#^$%@! - Mammoth TR

[GT40]

Glad to hear the news is pretty good, for what happened.

Only one pair of crutches???

I'm sure we'll see both of the AGs out again, before long.

[altagirl]

He mentioned the dh course was off chair 3 and mumbled something scary about, "The rocks...[shakes head]...they're ridiculous... I couldn't even imagine riding that course."

Heh. When there's discussion of needing a grappling hook to haul your bike up the rocks to the start gate, you know it's gonna be good....

It's gnarly, but there's definitely a line or two through it all. Trickiest part is coming flying out of the rocks where you've just gotta let go of the brakes and roll it (like catbox and pinball) and then suddenly dropping off into that deep loose cat-litter type dirt. During practice I endoed into that crap and ended up under like a foot of dirt. It was seriously like wrecking into slushy powder. But riding it is actually super fun - it's more like skiing at that point than riding, because you're in the dirt instead of on it.

[Mr. Altagirl]

Only one pair of crutches???

I'm sure we'll see both of the AGs out again, before long. [/QUOTE]

Does seem kinda wierd. I'm going to be pretty worried until the Doc goes over the MRI but you guys are right, you'll see us fighting off Xover with our cruthes for first chair on "Collins". (hehe, he dosn't stand a chance now that AG is a gym rat )

[jayfrizzo]

AG, sorry to hear about the crash, and here's to a clean MRI. Heal up!


J-

[altachic]

Fack!! Hope all goes well with the MRI, best of luck.

[hev]

Dammit. That really sucks. Super glad to hear he's supposed to recover fully.

We saw a number of people getting carted off over the course of the weekend, but I didn't even hear about that one. Where did he wreck?

I heard he was trying to quad up on a double double, but I heard that word of mouth so that may not be acurate.

[InspectorGadget]

I'm sorry about your knees AG's, but I have confidence that you'll both be there for first chair. Until then, I don't start my new job until Sunday - when I get to fly to Hurricane Central (AKA Florida) - so I can come walk the dog for you. I might even fetch you two some ice and a cold beer.

Get better soon.

[SLCFreshies]

Sorry to hear about your knees. Hope you heal up soon and will be good to go for ski season.

[stump832]

Sorry to hear about the knee AG! I met Mr. AG at the Soul Purpose show, and we discovered I live right around the corner from you guys. If your dogs need a little exercise, I'd be more than happy to take 'em out on a run or two.

Good luck with the MRI!

[Xover]

Only one pair of crutches???

you'll see us fighting off Xover with our cruthes for first chair on "Collins". (hehe, he dosn't stand a chance now that AG is a gym rat )

Once again, Mr. AG coming through with a funny. What you said last week at Soul Purpose still kills me
Don't forget you gotta worry 'bout my new (old) bro Hardcore - nobodys kicking that guys butt for first chair.

[Mr. Altagirl]

Once again, Mr. AG coming through with a funny. What you said last week at Soul Purpose still kills me
Don't forget you gotta worry 'bout my new (old) bro Hardcore - nobodys kicking that guys butt for first chair.

Yeah, Hardcore will be a handfull. I guess I'll have to go to the gym a couple of times as well.

[johannus]

Don't mean to hijack, but glad to hear Steve is going to make a full recovery. I was one of the patrollers who helped get him stabalized and off the mtn to higher care. He was definitely in a lot of pain; who wouldn't be... From what a photographer told me he was in the 'Coffins' (essentially huge bucket cutouts immediately after coming in hot from a steep rocky downhill section - AG can better explain...) and double-jumped to clear a coffin and came up short. The photographer said he was inches away from clearing it and sticking it. Pushing the envelope...

Can't really say much more about the injuries except you all are mad!

AG - How did it turn out? My best for a healthy outcome. I heard your injury over the radio and cringed. I hate to hear injuries for mtn bike riders cuz you all are notorious for your uncanny resilience and if you're 'hurt' it's probably serious.

[altagirl]

From what a photographer told me he was in the 'Coffins' (essentially huge bucket cutouts immediately after coming in hot from a steep rocky downhill section - AG can better explain...) and double-jumped to clear a coffin and came up short. The photographer said he was inches away from clearing it and sticking it. Pushing the envelope...

Can't really say much more about the injuries except you all are mad!

AG - How did it turn out? My best for a healthy outcome. I heard your injury over the radio and cringed. I hate to hear injuries for mtn bike riders cuz you all are notorious for your uncanny resilience and if you're 'hurt' it's probably serious.

Yeah, the coffin jumps were pretty bad. They weren't built well - as in if you just cleared the first one you had to REALLY brake check the next couple or you were going to land on the takeoff for the following one. You basically accellerated through them and it wasn't a smooth rhythm, by anyone's account. One of the guys I was riding with mentioned thinking about doubling them, the rest of us told him he was freaking insane and luckily he never did it. Not surprised that someone tried it though...

The patroller who helped me off the course and up to the road was asking me if I needed something for pain, wanted to go to the clinic/hospital, etc. I said no, some ice would help and just haul my ass down to the beer cooler at our trailer - I'll see my ortho when I get home. She laughed and said DH'ers are so easy to deal with. Anyway - thanks for doing patrol work out there - you guys are great!

MRI was yesterday. I'm pretty sure my ACL is gone (aside from feeling like that's what it was when it happened, the fact that the radiologist redid the ACL section wasn't encouraging. I asked if it was because she couldn't see it and she frowned and said she's not allowed to give me results - but her expression was pretty telling.) Follow-up with my OS is on Monday.

If that's it, I'm thinking of going with the allograft this time. I had a hamstring graft on my other knee, which the last time my surgeon was in my knee for my partial menisectomy, he said the graft stretched a little (still functional, though). I said maybe if I have a patellar graft this time it wouldn't stretch and he said since I'm hyperflexible I could stretch a patellar graft too - not to mention I already have some minor patellar alignment issues in this knee. Considering the biggest risks of an allograft are stretching (which my own tissue seems to do anyway) and disease (which is like 1 in 1.8 million), and the whole cadaver tissue thing doesn't bother me at all, it's looking like a good option. I also understand the risk of percieved faster healing is bad news for some, but I'm actually pretty good at following doctor's orders. (often bad about not going to the doc in the first place, but once I get the orders and hear the horror stories, I listen pretty well...)

[Vinman]

If that's it, I'm thinking of going with the allograft this time.

I said maybe if I have a patellar graft this time it wouldn't stretch and he said since I'm hyperflexible I could stretch a patellar graft too - not to mention I already have some minor patellar alignment issues in this knee. Considering the biggest risks of an allograft are stretching (which my own tissue seems to do anyway)

Allograft should be your last choice, the risk of stretching is actually more with the allograft. This is due to the fact that no new blood supply ever infiltrates that tissue as it does with an autograft. This makes allografts more suseptable to stretch. Don't be afraid of having a second HS graft or a patellar graft. Even though the first HS graft stretched some there is nothing that says that a second HS or a patellar graft would do the same thing. The patellar issues are undestandable. Not sure if harvesting the patellar tendon would create more risk of patellar misalignment or not(ask your doc). Usually this is a rehab issue. You will probably just have to be very careful during rehab to not make the minor patellar alignment issues worse.

Best advise I could give you is don't make up your mind too soon. Really hash out the graft options with your Doc before deciding.

Good luck.

[Particle]

Any new injury/recovery reports? I heard Mr. AG may be able to ride soon? What about the Mrs?

[altagirl]

I'm scheduled for surgery on the 18th... so I'm out.

But Mr.AG had another x-ray yesterday - fracture is healed up. He's still supposed to be taking it easy or something but he's planning to go riding this afternoon. And I think we're going to go to Moab this weekend. I'll be just walking around with the dog...

[Arty50]

Yeah, the coffin jumps were pretty bad. They weren't built well - as in if you just cleared the first one you had to REALLY brake check the next couple or you were going to land on the takeoff for the following one. You basically accellerated through them and it wasn't a smooth rhythm, by anyone's account. One of the guys I was riding with mentioned thinking about doubling them, the rest of us told him he was freaking insane and luckily he never did it. Not surprised that someone tried it though...

I heard about those this weekend. I met Wendy Reynolds briefly this weekend in Moab, and asked about the course. She mentioned that the term coffin was fitting. She also said it was the hardest course she's ever seen. Seems to be pretty consistent no matter who you talk to.

Good luck with the surgery, AG! Keep us posted.

[CS]

I heard about those this weekend. I met Wendy Reynolds briefly this weekend in Moab, and asked about the course. She mentioned that the term coffin was fitting. She also said it was the hardest course she's ever seen. Seems to be pretty consistent no matter who you talk to.

Good luck with the surgery, AG! Keep us posted.

I didn't have to race through them, but tried to ride 'em and have to say those are the worst built jumps ever. For whatever reason, the guys that build trails at Mammoth have no clue how to build jumps. Those coffin jumps, plus equally ridiculous doulbes built at the end of chainsmoke (they are horribly spaced doulbes on a flat, bordering on uphill section), make me wonder if they just started throwing up mounds of dirt in random places.

Good to hear Mr. AG is almost recovered. Good luck with the surgery AG.

And Arty, where the hell is the Moab TR?

[Arty50]

And Arty, where the hell is the Moab TR?

I'm awaiting the pics from lph.

Teaser:
I got a little cocky and learned an important lesson. Always hop.

[Particle]

Sorry to hear about the knee altagirl! I could never wait for my surgeries b/c I figured after that it was just up to me to rehab...you'll be back in no time - will you be able to ski this season?

And good to hear Mr. is doing better...you guys charge but dang! Quit gettin hurt!!

and Arty I def. want to see some pics since we were all too lazy to take any...!

[altagirl]

I met Wendy Reynolds briefly this weekend in Moab, and asked about the course.

Don't know if you've ever seen her ride, but she kicks ass! (I've been trying to convince her that she needs to try skiing...)

[altagirl]

Sorry to hear about the knee altagirl! I could never wait for my surgeries b/c I figured after that it was just up to me to rehab...you'll be back in no time - will you be able to ski this season?

I hear you. At least I'm able to get back on the cardio equipment at the gym to work it now and I can focus on it as preparation. But I'm ready to get it done..... yesterday. Hopefully I'll get some skiing in this spring. Probably late. And then I'm thinking if I get my season pass money back that might fund a SA trip for the summer....

[Arty50]

Don't know if you've ever seen her ride, but she kicks ass! (I've been trying to convince her that she needs to try skiing...)

Nope, haven't seen her ride. After she walked away, her friend Christina told me she totally kills it and has only been riding for two years or so. Hell, just a weekend in Moab helped me a shit ton. It's too bad the only skiing near town is a death trap.