
Koch and his younger brother Bob share a humorous and loving relationship, where poking fun at each other runs rampant. Though Bob jokes that he wishes he could have a fully assembled brother next time, he says that his brother's motivation is truly inspirational.
"You know you grow up and you watch him go through everything and it's still amazing like the little things or big things like his trip to Europe," he says.
"We come from an agricultural background, so he's run a lot of equipment and farm machinery and it's truly amazing the things that he does and can do if he needs to."
On staying positive Koch says, "To quote
Shawshank Redemption, 'You can get busy living or get busy dying,' I just figured it would be a lot more fun to live."
With Koch's appetite for adventure came an idea for a show. Koch and his good friend,
J.R. decided to make a show called,
If I Can, which Koch is currently waiting for a network to pick up.
"Basically we came up with this concept where, If J.R. could do something like snowboard, or wakeboard, then why can't I, and if I can do it, then why can't people like me, or the person sitting at home watching this show?" says Koch.
Koch's Europe trip was cut short due to a ruptured eardrum, but Koch isn't wasting anytime. As soon as his ear is healed, he plans to return to Europe and finish his journey, and possibly film more footage for If I Can. Koch also plans to talk to different schools in places like
Germany, where children will hear all about his exciting and adventurous life and staying positive and being thankful for what you were given in life,
"To quote Shawshank Redemption, 'You can get busy living or get busy dying,' I just figured it would be a lot more fun to live."
- published: 01 Mar 2012
- views: 7373