Himbert national contest finalist

Erik Himbert could have given up when a snowboarding accident in 2009 left both of his legs paralyzed.

It happened when he hit an ice block at high speed, shot into the air, and shattered a vertebra on the crash-landing. Himbert spent more than two months in a hospital.

"It was bad," he recalled last week. "It was like falling from a two-story building."

Instead of feeling sorry for himself, he began working on ways to regain as much movement as possible. That led him to design and construct a standing wheelchair, which allows him to keep some muscle tone and mass instead of just sitting all the time.

"Bone density is a big problem, too," Himbert said. "So is blood flow. Being confined to a chair, I see how bad it is on our bodies to be sitting for so long.

"When I got out of the hospital, it was all about how could I recover and do things I did before. You have no idea how frustrating it is to be 6-foot-3 and not be able to do simple things like change a lightbulb or reach things on the top shelf at the grocery store."

His invention not only has added to Himbert's well-being, but has vaulted its designer into the spotlight as one of five finalists nationally in a contest sponsored by Eastwood Co., which makes vehicle restoration and customizing tools. The company's DIY Challenge requires contestants to make some mode of transportation, completing the project solely by themselves.

Himbert and the four other finalists each received $500 and equipment valued at $2,000 to help them complete their project.

Himbert worked in his garage shop, and will know soon whether he's the national winner. The announcement will culminate with an appearance by the winner at a major automotive trade show in Las Vegas in early November, during which the winner's project will be displayed.

Himbert and a friend already have been flown to Philadelphia by Eastwood for the announcement of national finalists. He completed his final project in mid-August and since then people have been voting online for their favorite among the five finalists' projects. A panel of judges will use that online input to make their final decision, but they also will score the potential grand-prize-winner on originality and creativity.

Online balloting at http://www.diylegends.com is over, but those who want to know more about the contest and how Himbert fares in the final selection can find out on the website.

After the snowboard accident, but well before he knew about the Eastwood contest, Himbert built a standing frame to hoist himself up out of his chair for periods of time.

"The problem was that I'm just standing, not going anywhere," he said.

The standing wheelchair was his next step. It was an idea he'd been toying with, and the contest gave him impetus to begin construction.

"It's kind of a prototype and I'm still working out the bugs," he said. "I did it over a six-week period, but I think most of it was scratching my head."

Himbert, 38, has the spirit of an entrepreneur, and hopes to find a way to produce standing wheelchairs for other people. He wants to work with a nonprofit group of some kind, possibly with a link to military veterans or a hospital.

Some companies currently make standing wheelchairs, Himbert said, but he considers those too heavy and expensive. Also, they don't break down easily to put into a car as does his model, he said.

Unlike most entrepreneurs, though, Himbert isn't looking to become rich.

"I'm not in it for the money," he said. "I want to help other people."

He earlier exhibited his skills by building a 1958 Chevy pickup truck and a 1954 Bel Air car, designing the hand controls for both vehicles.

"I think I've been an engineer since I was born," said Himbert. "I've always been interested in how things work. Not having the use of my legs has required me to build things to be able to do what I want in life."

The former Southern California resident acknowledges that his strong faith has helped him weather the effects of his snowboard accident. Himbert teaches music at Sisters Christian Academy as well as offering private music lessons. Other times, you'll find him working in his garage with the thought of benefiting fellow chair users.

"The contest kick-started this idea I had in my head," he said. "The contest is good exposure, if nothing else. I've always thought, 'How can I make this help other people?'"