People & Culture
Alberta-based filmmaker Kim Logan shares the story of Matt Hadley, a trailbuilder and former pro mountain biker who returned to the sport after a life-altering accident
Before he could walk, he rode.
That’s how Matt Hadley returned to the saddle after a traumatic hiking accident in Moab, Utah, left him with a life-altering injury in 2019. A former pro mountain biker and revered trail builder based in Canmore, Alta., Hadley refused to let an above-the-knee amputation define the limits of his life outdoors. Less than two weeks after the accident, he was back on a bike. First in physiotherapy, then carefully navigating the streets with the help of his wife, Catherine Vipons, and brother Adam.
Hadley’s love for the sport began long before that moment. Mountain biking trails were nonexistent in rural New Brunswick, where Hadley grew up, so he and his brother started building them from scratch, first on their property, then eventually expanding to neighbouring lands and Crown land. At 14, Hadley entered his first local race, where he placed first, and was hooked.
Over the years, Hadley became a fixture in Canada’s mountain biking scene, working full-time at the Canmore Nordic Centre, racing on the Canada Cup circuit, and helping to shape Alberta’s trails through work with Alberta Parks, Friends of Kananaskis and the Rundle Mountain Cycling Club.
But it’s what happened after the accident that defines Hadley’s enduring legacy: designing adaptive trails to make mountain biking more accessible.” Matt continues to make trails safer, fun and more accessible for multi-purpose use. He’s continuing to shape how people experience our mountain culture.
Alberta-based filmmaker Kim Logan was inspired by Hadley’s resilience in the face of adversity and felt compelled to tell his story. Trailblazing: The Matt Hadley Story is a moving project that captures Hadley’s journey with unflinching honesty and heart.
The film premiered at the Yorkton Film Festival earlier this year, where it won the Golden Sheaf Award in the Documentary POV category. Beyond accolades, the film stands as a powerful reminder of what it means to rebuild, reimagine and redefine what’s possible. Here, Logan shares insights into the making and impact of the film.
I first learned about Matt’s story when I read about it in the media. What struck me was not only the gravity of his accident and the trauma he went through, but how he adapted to that. I think when we go through such trauma, there are different ways of reacting to it. Matt was able to switch his mindset and focus on the path forward quickly. I found that incredibly inspiring.
The more I learned about Matt, the more I felt he was a Canmore local legend that had been flying under the radar all this time. He has had a significant impact on the Bow Valley, in the sense that he has helped shape how people experience our mountain culture here. If you have hiked or biked on a trail around here [Canmore], Matt was likely involved in it in some capacity.
There’s also the aspect of increasing representation in the outdoors. When you see yourself in a story, you start to feel like you belong.
The power of story and the visual medium is something that’s resonated with me from a young age. I remember playing 3D Movie Maker on Windows 95 back in Australia. When I moved to Canada 14 years ago, I started attending the Banff Film Festival. I was deeply inspired by those adventure films, and I remember thinking it would be incredible if I could somehow be involved in making a film that screens at that world-renowned festival.
I’ve always loved documentaries; they’re all I watch. I believe in the power of documentary, in particular, to not only entertain but also shift perspectives and create a lasting emotional impact.
Matt was open to the opportunity of making a film. I was really surprised at the time that his story actually hadn’t been told yet, because it’s such an incredible one.
The great thing about TELUS STORYHIVE [which gave Logan a grant to make the film] is that they pair all of their program participants with a mentor. I received guidance from a Calgary-based filmmaker, Corey Lee, who helped me throughout the entire process, along with Brandy [Yanchyk, an award-winning filmmaker from Edmonton].
The filming took place over two or three months, with six shoot days. Some days were really long. We were out in the field for 14 hours once. We met at the parking lot [to hike Mount Yamnuska] at 3:30 a.m., hoping to catch sunrise on the mountain. Unfortunately, Mother Nature didn’t really put on the show that day.
One challenge was figuring out how to sensitively navigate the topics we were discussing. Obviously, Matt’s gone through this trauma, and it’s not just him who has experienced this; it’s his family as well. It was really important for me to ensure that I built trust not only with Matt but also with his wife, Catherine, to ensure that everyone was comfortable speaking and sharing their perspective on the film.
As you can imagine, Catherine was deeply affected by the incident, having been there and saved Matt’s life. Navigating that was a challenge for sure.
Trailblazing challenges these preconceived notions we tend to have about not only what it’s like to live with a disability, but what it’s like to live an active lifestyle in the mountains. I think when we showcase adaptive athletes like Matt on screen, we challenge those outdated narratives about the accessibility-challenged community. Trailblazing showcases that it’s not about what’s lost, it’s about what’s still possible. I think adaptive athletes like Matt are really proving that the outdoors can be accessible and empowering for people of all abilities.
It was such a special moment to win the Golden Sheaf Award at Trailblazing’s first film festival. There was definitely an element of shock and surprise. But overall, I was just so honoured to have the film recognized. I think the story is deserving of an award, for sure. The film is really about resilience and innovation and determination, and I’m hoping those universal themes will resonate with not only outdoor adventurers but also the local community and a broader global community. What I hope [viewers] will take away from the film is that when life knocks you down, there’s always a path forward, should you choose it.
Stay in the know about Trailblazing: The Matt Hadley Story by following @trailblazing.film on Instagram or visit https://www.trailblazingfilm.ca/
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