>> i was making a pass down the hill, and i got thrown from my machine and landed on my left leg. >> reporter: the injury catastrophic. >> they did what they could to try to save my leg, but unfortunately, we couldn't get it fixed and we had to amputate. >> reporter: the long road to recovery, learning to walk again and starting to train as he did before, determined to get back on the snow. >> the best thing i knew how to do was take it one day at a time, and then eventually started working on a new prosthetic leg which helped me to look forward. >> reporter: the legs out there weren't letting him play the sports he loved, so he went to work in his garage. >> right here is my personal leg, red, white and blue of course. >> reporter: using that drafting class from the ninth grade, and using his patience. he created this leg. >> so as you put your weight into it -- >> reporter: it could absorb the shock of high intensity sports. >> i realize that a lot of other amputees would benefit from the technology i was working on, and