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Owning It: The Ride that Changed my Life
Deeply thoughtful, honest and riveting story of a high-achieving sportsman who became a quadriplegic.
Brad Smeele's thrill-seeking, fast-paced life as a professional wakeboarder came to an abrupt halt when an accident caused him to become a quadriplegic.
Wakeboarding is like waterskiing, but on a single board with aerial tricks added in. It's a freestyle sport for super athletic adrenalin junkies. Brad was at the height of his career, pushing the sport to new limits and perfecting tricks that no one else could achieve. He was also a sought-after model and relished his free-wheeling lifestyle.
But in July 2014, while practising his latest trick, he landed badly. Catastrophically, in fact. He landed on his neck, completely crushing his spinal cord and becoming a quadriplegic immediately.
For someone whose whole life was built around his physical prowess, this was completely and utterly devastating.
Brad has had to work through a great deal, from being an incredibly physical person in all senses of the word to being someone with very limited use of his body. The struggle has been monumental, but he's come to a place of acceptance.
In this book he shares his epic story and the lessons he has learned through an unexpected teacher. He brings the same focus and determination he brought to his wakeboarding career to inspiring others.
Brad Smeele's thrill-seeking, fast-paced life as a professional wakeboarder came to an abrupt halt when an accident caused him to become a quadriplegic.
Wakeboarding is like waterskiing, but on a single board with aerial tricks added in. It's a freestyle sport for super athletic adrenalin junkies. Brad was at the height of his career, pushing the sport to new limits and perfecting tricks that no one else could achieve. He was also a sought-after model and relished his free-wheeling lifestyle.
But in July 2014, while practising his latest trick, he landed badly. Catastrophically, in fact. He landed on his neck, completely crushing his spinal cord and becoming a quadriplegic immediately.
For someone whose whole life was built around his physical prowess, this was completely and utterly devastating.
Brad has had to work through a great deal, from being an incredibly physical person in all senses of the word to being someone with very limited use of his body. The struggle has been monumental, but he's come to a place of acceptance.
In this book he shares his epic story and the lessons he has learned through an unexpected teacher. He brings the same focus and determination he brought to his wakeboarding career to inspiring others.
709 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 16, 2022
31 people are currently reading
179 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 1, 2023
Brad! Did you go back and do those AUT exams?? Don’t leave me hanging! Ha maybe because I’m a mum I care about that… Seriously tho, loved it, loved the ride, loved your honesty, so many life lessons for us all… Keep being you 😊
August 31, 2022
I feel like this book could’ve kept going and I could just keep reading it for the rest of time. 10/10
September 9, 2022
What a journey! In the front end it feels like being invited to a party with the cools kids. But the back end really resonates and had me in tears in parts and provided a couple of genuine aha! moments. Highly recommend
August 20, 2022
Could not put this down. An intense and hugely interesting memoir from a very courageous Kiwi.
January 6, 2023
Primera lectura del 2023 concluida.
4.0 solid stars to this book
I'll start by saying that only about 5% of the books I read are non-fiction and this is only the second memoir type of book I've read.
It was interesting to read about life in New Zealand, wakeboarding (a sport I didn't even know existed), and the life and passion of an aspiring turned-pro, young wakeboarder athlete.
The storytelling feels very personal, almost like a journal type of writing. The language is very easy to understand, even with all the tricks and technicalities of wakeboarding (for someone with English as a foreign language like myself). The timeline is from the past to the present and that's one of the reasons the story is very easy to follow.
I did feel like the first half of the book could have been 200 pages shorter. The first part of the book could seem repetitive at times but at the end, all that comes from the author's storytelling style, and later on it gives you more context of the author's life prior vs after the accident.
After the not-so-surprising plot twist (since it's in the very title of the book) the story changes completely and we have more insight into the author's journey of self-love and self-acceptance from the accident to the present time.
There are many paragraphs of shared knowledge that regardless of our situation we can internalize and relate to. The book emphasizes living in the present since we cannot be depressed or feel anxious if we truly live in the present and that's something that although sounds easy, it's harder than it seems.
It was a really good book to start my 2023 reading challenge since it set me in good spirits.
Comment to the author: it kind of makes me want to read a book co-written with "the so-mentioned" Susie. It would be a great read as well.
4.0 solid stars to this book
I'll start by saying that only about 5% of the books I read are non-fiction and this is only the second memoir type of book I've read.
It was interesting to read about life in New Zealand, wakeboarding (a sport I didn't even know existed), and the life and passion of an aspiring turned-pro, young wakeboarder athlete.
The storytelling feels very personal, almost like a journal type of writing. The language is very easy to understand, even with all the tricks and technicalities of wakeboarding (for someone with English as a foreign language like myself). The timeline is from the past to the present and that's one of the reasons the story is very easy to follow.
I did feel like the first half of the book could have been 200 pages shorter. The first part of the book could seem repetitive at times but at the end, all that comes from the author's storytelling style, and later on it gives you more context of the author's life prior vs after the accident.
After the not-so-surprising plot twist (since it's in the very title of the book) the story changes completely and we have more insight into the author's journey of self-love and self-acceptance from the accident to the present time.
There are many paragraphs of shared knowledge that regardless of our situation we can internalize and relate to. The book emphasizes living in the present since we cannot be depressed or feel anxious if we truly live in the present and that's something that although sounds easy, it's harder than it seems.
It was a really good book to start my 2023 reading challenge since it set me in good spirits.
Comment to the author: it kind of makes me want to read a book co-written with "the so-mentioned" Susie. It would be a great read as well.
September 10, 2022
So compelling and well written. Honest, raw, uncomfortable in places, emotional. I couldn’t stop reading! I learned so much in the second part of the book.
January 1, 2023
Amazing! Gripping! So well articulated , it will take you on a journey and very thought provoking! I was sad when I finished it
June 30, 2023
Loved it. Heartbreaking, raw and honest.
July 3, 2025
This one was a little different from my usual fiction, so I definitely had to write a review.
This book is one of those that touches your soul on so many levels. It’s true, it’s real, it’s raw. And it’s impossible not to put yourself in Brad’s shoes and wonder how the hell he has coped with everything he’s been through. The truth is, if I think about it with complete honesty, aside from always having another book on the go I think I put off reading this for as long as it sat next to my bed because it made me quite anxious to face down what he went through. I’m no stranger to reading gripping suspense, but there is usually a hero and a “happy ending” at the end of those fictional stories. In this case it’s not fiction. Brad is a Kiwi just like me, only a few years younger than me, from the same city as me, and NZ is not a big place. So it’s almost inevitable we have mutual friends or acquaintances, and his story hits very close to home - literally. And because of this I had actually already followed his accident and recovery in real time following him on social media, so I already had an insight into what would be in the pages of this book and I knew that the type of “happy ending” I was used to reading in my favourite fictional suspense novels was not going to eventuate. And it scared me a bit to dig deeper into this reality. Calculated risks and high adrenaline hobbies are a big part of my family’s life, and so Brad’s story was always going to be (yet another) stark reminder of how life can so easily change in just 1 blink. But I am so glad I got stuck into this book because it was a journey that I felt a deep connection to, and the “happy ending” I was subconsciously so worried I wasn’t going to get, actually surprised me by manifesting anyway, just in a completely different (and extremely humbling) way.
Whether or not you’re into wakeboarding, I highly recommend this book. Brad has a really easy to read and relate to writing style. If you have ever faced challenges or adversity on any scale, you will get so much out of Brad’s story. If you are driven by your goals and passions, you will relate to Brad. Basically if you have a heart that beats, this book will touch it. If you are an empath like I am, it might even spring a few tears. Ultimately though, it will inevitably inspire you as well as reiterate how much we have to be thankful for in this life. I have already thanked Brad directly for being so open, raw, candid, and real in his story telling. I’ve also thanked him for including so much of his spiritual (but not religious) journey to work through so many strong emotions, find his WHY again, and reclaim his happiness. So many of his lessons from Susie and from other patients he met at his rehab facilities fighting a similar fight can be applied to anyone’s own circumstances. I took away quotes, principles, beliefs, and perspectives from this book that I never expected I would. But that I hope will help me face things in my life now as boldly and valiantly as Brad has (and clearly continues to) in his.
Go and read this book. It’s a ride that could easily change your life too once you get the full story. Definitely 5 Stars from me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book is one of those that touches your soul on so many levels. It’s true, it’s real, it’s raw. And it’s impossible not to put yourself in Brad’s shoes and wonder how the hell he has coped with everything he’s been through. The truth is, if I think about it with complete honesty, aside from always having another book on the go I think I put off reading this for as long as it sat next to my bed because it made me quite anxious to face down what he went through. I’m no stranger to reading gripping suspense, but there is usually a hero and a “happy ending” at the end of those fictional stories. In this case it’s not fiction. Brad is a Kiwi just like me, only a few years younger than me, from the same city as me, and NZ is not a big place. So it’s almost inevitable we have mutual friends or acquaintances, and his story hits very close to home - literally. And because of this I had actually already followed his accident and recovery in real time following him on social media, so I already had an insight into what would be in the pages of this book and I knew that the type of “happy ending” I was used to reading in my favourite fictional suspense novels was not going to eventuate. And it scared me a bit to dig deeper into this reality. Calculated risks and high adrenaline hobbies are a big part of my family’s life, and so Brad’s story was always going to be (yet another) stark reminder of how life can so easily change in just 1 blink. But I am so glad I got stuck into this book because it was a journey that I felt a deep connection to, and the “happy ending” I was subconsciously so worried I wasn’t going to get, actually surprised me by manifesting anyway, just in a completely different (and extremely humbling) way.
Whether or not you’re into wakeboarding, I highly recommend this book. Brad has a really easy to read and relate to writing style. If you have ever faced challenges or adversity on any scale, you will get so much out of Brad’s story. If you are driven by your goals and passions, you will relate to Brad. Basically if you have a heart that beats, this book will touch it. If you are an empath like I am, it might even spring a few tears. Ultimately though, it will inevitably inspire you as well as reiterate how much we have to be thankful for in this life. I have already thanked Brad directly for being so open, raw, candid, and real in his story telling. I’ve also thanked him for including so much of his spiritual (but not religious) journey to work through so many strong emotions, find his WHY again, and reclaim his happiness. So many of his lessons from Susie and from other patients he met at his rehab facilities fighting a similar fight can be applied to anyone’s own circumstances. I took away quotes, principles, beliefs, and perspectives from this book that I never expected I would. But that I hope will help me face things in my life now as boldly and valiantly as Brad has (and clearly continues to) in his.
Go and read this book. It’s a ride that could easily change your life too once you get the full story. Definitely 5 Stars from me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 7, 2024
Laughed, cried, absolutely loved it.
“How could any woman want you now anyway?”
“I want to die but, goddammit, I can’t even kill myself!”
“Which wolf will win? - The one you feed”
“Being present isn’t just about being there, it’s about being in the moment as you are”
“Love yourself for everything that you are - not just the parts that you like, and that your ego approves of, but everything.”
“Never forget yesterday, but always live for today, because you never know what tomorrow may bring, or what it could take away”
“Honestly, facing some of these things is scarier than hitting a mega ramp or committing to a double flip”
“Feeling inadequate can only be the ego - the true self can’t be inadequate because you are as the universe made you, just as the plant is as nature made it. The more you release these stories of who you thought you were, and change your currency, and accept the past knowing you can’t change it, and accept that you can’t control the future, the less the ego has control over you”
“I don’t believe in the Bible. That’s just man’s attempt to interpret the world and control people”
“I’m learning to have faith that the doors that close on us are leading us to more rewarding doors that are ready to be opened”
“Religion is following the messenger. Spirituality is following the message”
“To the right person, I’ll always be good enough.
“Save a horse, ride a quadriplegic!”
“In order to have a sense of love and belonging, we need to first believe we’re worthy of love and belonging”
“Isn’t life so strangely and unpredictably beautiful?”
“How could any woman want you now anyway?”
“I want to die but, goddammit, I can’t even kill myself!”
“Which wolf will win? - The one you feed”
“Being present isn’t just about being there, it’s about being in the moment as you are”
“Love yourself for everything that you are - not just the parts that you like, and that your ego approves of, but everything.”
“Never forget yesterday, but always live for today, because you never know what tomorrow may bring, or what it could take away”
“Honestly, facing some of these things is scarier than hitting a mega ramp or committing to a double flip”
“Feeling inadequate can only be the ego - the true self can’t be inadequate because you are as the universe made you, just as the plant is as nature made it. The more you release these stories of who you thought you were, and change your currency, and accept the past knowing you can’t change it, and accept that you can’t control the future, the less the ego has control over you”
“I don’t believe in the Bible. That’s just man’s attempt to interpret the world and control people”
“I’m learning to have faith that the doors that close on us are leading us to more rewarding doors that are ready to be opened”
“Religion is following the messenger. Spirituality is following the message”
“To the right person, I’ll always be good enough.
“Save a horse, ride a quadriplegic!”
“In order to have a sense of love and belonging, we need to first believe we’re worthy of love and belonging”
“Isn’t life so strangely and unpredictably beautiful?”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2023
Had such a positive upbeat tone from start to finish even after such a life-changing injury. I will take some of the words and conversations had in therapy with me for the rest of my life to deal with darker times. A must-read for anyone with a sporting background or anyone struggling with mental health OR anyone looking for a bit of a juicy read about a professional athlete.
Knocking off a star for the excessive pursuits of women and at times feeling like the connections were superficial and about their bodies not minds BUT appreciated the raw honesty that came with that. I can see the purpose is to show how different your life was after the injury and mentally how you coped with that change.
Knocking off a star for the excessive pursuits of women and at times feeling like the connections were superficial and about their bodies not minds BUT appreciated the raw honesty that came with that. I can see the purpose is to show how different your life was after the injury and mentally how you coped with that change.
June 7, 2023
This is a very inspirational book. The book takes you on a journey of Brads life both before and after his injury. The book is raw and honest account of his life. There are some great lessons to consider through the last few chapters regarding living in the present and accepting what is! I couldn't put the books down
September 3, 2023
I feel like You need to love wakeboarding from the 2000’s to really appreciate this book because the first 60% is pre-accident. I’ve been following Brad’s story since the accident happened so it was an interesting read.
May 19, 2023
Loved it! Such an inspirational read!
December 3, 2023
Amazing story, inspirational to hear how he adapts and finds the positives in his new life. Insightful to see the challenges of a pro wakeboarder and then the challenges of a quadriplegic.
June 22, 2024
The first half of the book was about his wakeboarding career. I think I was expecting this book to be more about his accident and how he recovered/lessons learnt. Nonetheless, Brad is such an inspiration, with an amazing mindset. It really reinforces - it's not what happens to you, but the way you react to things in life that don't go to plan.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2025
Quite a long book! Interesting to hear an unfiltered version of his struggles both during his wakeboarding career and after the accident. I did find it hard to keep up with all the people mentioned!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews