Snowboarding amputee trials prototype leg

3:00pm Monday 17th March 2008

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An amputee from Oxford is set to trial a prototype artificial leg at a world-renowned snowboarding event in America.

Carl Murphy's state-of-the-art prosthetic limb has never before been used on snow, but the winter sports fan is confident it can do the goods and boost his performance in three events at the Colorado National Championships later this month.

Mr Murphy, 28, from Alan Bullock Close in St Clement's, had his right leg amputated above the ankle shortly after birth because of a congenital defect.

He normally wears a standard-issue fibre glass and carbon fibre artificial leg for every day walking.

But from March 22, he will be using a unique carbon fibre limb with shock absorbers designed to take the heavy landings involved in his sport.

The limb has been developed by New Zealand-based company Lab Industries Limited and is the only one of its kind in the world.

Mr Murphy said: "I have used it in an indoor snowdome and it performs fantastically, when you land and jump it just absorbs all the shock."

Mr Murphy has been snowboarding for 10 years and is hoping to achieve a top-three finish in each of the three events, which are only open to disabled athletes.

He will compete in adaptive slalom, speed slalom time trials and a boarder cross event, which he described as four racers competing on a BMX-style course with ramps at the Copper Mountain ski resort.

The architectural draftsman said: "I am an outdoors sort of person.

"I enjoy mountain biking and surfing.

"I have not got the full leg movement of a normal person and there was a bit of a learning curve when I started snowboarding, but because I've not had my leg from birth I've overcome obstacles because I don't know any different.

"I cannot wait to get out there. I love the speed and the adrenaline."

Mr Murphy's wife Aleisha said: "Carl is a pretty chilled out sort of guy and good to be around.

"He is pretty fun-loving and enjoys life. He does not let his disability hold him back - he just goes for it."