SYNOPSIS

When the trail disappears, you blaze a new one.

Matt Hadley, a former elite mountain biker and professional trails technologist, was living his dream in Canmore, Alberta - building and exploring trails and thriving in the outdoors. But while hiking in Utah, a freak accident changes everything. A devastating injury leads to the loss of his leg, threatening not only his career but the outdoor life he had built around it. How do you rebuild a life when everything you love feels out of reach?

Supported by a community that rallies around him, Matt embarks on a demanding journey of recovery and reinvention. As he relearns how to work, play, and move through the mountains he calls home, Trailblazing reveals the strength, creativity, and determination it takes to redefine what’s possible after loss.

Set against the breathtaking landscapes of the Canadian Rockies, this intimate documentary explores resilience, innovation, and the power of community in the face of adversity. It also highlights the barriers that persist in mountain environments - and celebrates the people, like Matt, who are redefining what it means to belong in these wild places.

Two smiling hikers, a man and a woman, sitting on a log in a forest with a mountain in the background, being filmed with a professional camera.
A woman taking a selfie in a home studio with a man sitting on a chair in the background, surrounded by professional camera equipment and lighting. The room has wooden floors, bookshelves, plants, and a wooden rocking horse.
A woman in a white lab coat is smiling and gesturing with open arms during a video recording or photoshoot in an indoor office or studio setting with plants and wooden furniture. A camera on a tripod is recording her.
Two people standing indoors, one man and one woman, during a filming or photo shoot, with studio lighting equipment nearby. The woman is holding a clapperboard and smiling.
Two smiling women taking a selfie at a conference table with laptops and mugs, in a room with black and white photos on the wall and a TV.
Group of five people in winter snow gear standing together on snow at Rocky Mountain Adaptive skiing facility, with a building and clear blue sky in the background.
A person operating a camera on a tripod on a rocky trail in a mountainous forest landscape with snow-capped peaks and evergreen trees.
A woman in a red sweater and white collared shirt smiling in the foreground, a man in a blue T-shirt sitting on a stool with arms raised, and another man in a red plaid shirt and glasses pointing, with a camera and filming equipment, in a room with wooden blinds and a large plant.
Group of four people filming in a forest during daytime, with camera equipment and a bicycle nearby.
Group of five hikers in outdoor gear on rocky mountain terrain with snow-capped mountains in the background.
A woman with a red cap and blue jacket and a man in an orange jacket sitting outdoors in a forest, being filmed with professional camera equipment under a canopy.
A woman and a man being filmed in a workshop with tools on the wall, a bicycle on a stand, and various equipment, with cameras and lighting setup.
Person lying on the grass taking a photograph of a red mountain bike leaning against a tree in an outdoor park with mountains and cloudy sky in the background.
Woman smiling during a video call at her desk with plants, a large monitor, and notes in her workspace.
Four people standing in front of indoor rock climbing walls, one seated with a camera, in a gym with large windows and a stone pillar. One person holds a clapperboard. They are smiling and dressed casually.
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