Greg Durso was a 23-year-old banker and outdoor enthusiast when in 2009, a sledding injury on a ski trip with friends left him paralyzed from the waist down. In 2022, Allie Bianchi was also 23 and a passionate mountain biker and special educator, when a crash on a familiar trail left her a quadriplegic. In an instant, the lives of these two athletes were changed forever.  

Greg and Allie have found community and a space where they feel they belong at The Driving Range, a new trail network built by a grassroots Vermont club, Richmond Mountain Trails. The Driving Range was constructed to accommodate adaptive mountain bikes. Building the network, we learned that blue, black, and double-black mountain bike trails that "go" for adaptive riders can be fun, progressive, and challenging for able-bodied riders too. At the Driving Range, we witnessed universal trails breaking down barriers between able-bodied riders and athletes with spinal cord injuries. We also proved that anyone can build universal trails and that those trails can change how people think and treat each other.

Best Day Ever tells the story of Greg, Allie, and the Driving Range Trails. Greg played a vital role in building the Driving Range, vetting every trail for adaptive access, advising trail builders and volunteers, and getting more adaptive athletes out on the trails. The film follows Greg as his skills progress, he champions adaptive access into a premier downhill bike event, and he supports new athletes including Allie. Allie was an avid outdoorswoman before a bike accident claimed her mobility. In Best Day Ever, we witness her return to the trails with the support of Greg, her family, and her community. 

There are many misconceptions about the abilities of adaptive athletes. This movie challenges those perspectives while acknowledging the difficulties people with spinal cord injuries face in other aspects of their lives. We document the power of building trails so that people with disabilities can return to the activities they love and discover new passions. We show the impact of a place where riders with disabilities and able-bodied riders can recreate on common ground. 

Best Day Ever is a case study and a road map for universal trails. It's a movie about creating a place adaptive riders can call their own. Witnessing Greg and Allie find victory and community on The Driving Range trails is an emotional and impactful experience.  We believe it will inspire viewers to consider how to make their communities more welcoming to people of different abilities, from mountain bike trails to playgrounds.