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Irish Daily Mirror

Para-athlete enjoys ride of his life on Race to the Clouds thanks to Insta360

Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, also known as The Race to the Clouds, is an annual automobile hill climb to the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado in the US. The challenging 12.42 mile course sees racers ascend from 2,862 metres to the 4,302-metre-high summit. The race attracts a diverse field of competitors, including motorcycles and exhibition cars. This year, tech company Insta360 helped paraplegic athlete Lance Fenderson bring one of the year's most inspiring motorsport stories to life — as the 25-year-old racer took on the legendary Pikes Peak International Hill Climb using only hand controls. READ MORE: I tested Nothing Phone 3 to see if it's the best €849 handset you can buy in Ireland READ MORE: Insta360 takes on DJI with launch of drone brand Antigravity and promise of 360-degree aerial videography After a spinal cord injury in 2019 left him paralysed from the chest down, Lance refused to give up on his dream of racing. In June 2025, he returned to the track to take on one of the world's most dangerous courses and redefined what's possible for adaptive athletes in motorsport. Para-athlete Lance Fenderson during the Race to the Clouds (Image: larry@ Throughout his rehabilitation and return to racing, Lance used Insta360's X4 to review and refine his performance. With its 8K 360 capture and AI-powered editing tools, the camera became a key part of his training — helping him analyse runs, identify improvements, and share his perspective with the world. For Pikes Peak 2025, Insta360 stepped in as a proud sponsor, offering not only financial and technical support but also storytelling collaboration, ensuring Lance had both the platform and the tools to document his journey. Using the latest Insta360 X5 360-degree 8K camera, he captured the ride from his unique POV, offering an immersive look at a comeback built on grit, innovation, and belief. 'Insta360 is honoured to sponsor Lance in his return to Pikes Peak. If there's one thing we love doing, it's backing people with powerful stories to tell, and this is certainly one,' Max Ritcher, Co-Founder & VP Marketing at Insta360, said. 'Our goal is simple: to help more creators like Lance share their stories, compete with confidence, and be seen.' The short documentary of Lance's story, presented by Insta360, is now live on YouTube — offering a powerful firsthand account of his comeback and a deeper look at the community, resilience, and purpose that fuelled his historic climb. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.