Video: Tanglefoot Trail Wheelchair Challenge

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HOUSTON, Miss. (WCBI) — A wheelchair bound Chickasaw County man is in training to be able to tackle the 44 mile long Tangle Foot Trail.

For the last couple of years its become a familiar sight, on any given day people in Houston and Chickasaw County get to see an unusual athlete as he prepares to take on the popular trail spanning Union, Pontotoc, and Chickasaw Counties. Our wheelchair man has already spied out the distance he’ll cover.

“The first one was from Houlka last year to Houston which was 10 miles and then a couple weeks ago I did from Algoma to Houston which was 20 miles. That’s almost half of the trail,” said Houston Wheelchair Athlete Robbie Pipkin.

That adds up to six hours, this muscle-bound wheelchair man thinks he can go the full distance in 12 hours or more in his special souped up machine.

“Oh its like a Lamborghini compared to this one here,” said Pipkin.

In gearing up for the upcoming wheelchair challenge, Pipkin has already worn out a pair of special gloves donated just for his challenge. Having become familiar with the Tanglefoot Trail, Pipkin is suggesting the trail be used for sight seeing and pleasure walks and rides.

“Its peaceful, I mean there is nice people on the trail. You meet nice people,” said Pipkin.

All proceeds from the wheelchair challenge goes to benefit the Tupelo charitable organization. This 44-year-old athlete who has been in a wheelchair since age 15 seems optimistic in doing what no one has done before… roll the entire length of the trail from New Albany to Houston.

“Oh no doubt, no doubt. I’m going to finish it. I just don’t really know the exact amount of time I’m going to finish. But I’ll do it,” said Pipkin.

It starts in New Albany. Pipkin begins rolling down the Tanglefoot Trail around five Tuesday morning.