Vicente Arzo is a professional wheelchair athlete and is highly regarded on the worldwide circuit. Wheelchair racing has become one of the most popular types of wheelchair sports and the level of participation and involvement has steadily increased. If you are interested in wheelchair racing, here is some background and suggestions for getting started.
Just like any other sport, wheelchair racing requires a commitment from the athletes involved to adhere to a strict training and workout routine. They should also maintain proper diet and use equipment which is best suited to this sport.
There have been special wheelchairs developed just for this sport. The wheelchair has to exhibit excellent speed and agility. These wheelchairs are manual since the sport requires that they be powered by the athletes. Keep in mind that these wheelchairs are powered by the arms rather than legs (as on bicycles).
The design of the racing wheelchairs are of a tricycle configuration. The two back wheels are larger than the average wheelchair wheel and are angled for better stability. The frames are normally made from one piece to reduce torque and provide good stability.
And the foot pieces on these racing wheelchairs generally consist of one bar which is weld across the bottom of the frame. The user rests his feet on this bar but there are no footplates.
The seat of the racing wheelchair is positioned down low and is tilted back slightly for better balance and stability. It also provides for more power and efficiency.
If you train properly and have the right equipment, you can seek opportunities to enter races. It can be a simple local charity event initially. There are many local foot races which are also happy to include wheelchair races as a special event.
At these events, you are not normally looking for winning times. It is more of an opportunity to provide you with some experience and practice.
However if you are looking to get involved in competitive racing, you should seek out local clubs which are involved in the sport. There are also some larger national or international organizations which have local chapters. Check on the Internet for a listing of appropriate organizations to contact.
If you are able to participate in competitive events, it is advisable to start out slowly. Don’t look for achieve the best time and win it all. This sport takes time and dedication. Practice in a competitive setting is essential so you can better understand how to pace yourself and avoid interfering with other racers.
Just as cars sometimes collide and thereby lose the race, the same thing can often happen with wheelchair racing. Training and experience can provide you with the best tools to avoid these unfortunate situations.
Your local racing club or chapter may also have good coaching or instructional resources. Take advantage of this support to help you to refine your technique and improve your stamina and condition.
Just like any other sport, good coaching and proper preparation and training are keys to success. And if a world record is not necessarily your goal, you can still have a great time outdoors with other enthusiasts who share a common interest.