I didnt have much time to register what was happening before it happened.
A routine powder run.
A small cliff drop.
And then turn, epic face shot, huge grin and repeat.
Id basically made it to the bottom of my run when something went wrong.
Even as I write this, I still dont know exactly what.
All I can really say is my ski didnt release and I felt the dreaded pop.
Should it have released?
But if were honest with ourselves, were all rolling the dice with our DIN options.
Ive blown my knee, I immediately called down to my friends waiting below.
They couldnt believe it, the crash looked like nothing.
The trip to the doctor a couple of hours later gave me false hope.
Its only your MCL I was initially told.
But, in truth, I knew the results the second I felt the pop.
December 2nd, season over.
And so the ACL diaries begin.
So I want to try and include some pro tips along the way.
Vital early steps:
- Get an MRI.
I said this earlier and it may cost money depending on your insurance/nationality, but do it.
Get it within the first 72 hours if it’s possible for you to.
- Do your research, but dont overdo it!
Youve blown your knee and want to get it fixed quickly, by the best surgeon possible.
Im a textbook overthinker but it hasnt helped that much.
P-Rod’s video series is a good watch.
- see to it you line yourself up a physio well before the surgery.
The conclusion was always the same.
Its worth mentioning here that there are various alternative ACL repair options that promise much.
All told me they see a significantly above average occurrence of reinjury with all of the repair options.
Spend your time finding a surgeon and doing prehab instead.
Again, you’ve got the option to (and I did) easily overthink this.
There are differing opinions on which graft is best, and more specifically, which is best for skiers.
Ive heard success stories of all of them, and failures too.
And I cant say with any confidence that Ive got there.
I havent exactly handled it brilliantly.
But I also know that, to some degree, its natural.
On any given day Ive been doing cycles of thoughts including:
- Denial (Are they really sure?
My knee feels fine)
- Hopelessness (What is even the point of getting the surgery?
All you could do is try the best you could to stay positive.
Take some solace in the good bits of your day.
When you fuck up, own it, and apologize.
And get help if you need it, be it from family, friends, or professionals.
You know who you are.
