Big Bounder; Powered for more
Big Bounder Wheelchair: Freedom On Four Wheels
Few people are as mobile in a bariatric wheelchair as Perry Te Wini. As a peer support worker for Spinal Support New Zealand, he covers thousands of kilometres a year and traverses every terrain imaginable to show others just what’s possible.
“I walk the journey alongside people who are new to a wheelchair,” he explains. “I help them with the practical side of things like how to navigate from A to B. I help them catch trains, take them into the city, and get them exposed to shopping centres and restaurants… and then they start to realise ‘actually, there’s still a lot of things I can do’.
“I don’t believe anybody in a wheelchair will ever get over their injury but you just find a way to cope with it each day. And with the right equipment, the possibilities are endless.”
For Perry, the right equipment is Cubro’s Big Bounder 1000 wheelchair. Able to support up to 450kg in weight, it’s the only bariatric powered wheelchair in New Zealand that caters for this weight category.
“It takes a bit more than twice my weight which is comforting to know,” Perry says.
The 52 year-old man suffered a spinal cord injury four years ago which caused partial paralysis in all four limbs, known as incomplete tetraplegia or quadriplegia. “On a good day I can stand, on a bad day my legs don’t want to play the game,” he says.
He received a Big Bounder 1000 from Cubro in mid-2024 after experiencing ongoing problems with his previous powered chair. “My old chair mechanically had a lot of different issues. It just wasn’t up to taking the rigours that I was putting it through so it kept breaking down. I had 10 or 11 repair call-outs in 2023. Then in December of that year I rolled the chair on a waterfall track. It didn’t grip, and it just went backwards down the side of the bank. So that was the end of that.”
Perry estimates he travels up to 3500km a year in his chair, and he’s grateful for the robust support the Big Bounder 1000 provides.
“Because it’s rear wheel drive, it’s actually built for outside. I can ride across grass or gravel, no problem. When you drop off footpaths onto the road, some of those culverts can be quite steep, but I’m yet to be stuck in one that I haven't been able to get out of.
“I hit one hill the other day that I didn't think I was going to get up. But I’d gone past the point of no return, and I did a little happy dance when I got over that precipice! It was great. It can handle a decent size slope."
The Big Bounder features TIG-welded steel frames, robust gearless motors, high-output electronics, ultra-quiet brakes and an extra-wide seat (up to 32 inches) to enhance accessibility. It can tilt and recline, and the stable rear wheel drive means it doesn’t fishtail at high speeds, unlike front and mid-wheel drive chairs. In addition to Perry’s model, the Big Bounder 600 is also available, which can carry up to 272kg.
Perry feels comfortable on the cushioned seat and footrests and enjoys being able to adjust the height of the armrests to get comfortable. He’s even customised his joystick control using a golf ball which he finds easy to hold and manipulate.
Perry acknowledges that most people his size don’t like to venture too far from home, “not just because of not being able to, but also the stigma wrapped around it as well.” But the Big Bounder 1000 gives him a sense of freedom that no other wheelchair has been able to provide.
“It gets you out and about in the community. I always had to be wary of my old chair… like the chair was almost manipulating you. Now, I can manipulate the chair because I have confidence that it’s going to hold me. It’s great to have that peace of mind.”
Most bariatric equipment is only available in black but the Big Bounder range comes in multiple colours which Perry loves. “I’ve got a green one, another guy I know has got a red one, and another friend has got a purple one. It’s nice to have options, because we don’t often have many options.”
In addition to his peer support work, Perry is also a member of the local Transport’s Disability Panel and is working to improve access to public transport for all disabled users. He’s also a big sports fan, and often takes his Big Bounder 1000 to watch the rugby league matches.
Cubro case studies are based on actual testimonials provided by real customers and users of our solutions. In some testimonials to protect the identity of the users, we have changed a name and used a stock photo. Our case studies describe our past work with customers and users, and detail solutions that have improved their quality of life. As each individual user has a unique set of needs and requirements, the content in these case studies should not be used as a substitute for professional advice from a registered clinician.
“Having a chair that’s capable of doing things, it really gives you a life because the chair is my legs basically. It becomes part of you. I plug it in every night before I go to bed so the next day if someone rings me up and needs something, I know I can jump in my chair and get there almost as quickly as when I was able bodied.”
“Having the right equipment is 100% important. It gives people not only the same rights as somebody that’s able bodied, but it also dignifies them as a person.”