In 2011, Nate Adams was at the top of his considerable freestyle motocross game. But with three Red Bull X-Fighters wins, two X Games golds, and a near-certain X-Fighters title in reach, an innocuous-seeming practice crash obliterated his shoulder. Eight months later, Adams is struggling to prepare for X Games 2012 and wondering if he'll ever regain his elite form.

Filmed and edited by Ryan Walters Films