- Name:
- Von Ruder
- Occupation:
- O&P Technician
- Type of Amputation:
- Left, BK
 Von Ruder has been enthusiastic about rock climbing since his childhood. Early on, Von scrambled, which is off trail, non-technical rock climbing. As an adult in the early nineties, he discovered a passion for free climbing. "I am very passionate about my rock climbing, and my Venture is a big part of that, especially since I boulder and free ascend. There are no ropes or safety gear, so foot security is paramount," he says.
In 1983, Von was involved in a motorcycle accident which resulted in the amputation of his left leg, below the knee. Following his amputation, he was fitted with several SACH feet, and in 1999, an Ohio Willow Wood Pathfinder Foot. "Up until I tried the Venture, I didn't know that there wasn't anything I didn't like about the Pathfinder," he admits.
Von decided to give the Venture Foot a try in 2006, after almost 6 years on the Pathfinder Foot. "I knew from experience with others' prostheses that the Venture was light and strong, but still could actually feel a difference despite my preconceived knowledge of the Venture's characteristics," Von states. "The Venture has all the functionality of a heavier foot with half the weight. The lightness is essential to climbing."
 Von recalls his first rock climbing excursion on his new Venture Foot. "The first trip rock climbing was such a thrill- to climb with a featherweight prosthesis due to the new foot. The other attributes of the Venture surprised me. It had such great flex and rotation capabilities. They were slight, but noticeable, creating comfort when walking and a sure footed proprioception not found in other prosthetic feet."
"I would not climb on any foot other than a Venture! Anytime it's the perfect foot, but on the rock is when it shines. I really feel the difference. I climb solo with no ropes or gear, so I count on my feet. With the Venture, I can be thinking about something else because I know I can count on my feet! From an O&P Technicians view, it's just the right choice!"
An Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician at O&P Clinical Technologies since 2004, Von got into the profession after meeting his current prosthetist, Paul Prusakowski, and discovering that it is possible to be comfortable as an amputee. "Paul built me my first truly comfortable leg back in 1999, and I wanted to spread the word that it is possible to have a comfortable prosthesis," Von declares. "That is how it all began."
In 2006, Von established a rock climbing chapter of Disabled Sports USA called Planetkind Sports, Inc. Planetkind is a nonprofit organization which offers Adaptive rock climbing clinics and personalized adaptive equipment for its members.
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