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---------------------Some thoughts on being injured--------------

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Kevo
Posts: 2374 - Karma: 136
Well for those of you who don;t know, I had a huge fall a littke while ago which resulted in this

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and then yielded this
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I've had a lot of time to think, and this is the result of said pondering.

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People often ask me if I will take it easy, ski with more caution, or not take so many risks in the future given the extent of the injuries I endured as a result of my accident. Some even go as far as to recomend that I do these things. I devoted much of my mental capacity to the contemplation of this question during the three weeks I was on high doses of pain killers. The final answere came to me in the following form- When I was in 7th grade I badly fractured my right clavicle playing hockey. From then on I played hockey in fear. I was timid and cautious on the ice and my hockey career didn't last much longer. While this led to some things I regret- not playing high school hockey, the lesson I have taken from that when I look back is clear and concise. I cannot and will not live in fear of bodily injury. Some say that if I skied with more caution, I would still be skiing right now, but then I think of the incredible experiences I have had skiing the way I do and the thought of never having lived them is sickening to me. I will come out of this skiing and living harder and faster than I have ever before, and though I have been to a very dark place of pain that I would like to avoid, I will conquer my fear whenever it decides to show its face. The opposite of fear is not courage. It is love. Love for another to step into a fight, love for a sport that one is trying to get back to, or as it pertains to me right now love of life and the amazing feeling that is attained when one truly lives life to the fullest. I choose to burn brightly for the length of time I am on the earth, however long it might be. As for now, I have decided that there is only one way to rise from ashes- better, stronger, faster, and burning more brightly than ever before.

Apr 5 2006 4:25PM
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bigsoxfan
Posts: 734 - Karma: 10
amen, insightful post bro
Apr 5 2006 4:27PM
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Jake...
Posts: 11976 - Karma: 296
nice, nice, nice, thread. Props on getting back on the sticks harder then ever. good stuff man, takes courage
Apr 5 2006 4:29PM
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Greenish
Posts: 2047 - Karma: 367
I found that i feel the same, 2 years ago I ruptured my spleen and a couple weeks ago i had surgery on my acl and each time, everyone says, "so ya gunna stay out the terrain park? just ski the mountain nice and easy?" And each time, I think, no i'm going to heal and then ski the park and the mountain harder and go bigger than before the injury because thats how i find enjoyment in skiing. ya...
Apr 5 2006 4:41PM
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sexy_skier_babii
Posts: 2490 - Karma: 15
After my ACL surgery I kept skiing at the same pace, did the same stuff I was doing before, didn't really hold me back from too much. It made me smarter and realize things, and how to prevent them. I guess when your stuck at home for a while with nothing to do you think alot. But GOOD POST!
Apr 5 2006 4:44PM
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timmi
Posts: 12874 - Karma: 3,460
dude. no offence. but that sounded like the start to a new million dallar man movie.
but that was sick.
Apr 5 2006 4:46PM
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Holte
Posts: 10730 - Karma: 7,744
brilliant post. One of the best on the topic.
Apr 5 2006 4:56PM
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T*Ski
Posts: 759 - Karma: 33
haha but dude i broke 3 bonesthis season and got a concussion and i feel the same way bra
Apr 5 2006 4:57PM
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skiierman
Posts: 28699 - Karma: -5,563
My view on being injured: It sucks. Hahah naw for real I really think that an injury is one of the biggest mental blows you can experince. It is not the sitting out that is the worst part, it is working your way up back to the top, to your prime where you are willing to try new stuff and progress. I broke my collar bone twice in one month just before skiing, and I have to admit I was somewhat timid as to not land on it and break it again. But as the season went on I forgot about it and did the same old stupid shit I did last year haha. This is different than your experience, I think, because you did it while skiing when I did mine while biking and playing soccer. So the whole timid thing will probobly be another barrier to get over once biking starts back up and I have to do new drops that are higher than I've done before.
Apr 5 2006 5:05PM
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snoopy
Posts: 5240 - Karma: 30
oh shit man thats pretty serious, good post.
Apr 5 2006 5:06PM
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*Nefarious*
Posts: 1072 - Karma: 4,208
Good attitude homie. I tore my MCL this season and missed 5 weeks of skiing, which is 5 weeks more than i have ever missed in a ski season. All my injury did though, was help me step back and see how important skiing is to me, even though i didn't need much help realizing that! Anyways, the bottom line is, the risks we take are what make this sport so damn exciting and fun, and although an injury can dampen one's spirits, in the end it just makes you come back that much stronger. I Love skiing so much, and nothing, not even some gnarly injuries, will change that. One Love
Apr 5 2006 5:25PM
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t_walker
Posts: 934 - Karma: 37
amen, awesome post
Apr 5 2006 5:30PM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 149
Great Post dude..get back out there
Apr 5 2006 5:35PM
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lowtech
Posts: 1135 - Karma: 10
that's how i feel. i tore my acl this season, so all i've been doing is browsing this site and watching ski movies. having not skied in forever has made me realize how much skiing actually means to me. i have never ever missed this much skinng before.
Apr 5 2006 5:48PM
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SirFryanator
Posts: 11149 - Karma: 1,415
never done anything that bad but after breaking my thumb 2 years ago I didn't know if I could ski the rest of the season. It turns out I could and I pulled my first 360 that year.
I hope you get better fast so you can get back onto your skis!
Apr 5 2006 6:04PM
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andrewg
Posts: 4746 - Karma: 18
damn you fucked up your collar bone. i broke mine this weekend but its nothing compared to yours.
Apr 5 2006 6:06PM
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pat-rickdaigle
Posts: 8556 - Karma: 1,020
i fucken hate it..shittiest thing ever..my ankles broken right now and it BLOWS i wanna ski
Apr 5 2006 6:09PM
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ski_cartel
Posts: 6598 - Karma: 18
props to u man, thats some deep stuff, n ill keep that in mind next time pro-patrol has to scrape me off the snow
Apr 5 2006 7:03PM
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jayamait
Posts: 2567 - Karma: 1,347
wow holy crap. props.
Apr 5 2006 7:05PM
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-annie-
Posts: 82 - Karma: 10
wurd... i just had knee fucking surgery and it sucked, but i realized its not a big deal at all. and i started thinking, people get hurt doing the most stupid shit, so if im gonna get hurt im gonna go out and do it doing somethin cool
Apr 5 2006 7:18PM
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=nick=
Posts: 10471 - Karma: 2,184
word dude i got my teeth knocked out on a rail (view my pics)and was scared of rails for a while, but now i am back and on them
Apr 5 2006 8:39PM
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spere
Posts: 6105 - Karma: 248
hell yea, the hunger to challenge yourself is powerful shit
Apr 5 2006 8:43PM
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navigator
Posts: 377 - Karma: 17
you cant live life scared. i got buried in an avalanche 2 years ago and it scared the shit out of me last year so much that i barely went into the back country but this year i went back out into the back country to try to conquer my fear and by the end i was charging harder then i was when i got buried. it sucks getting hurt but its part of the sport and everyone knows they run the risk everytime the go out
Apr 5 2006 8:53PM
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lalalalaura
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 68
Your outlook... is rad.
You.... are rad.
Kudos on that.
Apr 5 2006 8:55PM
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theORANGEshovel
Posts: 857 - Karma: 99
ya....way to go that is what i would do live life with out regrets its ur only life
Apr 5 2006 9:38PM
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billy092
Posts: 1202 - Karma: 12
great thread man, awesome thoughts and good luck with recovery
Apr 5 2006 9:40PM
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skier24
Posts: 1216 - Karma: 11
wow...word...amen...great thread dude...those are some pretty powerful words...hope you get better fast so you can ski...good luck dude
Apr 5 2006 9:44PM
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Jake...
Posts: 11976 - Karma: 296
well said
Apr 5 2006 9:52PM
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AFT
Posts: 160 - Karma: 10
While you do have great ambitions, there are things that this injury should teach you. it is your choice to go back out and take risks, but you should think about a few things. Will any of this matter in 20 years? Will attempting this (insert trick here) actually help me in my skiing? Am I attempting it right? THere are a lot of questions that should be asked when you come back from an injury like yours. The things that have helped me get through the seasons uninjured (after many many seasons of injury) are:

1. Make the comeback in the right way. DO take it easy for the first few times up, until you can build up your skill back to the level you were before you were injured. DO NOT go straight into the park and start doing big jumps and jibs, that is absolutely retarded. You will get hurt doing that.

2. If you attempt new tricks, do them right. Start off on the trampoline, if possible use skis on the trampoline. Then take it to the water ramp (if you can get to one). After you have it dialed there, take it to the powder. Go into the BC and master it there, where you are not punished for landing on your head. WHen you have it dialed there, then take it to the park. The park should be a place where all your jumps are dialed and you will be landing on your feet, everytime.

3. WHen you feel tired, STOP. It is always when people are tired that they hurt themselves. The day should consist of a natural progression. Morning, start off easy, slowly picking up the difficulty of your tricks. After lunch, try the tricks that are the most difficult for you, then once youve punished yourself enough there (Short time period here), take it back down a level. Finish off the day with laid back tricks, or just cruising. THis way your last jump of the day will not be your last jump of your season, possibly your life.

An injury should speak to you. It should put skiing in context of your life, and how it isn't going to be the most important thing 20 years down the road, i gaurentee it. I am in love with skiing more than anyone on this site, or at least as much, but, around the end of college, you realize that you move on. Skiing will always be a BIG part of my life, but there are MUCH more important things...like family, a career, being able to walk when im 60, being able to remember things when im 60. God only gives you one body, you can't trade it for another when you break this one. Take care of it, trust me, you will regret if when you dont. I am rambling, but this rings so true in my ears, and i just wanted to fill you in on some things that my injuries have taught me. Later.
Apr 5 2006 10:28PM
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dozerr
Posts: 4007 - Karma: 403
gatta love what pain meds do to you
Apr 5 2006 10:45PM
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wdbo.
Posts: 4935 - Karma: 173
very afluently written
Apr 5 2006 10:49PM
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Kevo
Posts: 2374 - Karma: 136
First off, thanks for the props everyone. Its good to know that people are getting something out of this thread.

And to AFT, I really appreciate your input. My brother (who is my absolute best friend in the world, he is 2 years older and goes to school in a different state) said something similar to me the last time I saw him when he visited me in February before I got hurt. I do agree that certain precautions should be taken and I plan on taking them. However, I will not live or ski in fear and I will get as much out of life as possible. So many people live in fear and settle for so much less than they should. I can't and won't let that happen to me. It is much deeper than just getting back into skiing. In the months leading up to my injury I was doing some pretty awesome and crazy things besides skiing hard. Being deprived of these things and the life of adventure that I love and live for has made me realize how much I love that life and want to get back to it. I had to lose it to fully appreciate it and now there is no going back.
Apr 5 2006 11:12PM
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C_Ewart
Posts: 627 - Karma: 41
My attempt at the Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge Rail Jam. I still tied for third place though!!

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Apr 5 2006 11:42PM
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C_Ewart
Posts: 627 - Karma: 41
That was my Broken Femur.. by the way.

Two years ago. And i'm proud to say that I'm still progressing fast. Learing 900's and going to attempt a 1080 next weekend.
Apr 5 2006 11:44PM
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Mini_Phinney
Posts: 316 - Karma: 1,436
i see the pain killers helped u think clearly

good words bro
Apr 5 2006 11:49PM
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dorikin
Posts: 1914 - Karma: 16
This is a really cool thread. You have really made me rethink my current situation. I to, have recently had surgery as a result of a skiing accident. Broken arm in 4 places, titanium plate, 12 screws, pretty similar to that above femur and collar bone (by the way that collar bone break looks horrendous). I to can't wait to get back out there, ski hard and get back up to the point I was at. However, AFT brings up good point to. I had a very well paying, consistent job that I am no longer able to do because I can't lift as much weight as I need to (I will be able to in probably another month or so). Hurting yourself, having injuries and surgery isn't just a mental blow, and a physical challenge, it is a financial setback. Although I can't wait to get back out there, I am not going to rush into and risk reinjuring my arm and blowing a 20,000 dollar surgery because I got to anxious. There are many things you have to think about when the level that you are skiing at not only puts your ability to ski in the future at risk, but your quality of life and well being.
Apr 6 2006 12:08AM
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zskiier
Posts: 84 - Karma: 10
sick thread, that is a very optimistic way of looking at an injury. i have very similar story. a couple of years a go i caught my tips after over shooting a very shitty jump. i was knocked out, wasnt breathing, and having seizures. the only reason i am still alive is one of my buddies, without hesitation came to me gave me cpr. he said (cuz i dont remember) that i was covered in blood, that i pucked up. i ended up with a hematoma, a bruised brain, and was very lucky. and for the last few years i have been very apprehensive wile skiing. and i feel like my progression has really slowed down. i miss pushing myself and shit. what you said is very true. remember in a older ski movie i think its subject to change, tgr, nick mercon has this written on his ice pack
live life and taste death. word..
Apr 6 2006 12:24AM
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strode
Posts: 7549 - Karma: 14
fucking capital A son.
Apr 6 2006 2:24AM
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squawskier
Posts: 307 - Karma: 10
This thread seems very recent to me because less than a month ago i was in the same situation. I broke my wrist badly, and although it's not as intense as what happened to some of the other kids on here, it still put me on the couch for more than 5 weeks because if I had fallen on it, it would have rebroken. I had a lot of time to think about what I was doing with skiing, and what I was doing with my life. I ended coming to the conclusion that skiing was not only a sport to me, it was my addiction, and it was the only thing that could keep me going from day to day. This sounds completely cliche but the month and a half I was out, I was definately not happy. After getting weened of the painkillers I found my self pretty depressed. It was only then I realized how much skiing ment to me, and how much I had been taking it for granit. When I eventually got back to ski again I played it smart, taking it easy the first couple of days, and now my confidence is back to where it was. I'm sorry to hear about you injury, but just remember, it'll be over soon.
Apr 6 2006 2:39AM
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Ahmets_Brother
Posts: 20283 - Karma: 5,931
shits rough
Apr 6 2006 3:52PM
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Kevo
Posts: 2374 - Karma: 136
hell yeah. Live life, taste death.
Apr 7 2006 4:22PM
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7X
Posts: 2999 - Karma: 365
yea man i just broke my hand and i feel the same way. i try not to let it hold me back at all. good post
Apr 7 2006 4:49PM
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CalShralpGirl
Posts: 449 - Karma: 12
This is an excellent thread-way to take a positive outlook on a bad situation.
Apr 7 2006 5:12PM
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tahoerider
Posts: 259 - Karma: 10
great thread bro...get back out there
Apr 7 2006 6:35PM
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UTskier
Posts: 743 - Karma: 158
Good attitude most of the time. Only problem is, there are injuries that you can't recover from. We forget that sometimes after seeing ourselves and our friends successfully recover from serious injuries.
Apr 7 2006 6:51PM
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chewy15
Posts: 674 - Karma: 60
Thats the way to go.. ya there is time when you do need to cool it, but thats no fun. I couldn't imagine skiing or biking have heartedly, always wanting to push but not having the balls

good post, keep ripping
Apr 7 2006 6:55PM
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Kevo
Posts: 2374 - Karma: 136
very true, but we still can't live in fear of those injuries.
Apr 7 2006 7:03PM
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BusyJohnSohn
Posts: 3483 - Karma: 29
that was some deep shit, hallejuh and praise the lord jesus
Apr 7 2006 7:13PM
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dwalk
Posts: 1023 - Karma: 21
true dat, i feel exactly the same with a broken collar bone too!
Apr 7 2006 7:31PM
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Dilla
Posts: 6447 - Karma: 106
after breaking my collarbone not that long ago, i also feel the same way.

i have a similar story, of when i played hoackey for years and one day, y ribs were cracked on numerous hits and i was scared to get hit ever since.
Bu i learned much like you, that you have to go for it, and if you dont feel comfortable doing something tho, that it isnt worth risking an injury over pushing yourself Over the edge.
Apr 7 2006 7:40PM
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clipsdmiles
Posts: 344 - Karma: 10
Broke my femor in 2 different spots and also had nerve damage in my right leg after a bad fall last March. Everyone wanted me to just take it easy this winter, and not ride park. But when the park was put up the first day I found myself hiking the rails and hitting the jumps. I skied alot smarter and changed up my riding and got alot more techinal on stuff.
Apr 7 2006 8:05PM
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