Mono Ski to Compete for Winter!

  “If you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.” – Bruce Lee

 

  Kanya lives life without limits. As a kid, she has adapted through obstacles on her own without the use of having any legs. When Kanya was a baby, the monks have found her on the steps of a Buddha temple wrapped in a blanket and discover that she was missing legs. When the monks found her, there was no note or anything indicating who have abandoned her. Then a great miracle happen when she was five years old, a family from Tualatin Oregon; Jane and David Sesser found Kanya in a Holt International article that help orphanage, abandoned and vulnerable children to thrive by finding families to love them. Jane and David Sesser wanted to adopt Kanya. This little girl didn’t know that great things were about to happen to her.

 
Coming to a new home in a different country was an experience for Kanya. Jane and David notice how easily Kanya quickly got around by walking on her hands and from using her upper body strength through obstacles without any help. Kanya would climb up on the counter top when she wanted something in the cupboards by using her hands to grip to the edge of the counter top by pulling herself up with her upper body strength and swing her bottom onto the counter top. Jane and David was shock of what this girl was capable to do. They describe her as a very independent girl and don’t like it when people try’s to help her. She doesn’t see herself being disabled in any way.


Growing up as a kid she made many friends. Mainly for being a friendly, funny, free spirited and outgoing human being. People were more impressed by her traits and personality than the curiosity of her not having legs. Since a very young age her approach to life has been to live without limits and to not be afraid to do new things. Even though there are certain things that she might not be able to do, that doesn't stop her from trying and finding a way to do it her way.

Since a young age she skated, mono-skied with OAS, hiked, surfed, played basketball, played sled hockey, raced in track and played tennis. In high school she was on the swimming team and did track for Tualatin High School. She qualified for the 100, 200, 400 and 800 meters to go to state, made it on the USA team to race in the 100, 200 and 400 meters and was on the Paralympic team for track in the 100 and the 200 meters event and have won gold in the 100, 200, 400 and 800 meters and is now training at the U of A track and rugby and see if she can make it on the Track Paralympics team again. She was also on a mono skiing team up in Park City Utah, was good enough to do competitions but never got the chance to get her own mono ski to compete in actual events, but has race other skiers for the fun of it.

She went on a surf/skate road trip to California. During the first part of the trip she had the privilege of visiting the Billabong headquarters in Orange County. Rufo and Josh who works at the Billabong headquarters gave her a detailed tour of Billabong HQ and introduced her to the entire Billabong family. She was so stoked! Billabong has always been one of her favorite clothing brands and now she have the inside scoop on how Billabong rolls! Towards the end of the tour they surprised her with her very own custom made wetsuit and goodies that were perfect for her upcoming surf session.

While it was fun, it was also time to take her surfing up a notch, Cali style! Billabong and their friends at The View from 42 set up a surf session at Seaside Beach in Cardiff. Randy, Josh and the positive vibes from the locals (including Joel Tudor) gave her the best surf session she has ever had. Waves were 3 to 5 feet and glassy, perfect! She learned how to get closer to the pocket of the wave and set a good line. She realized that she love going left on waves. In other words, she’s a goofy foot! Her next approach she wishes is to have the opportunity to compete in surfing competitions in Hawaii and in different places to experience different waves to ride.




Her next goal is to someday travel the world to different foreign countries, to speak, motivate, inspire other people/kids with disability to help them have the opportunity in sports and help them get access to different equipments for the need of there disability and to give other kids a chance to have the freedom to feel what it's like to try out the things that they might not be able to try or have any access to.  But MOST importantly, hopefully one day get her own racing mono ski so she can start competing with her own equipment and to the winter 2018!

If you wish to follow Kanya you can visit her Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kanya-Sesser-no-legs-no-limits or follow her on Instagram @kanyasesser.


“Even though there are certain things that I might not be able to do, that doesn’t stop me from trying and finding a way to do it my own way.” -Kanya Sesser



If you would like to contact me. Please email me [email redacted]