First season after ACL repair

[mntlion]

merlyn is just getting back on snow this season, ask him (in calgary)

After my back I found something that was shorter and softer nicer and a bit of rocker (181 anti piste).
just made it so that the tips and tails wouldn't catch and do something that I didn't expect.

Merlyn is on them now until he feels 100%

[eldereldo]

Now I just have to remind myself not to get out before I am ready, 3 months out from surgery, reading all the reports, watching in dump in Whistler, it's going to be hard to sit back for another 2 months.....

[noflyzone_allstars]

All good suggestions here. I tore my ACL in 1992 and it's been a "trick" knee in recent years. Most important for me:

1. Don't be tentative. This may require dialing back the terrain, especially as you're just getting back on snow, or skiing more conservatively in the gnar.

2. Stay the fuck out of the back seat at all costs even if it means a few extra faceplants.

Going with softer/shorter skis sounds like a great idea if you have that option.

Good luck and have fun at Golden Alpine. Love that place. Coming off knee surgery = good excuse not to haul water!

[TwinTipTele]

I feel extremely lucky in how my surgery/recovery went. I had surgery on September 11, 2007 and was skiing again on December 25, 2007 with doctor's clearance. Yes, it was super mellow for about 2 weeks, and yes, I had the good fortune of being able to go to rehab 3 hours a day 5x a week... But based on this recovery, I'd agree with those in here that say it's mostly mental. Granted, I wasn't dropping cliffs or skiing moguls, but skiing was skiing at that point. It took me until about February 15th of that season to truly trust my knee again.

Also, i noticed that when I first returned, it seemed as though I was improving/getting stronger on every run. If you go into your first few runs thinking that skiing is a gift that you should cherish and not get pissed about not being able to drop your favorite cliff, you'll be fine. My experience really helped me reconnect with why I ski in the first place.

-TTT

[babybear]

this is all great info. I tore my acl the first week of January last winter so I'm still waiting to see what it all feels like and have been asking myself the same questions about modifying gear and such.
I ditched my brace pretty early in my recovery because it never felt like it really helped, but I've been wondering if I should consider wearing it while skiing this year?
I've been rehabbing like a madwoman so I think I'm stronger than this time last year but wonder if the brace makes that big of a difference? some people that I have talked with swear by them, others never used it skiing so it confuses me on what I should do.

[Caucasian Asian]

I feel great and would love to ski this weekend, but my surgeon has informed me that while my knee/leg feel super strong, the graft still takes six months to heal.

I skied for a month after I tore my ACL and I found that I had to modify my technique. I found I had to really concentrate on being on top of my boots. I had to stay out of the backseat because I didn't have enough strength to hold my leg together and pull myself back up.

I'm not planning on changing any of my gear, just turn down my DIN a touch. And I will be skiing with a brace, but I am going to set the extension on the brace to stop before 0*.

[LARRY01]

I would ask your doctor or physical therapist what they think. Your PT can give you tests to measure your progress. I would say a minimum of 6 months. I have torn my acl twice. 1st time I ignored the doctor and the PT and came out to early and reinjured it and eventually had to have the surgury again which sucked. Next go around I rehabed as hard as I could and did exacty what my doctor and PT told me. My knee is doing great these days (knock on wood). I do still were my brace for piece of mind though.

[StevieG]

I did a 3 week trip at 5 and a half months. Canned my new Donjoy after 2 days as I felt it was pushing me into unnatural flex. Took a number of down days, broke myself in gently, mixed it up with some boarding, avoided bump fields and generally did fine. Not an all-time trip but still had forgotten about the leg by the 3rd week.

[eldereldo]

Good luck and have fun at Golden Alpine. Love that place. Coming off knee surgery = good excuse not to haul water!

Going to Sentry Lodge. Running water, hydro plant and internet = swish

Seeing my Surgeon on December 21st again, will confirm with him again that I am good to go. But so far all my appointments have come up golden, and I have been able to get back to my normal activitys pretty quick.

[ticketchecker]

One last word. Yoga

[nose2fingers]

I'm in the same boat but returning after knee dislocation with torn ACL. Planning on switched my quiver from 195 Praxis, Bsquad, and megawatts to one ski quiver Rossi s7. Offed all the race clamps and mounted rossi 140 binding which has 180 degree releasable toe. Doc says stay out of crap vis, no hucking, and make sure brace is super tight.

[babybear]

Happy to report I skied for the first time on Saturday since my acl surgery last winter and the knee felt great! I skied a little conservatively but my knee felt much more normal than I thought it would. good to be back.
I skied the shortest skis in my quiver just to be on the safe side but I think it was not completely necessary.

[eldereldo]

This is painful.. One of the best early season in years and I need to sit it out

[Repoman]

more mental than anything. Rehab hard, go easier in the early season, you will be fine.

[Caucasian Asian]

This is painful.. One of the best early season in years and I need to sit it out

x2.