A pioneering research and experimental project in the field of adaptive sports: taking to the slopes to enable an athlete with a complete spinal cord injury to ski autonomously and in an upright position on snow.
The project is called Beyond Human Potential, and it was conceived by Tommaso Balasso and Michel Roccati.Schio (VI), 5 November 2025.
Beyond Human Potential is born — a project that brings together neuroscience, technology and sport with one clear goal: to enable Michel Roccati, an athlete with a complete spinal cord injury, to return to skiing in a standing position. At his side is Tommaso Balasso, founder of Scie di Passione, an organisation that has been working for 15 years on Alpe Cimbra to make mountain sports accessible and inclusive.Together with a multidisciplinary team of engineers, researchers and technicians, they are developing a new approach to human movement on snow. The project introduces an innovative model in which humans, science and machines work together to overcome what until now has been considered an insurmountable barrier.Alpe Cimbra in Trentino, with the slopes of the Folgaria–Lavarone ski area, will become the place where Beyond Human Potential – the challenge that unites humanity, science and technology will come to life during the 2025/2026 winter season.
The three pillars of Beyond Human Potential: Human – Science – Machine
HUMAN
At the heart of the project is the human being. The challenge begins with the body and mind of Michel Roccati, with his ability to listen to himself, push beyond his limits, adapt, and learn a new way of moving.The motorcycle accident that left him paraplegic marked the beginning of a new challenge: starting with his participation in 2020 in the STIMO clinical trial at EPFL Lausanne. This experience gave him back the ability to stand and walk(the first person in the world to do so).Alongside him is another key figure: Tommaso Balasso, whose twenty years of experience in the Paralympic world — first as guide athlete to Gianmaria Dal Maistro, with whom he won five Paralympic medals (gold at Turin 2006) and three World Cups, and now as a promoter of inclusive sports initiatives — is dedicated to providing Michel with all the tools and resources he needs to express his extraordinary potential.“In Beyond Human Potential,” says Tommaso Balasso, “the body becomes a living laboratory, while the mind takes on the role of guidance, precision, and control. It is not only about recovering an athletic gesture, but about rethinking the relationship between the individual and movement, transforming a seemingly limited condition into a new form of athletic expression.”
SCIENCE
Science is what turns an intuition into a method.
The project integrates the most advanced research in neurotechnology, biomechanics, and movement analysis, combining spinal electrode implants with an ecosystem of algorithms, sensors and neuromodulated stimulation systems.The goal is to enable the body to reactivate complex motor patterns, such as balance, load management and the coordination needed to ski in an upright position. The scientific work aims to develop a replicable model capable of opening new pathways in adaptive sports and, in the future, in motor rehabilitation.
Research continues in collaboration with the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV).“I want to give my body a second chance to experience movement,” says Michel Roccati. “For me, returning to skiing in a standing position on the snow is a way to reclaim a part of myself.”
MACHINE
The machine is the bridge between the human being and scientific innovation.
It is not a simple assistive device, but an intelligent and adaptive system designed to interact with the body and amplify its motor capabilities.The device Michel will use to ski is custom-built, tailored to his anthropometric needs.The system uses a combination of biomechanics, AI and neuro-muscular control to support the body in an upright posture and facilitate safe and controlled movement on snow.
OBJECTIVE AND TIMELINE
The ultimate goal of the project is to enable Michel, who has a complete spinal cord injury, to become the first person in the world to ski upright.
The journey includes a phase of athletic and technical preparation, technological development, progressive on-snow testing, and continuous monitoring of results.The project will be documented in a feature-length docufilm, scheduled for release at the end of the winter season, showcasing the evolution of the challenge and the milestones achieved.Alpe Cimbra, in Trentino–South Tyrol, represents the ideal environment for this project: its slopes have welcomed athletes and enthusiasts with disabilities for many years. This is where Michel’s training will take place and, once again on Alpe Cimbra, the final on-snow test will be held — the decisive moment of the entire challenge: the attempt to ski down the slope standing and autonomously, after months of preparation, research and experimentation.
PARTNERS AND SPONSORS
Beyond Human Potential invites collaboration from partners and sponsors interested in supporting a pioneering project that blends research, sport and technology, with real impact on the future of human movement.For more information, partnership opportunities and involvement requests, please visit:
https://beyondhumanpotential.org/
Those who have chosen to support us:
Team of Willpower:
Francesco Mansutti, Francesco Bettella, Dora Carapellese, Renato Catelan, Daniela Cavallin, Carlo Perazzolo, Nicola Bonotto and Marco Bianchi.Supporting Sponsors:
Alpe Cimbra, Nordica, DOTOUT, Sinner, Hopen Space, Scie di Passione, d.crea, Piano D, B-Side Lab, Fluid Works, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), and Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV).
Press Contact
Dora Carapellese – Media Relations
E: dc@doracarapellese.it
M: +39 347 45 81 906
