WWMD: skiing after injury

[Dexter Rutecki]

I'm talking about my knee from last year...but I'm sure there are a lot maggots considering some of the same things.
As basom and a few others know, this is something I've been thinking a lot about because I've now had three knee surgeries and two reconstructions. I just don't know whether or not I should completely return to doing some of the riskier things in skiing that I've done in the past. At this point, a lot of jumps still scare me because I'm so worried about landing flat or not clearing things, but I'm getting more and more comfortable. I know that my knee is structurally fine and working the way it should, but I can't erase the fear that the last injury put in my head.
For 'normal' skiing it's not at all a problem, but WWMD regarding: big drops? terrain park jumps? skiercrosses??
Obviously at a certain point advice on this might not matter, because once you're actually there looking at a jump or tricky line it's very different from just thinking about it, but I'm curious to hear what maggots have to say about this.
One thing I've thought about is what if 'it' (ACL) happens again? What would I do? At this point I'm fairly certain I'd try to get it repaired again, but I'd definitely stop doing some of the stuff I've done in the past.

[KQ]

I think as you get further and further out from the date of the injury you'll find you're more comfortable and able to ski as you did before.

After my injury I was real tentative the first few times back on skis but it faded pretty quick once I got more into the moment of skiing and less thinking about what could happen. That kind of thinking just came with time.

When I was still recovering I thought a lot about "what would I do if it happened again" and my thoughts were a lot more negative than they are now. I used to think "I'll just die if I have to go through that again" but now it's more like "well, I got through it once I can do it again - sure it will suck but I know I can make it."

Trust your instinct and listen to your body - if your confidence to be all you were is there then all is good.

[Tippster]

Wear a Brace.

Stop Hucking unless it's bottomless.

Dn't be an asshole. Skiing is better than NOT skiing, even if you have to slow down a bit. You'll get used to not being able to do some stuff you always did before. I had to.

[Vinman]

Dex,

I was in your boat not long ago. 2 ACL's and looking to try to get back on top of my game.

The only thing I can tell you is that you have to take it in small progressions. I personally stay out of the terrain park but will take drops up to 20-25 feet or so if there is a good LZ. so I don't do everything I used to and I did not start out on 20 footers. It was something that I had to work up to. And along the way someplace you will eventually auger in on a landing. And once you do and come up fine, things will start to get better, you will finally realize that your knee is stable and strong and the fear will start to go away. For me it has never truly gone away, but I don't really think about it. Instead of thinking "what if I hurt my knee", I think about what I need to do to make a successful landing or entrance/exit from the line I am in. I also focus on my form. I know that if I stay forward and charge instead of getting tentative and back I'll probably be better off. I also accept falls easier now. Instead of trying to hold together a dicy recovery and get way off balance, I'll fall instead, unless falling means hitting a tree or something.

Good luck Dex, babysteps.

[basom]

You know where i stand on this dex. I think this is a really good topic, and everyone is going to have a different idea about what is risky.
i just started feeling good with more tech decents and billy goating. However, while i'm goating down a section, i shy away from the abundant double or triple stage lines that seem to crop up in every mini zone at stowe. They look so good, but always end flat, so its like three fast and well excuted acid drops. The kind of line that used to really get me fired up. now i look at it, and just swallow deeply, point it out to who i'm with and make my hop turns around the pucker brush. i don't see that lasting too much longer though. my conservitsim is being overpowered by my will to ski terrain that makes my brain tingle.

and thats where the multiple surgeries thing comes in. a certain part of skiing for me is getting that brain tingling sensation. and for me that doesn't come from skiing mellow low angle stuff. i love that, but its not what keeps me comming back, and keeps me spending all my time, effort, life, trying to ski.

for me, if i do my knee multiple more times, and i have the option to get it fixed and ski, but only ski super mellow. i might not do it. because once i get on that mountain, i'm going to follow my heart. and my heart wants me to ruin my knees.

i do think its a hard thing to decide ahread of time, so this all could be kind of useless. now i can say, "if i fuck it up enough i'm not ever skiing again" but i'm sure i will sing a different tune if really confronted with the reality of never clicking in again.

[Big E]

How have we never had this specific discussion before?? I don't remember there ever being a thread about it.

I definitely hear you on it, having done both knees now. Of course, my doc said "get back out there, we didn't do this surgery and you didn't go through all that rehab to not be active again." It definitely takes some time to work back up to it, but before I did the 2nd knee, I was skiing way better and harder than before the first time, even jumping stuff, which I didn't do before (mostly cuz I sucked).

But I think you have to try and be smarter about it. The run before I tore it at Jay, I had an awful run. I considered taking a run off, but for some reason I didn't. Then, just before I tore it, I dropped an 8-footer or so no problem.

I think stopping when you're tired or not "on" is part of it, rather than trying to push through it.

[Beaver]

Gimp central JONG!!!!

You gotta axe yourself, "Is it worth losing a year (more? less?) to make this huck (or whatever)." I asked myself that same question a few years ago after haveing my 5th knee operation and decided the moguls were out, terrain parks - out, stupid air to marginal LZ - out, pounding groomers all day - out. I am saving my knees for powder. Hopefully I will be able to get another 45 years of skiing out of them. It is not worth fucking them up for the sake of a camera or hero status for a day.

Take a tip from tippster.

[Foggy_Goggles]

If you so much as think about your injury while skiing, it is best to modify your aggressiveness. Regardless of whether your body is ready, if your mind is focused anything less than the task at hand you are set up for failure. I had a fully shoulder reconstruction (open bankhart) that really jacked with my kayak game. At the beginning of my 1st season back, I was 90% physically. My mind wanted to continually favor my repaired wing and I was hesitant to use certain strokes etc. The 2nd season, after a full year of beating myself up skiing and boating I beleived my repaired arm was better than new. I stepped it up and haven't looked back.

Bottom Line -- your body is a machine. If you can't trust it 100% don't push it too the limit.

[grizzle6]

To echo FG somewhat--I believe that "skiing the gnar" is 90% Confidence and 10% physical ability. You have to be able to ski it physically, but even if you are at 100% and you are not focused and not charging confidently, you'll get your ass handed to you--and some of the time that ass-handing involves serious consequences. I tore my ACL nearly 10 years ago and my knee felt strong as ever until I tore my MCL last year. I have dealt with at least one injury a year for the past several years (broken thumb, broken hand, nasty puncture wound in the hip, blah blah blah) and the thing it has hurt most is my confidence. I hate skiing after an injury, because regardless of how significant it is, it affects how you ski. You tend to hesitate more and second-guess spots that were nothing before the injury. Each time I find myself having to reski lines I could throw down before in a heartbeat, just to bring my confidence back up.

Bottom Line: If your head's not in the game, if you are not completely focused--don't do it. That's when you get hurt. Rehab your confidence just like you rehab your injury.

[jibij]

I'm planning to head out this weekend after 9 months of rehab and healing. I'm pretty nervous, really excited, and pretty nervous again.
I'll be taking everything slow, probably for the rest of the season.
I'll be sticking to groomers and pow (assuming we ever get any inbounds again).
I'll be remembering that I'm a battered old man, and ride accordingly.
Not everyone will do it that way, but that's my plan, for me. After busting myself up 2 seasons in a row, I'm downshifting.