Nichole Rider - Argo Ambassador of the Week

Nichole Rider, a partial quadriplegic from Laramie, WY, hasn’t been sailing for long, but now that she has found her passion, she can’t get enough of a good thing. She was 22 when she suffered a broken neck at C5. Defying all odds she can stand. She has a dynamite grip. She also has an incomparable competitive can-do attitude.

In April 2010, Rider was invited to sail a Sonar out of Shake a Leg Miami by Kerry Gruson, Juan Carlos Gil and John Muir. By Memorial Day she sailed in her first regatta. Since then, she has sailed in numerous regattas in Colorado and Florida. She regularly sails an Access Liberty and an O'Day 17 DaySailer. Jorg Pawlik of WhyDITOT Innovations has equipped this sailing enthusiast with two TackMaster transfer seating/steering devices, which enable her to helm J24s and Etchells. Rider has her sights sent on an E-scow, which she refers to as a "bullet in the water."

"Sailing has enriched my life beyond imagination. I fell in love with it as soon as we left the dock. I found my freedom on the water," said Rider.

"It’s your attitude that determines your altitude in life," she said. A licensed insurance agent for an independent agency with a team oriented atmosphere, Rider keeps her mind open to all possibilities and always surprises those who try to put limits on her.

Rider is looking forward to racing in several events in 2011, including first Road to Rolex Women’s’ Clinic June 10-12, 2011 open to disabled and able-bodied women sailors. She is the chairperson for the event, and Pawlik’s TackMaster adaptive seats will make it possible for her and other skipper’s with disabilities to compete on an even playing field with the other clinic and regatta participants. Later in the year, Rider plans to compete in US SAILING’s Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship August 29 - September 1 in Rochester, NY.

"Argo Challenge offers athletes with disabilities an opportunity similar to what we will provide at the Road to the Rolex clinic. It’s fantastic that the Argo team will be able to work together to show the world that they can be champions in life as well as in sports by competing on an equal playing field with the rest of the America’s Cup teams." Continued Rider, "Of course, I will be rooting for them."