The Interview with former Olympian Jeff Pagels.
Author, Olympian, family man, and Packers fan. Jeff boasts an impressive resume in racing, skiing, sled hockey, rapids and mountain climbing! We caught up with him for a chat because it was too cold to go open water fishing but not yet cold enough for ice fishing.
WS: How about a little background on you before we get into it?
JP: I’ve been married 45 years to my wife Jane. I have two sons Corey & Chad, and 5 grand kids. I live in Green Bay, Wisconsin. I’ve worked for the State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources since 1974 as a Regional Government Outreach Team Leader and retired after 30+ years on June 30, 2004.
WS: Thirty years - What was that like?
JP: Well, the job involved administering and advocating for a variety of local grant programs associated with outdoor recreation, clean water and land use, and sewage treatment. I also worked to insure equal and quality access for recreation users who have disabilities while still protecting the natural environment. I was responsible for the oft-time quote, "Mother Nature does not have to comply with ADA."
Also, I was a consultant to JanSport, a leading provider of outdoor gear to the world and to Varilite, a leading manufacturer of wheelchair seating aids and other “Outdoor” Companies.
WS: If you wouldn’t mind, could you tell us how you ended up in a wheelchair?
JP: The result of a falling tree in October of 1984, I became a T-10 paraplegic. I require a wheelchair for mobility. I also survived 13 hours of critical brain tumor surgery in October of 2000.
WS: This hasn’t slowed you down much. You’ve had a very impressive, and successful career! Let’s get into it.
JP: I represented the United States in Norway in 1988 and again in 1991 at international disabled cross country ski races and in South America in 1990 in swimming competition. I have won 13 gold and 3 silver medals in International competition and was named to the 1992 United States Olympic Team that represented the USA in Albertville, France in 1992. I became the first ever gold medal winner by an American Cross Country skier able or disabled. I won both the 5K and 10K races.
In the spring of 1993, another wheelchair athlete and I successfully completed the dangerous crossing of the Sierra-Nevada Mountain Range on cross country sit skis. This 55 mile trip up to elevations of 10,000 feet was never previously accomplished by disabled skiers.
I competed at the 1994 Winter Olympics held in Lillehammer, Norway. I won 3 silver medals. I have won more Olympic Cross Country ski medals than any other American athlete.
WS: You made a transition over to sled hockey from skiing?
JP: Not quite, but in December of ‘96, I traveled with the USA Sled Hockey Team to Great Britain for sled hockey competition. Then, January of ’97 went Nagano, Japan to coach the Japanese Disabled Cross Country Ski Team.
I followed that up with travel to Sweden to both compete in sled hockey and continue coaching the Japanese Nordic skiers. While in Japan I met with many organizers of the Nagano Olympics and Paralympic events. I was able to visit most venues and was able to further understand the issues facing the upcoming games and the unique lifestyles and customs of the Japanese people.
WS: Did you feel like you had done enough to call it a career at that point?
JP: Well in March of 2000, I briefly came out of Ski Racing retirement and competed in three races at the International Ridderren event in Beitostolen, Norway. I won silver in the Biathlon with a perfect shooting score but lost the race with a broken ski pole. I won the gold medal in the 10K Ridderren race.
Of particular importance to me in this race was coming in ahead of Didier Reiglner, the French athlete who bested me three times in the 1994 Lillehammer, Olympics.
WS: That is impressive! And winning against the former rival must have made it so sweet.
JP: I can now re-retire in peace!
WS: In addition to skiing, you’ve done some serious climbing too. What was that like?
JP: In 1999, I again returned to Japan to teach skiing to persons with disabilities. In June of 1999, I attempted to become the first wheelchair user to summit 14,411 foot Mt. Rainier in Washington State. This mountain is considered to be the most difficult mountain to climb in the lower 48 states. I reached 11.500 feet before turning back because of very poor weather conditions
Then, in June of 2000 I became the first wheelchair user to summit the highest mountain in Northern Europe, Mt. Galdhopiggen in Norway. In March of 2001, I became the first wheelchair user to summit the highest mountain in the lower 48 states, California's Mt. Whitney, (14,497 ft.). In January of 2002, I was one of 11,500 Americans selected to carry the Olympic Torch on its journey from Mt. Olympus in Greece to Salt Lake City, Utah.
In September of 2003, I reached 17,500 feet on Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa which was the highest known altitude reached by a wheelchair user off snow anywhere as of that time. In August 2008, I was one of 4 disabled hand bikers to summit Mt Evans in Colorado. (14,138 ft.)
WS: That is amazing! I notice the trend of a lot of “firsts”. You’ve tackled things most people only dream of doing. Not just physically demanding, but also mentally draining challenges. I saw you participated in a rafting trip as well?
JP:In May of 2005, I participated as an advisor in a 225-mile raft trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. This 15 day adventure, called the “Right to Risk” was a National Public Television filming of 7 disabled people’s life changing experiences on the trip.
Then, in the fall of 2006, I rafted the Grand Canyon, this time as a mentor for 5 British wheelchair users also on this private paid trip. I paddled, rowed or kayaked 90% of the trip through many named rapids.
WS: Now that you’ve retired from the racing circuit, what are some of the things you do to stay active?
JP: I do peer counseling volunteer work at various hospitals and medical centers as well as one on one counsel with individuals with disabilities. I have developed a park and recreation accessibility manual and served as a chief advisor in the preparation of a federal US Fish and Wildlife Service video on accessibility.
I have conducted numerous "sensitivity" sessions for groups involved in providing services to the public and the disabled including the US National Park Service, the US Forest Service, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Kansas Department of Conservation, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, South Dakota Park and Recreation, National Park and Recreation Association, Sommerset County, New Jersey Independent Living Center and numerous organizations and agencies in the State of Wisconsin.
And, I was also the soccer coach for both the boys and girls soccer teams at Ashwaubenon High School.
WS: You had help along the way with sponsorships and support correct?
JP: Yes, during my career as a disabled athlete I was supported in my skiing, and other activities by JanSport Inc, Cascade Designs with Varilite, the Peltonen Ski Company, Exel Ski Poles, Halls Wheels, Polarmax, Crazy Creek, Grabber, KI Inc., Dermatone, Saranac, Granite Gear, Powerbar, Carrera, and Sterling Rope Inc. for which I am very grateful.
WS: You’ve won or been nominated for several awards too?
Let’s see, in 1991 and 1992 Disabled Athlete of the Year by American Airlines and in 1992 by the National Disabled Sports Association and in 1992 and 1994 by the US Olympic Committee and was inducted into the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Athletic Hall of Fame.
In 1993, I received the "Beck International" award which is the highest honor a skier can receive from the US Ski Association. In 1994 I was a finalist for the prestigious "Sullivan" award, this country's highest amateur athletic award. In 1996, I was awarded Athlete of the Year by my community, the Village of Ashwaubenon. And, I was selected to receive the Wisconsin Easter Seal Society's Personal Achievement Award. I was also the focus of a Brown County Chamber of Commerce media campaign to help high school students pursue their careers.
In 1999, I won the U. S. Ski Team Alumni "Texaco Star" Award for meritorious service after retiring from the ski team. In April of 2000, I was selected to receive the Lee Remmel Amateur Athletic Award honoring me as the best amateur Wisconsin Athlete for 1999. In March of 2001, my immediate family was awarded a “Family of Distinction” award from the Greater Green Bay YWCA Association.
WS: What competitions have you got lined up in the future?
JP: I used to be a Quickie Sponsored athlete, but now at the age of 66 my world class racing days are behind me, but I still do lots of outdoors stuff. Even though I’m retired, I continue to occasionally compete in hand cycle races from 10K to 26 mile marathons. I have had numerous surgeries including two new shoulder replacements and 8 back surgeries. This hasn’t slowed me down a bit!
WS: If you could give any advice to others trying to get to your level, what would it be?
JP: Just start easy, but try to improve a little bit each time you do the event. For example, if your new to hand cycling, maybe start out and make 1 mile. Next time out do 1.5 miles. Next time 2 miles and before you know it you will be going long distances, and then do the same thing with speed. Start out doing a distance slow, next time a bit faster and faster and faster!
WS: You’ve inspired lots of people along the way, but who were some that inspired you to do the things you did?
JP: That is a tough question! After thinking long and hard, I would have to say I don’t have any role models.
WS: You’ve got a book out too correct?
JP: My recently completed, spinal-injured autobiography titled, Always Climb Higher. The book is for sale on Amazon where it is getting 5 star reviews. Check it out, and tell me what you think!
You can follow Jeff on Twitter at @pagsj77
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