mind games

[scoober]

A lot of the talk has centered around ACLs lately, but this is just as valid for any other injury that necessitates time off from the sport....

Has anyone dealt with or is currently dealing with or looking forward to having to deal with some mind over matter issues when they get back to it?

At times I get all fired up and I tell myself "you will come back stronger than you left, and kick more ass than ever!" Other times I hear a voice saying "woah... let's last long enough so you can teach your [future] kids to ski."

When it comes down to it, I know come next season I will be chomping at the bit to rip the chit out of anything, but it's a long time until then and that's a lot of time for my head to tell me things I don't want to hear.

[Szyslak]

I keep telling my self to work hard and hopefully be ready to make a few turns come spring, but then I get sketched out just watching ski porn or thinking about small drops that I would not have given a second thought before. I talk skiing with others and hear what they are doing and can’t wait to get back and give it a try, yet in the back of my mind is always the question of will I dare? Definitely lots of mind games. I try to not have those thoughts so all the negativity does not build up and keep me timid, but I guess that only time will tell.

[Arnold Babar]

I've been through this before with a broken leg. The key is to take baby steps. When you're perfectly healthy there is a time when you have to block out distractions and conquer your fear becaus often it is your mind that is holding you back. After an injury you have to listen to your first impulse that tells you, "Whoa, dude that is too gnarly for you." I, personally, know that my sick days are over. No more high skinnies on the mt. bike no more huge airs on bike or skis. I've got two kids and one on the way, and this time not being able to do active things with them has been almost too much to bear. I want to get back to functionality and I'll err on the side of caution when it comes to risky stuff.

[Snow Ranger]

Has anyone dealt with or is currently dealing with or looking forward to having to deal with some mind over matter issues when they get back to it?

Yes. I work out in my basement. The basement is also where I store my equipment so I am faced with my skis everyday and everyday I look at them and sometimes think, If I sell those skis and only snowboard from now on I might not have to face another ACL tear. but then I think about how Shitty it would be to never ski again. I've decided that I am willing to risk another ACL tear before I hang up the skis and only snowboard. And I can't wait till I get the chance to ski again and conquer the mind over matter issues on the hill.

[Big E]

Yeah, I think everybody wrestles with those to varying degrees, if someone says they don't they're lying. Obviously none of us want to go through this again, even though several of us (including me) have now done it twice. But, just up and quitting something you love out of fear isn't really a very fulfilling way to live.

Most important I think is doing the rehab and knowing that, even though you might not feel like it yet, you really are good to go. I mean, the doc won't clear you to do stuff until he knows you're ready, but I've found that you're ready physically long before you're ready mentally. Just like when Shoe said his doc yelled at him for still using crutches.

Then you just have to ignore everyone else and start back into your activities (whether it's biking, skiing, b-ball, etc.) at your own pace. The trick is finding that balance between pushing yourself to get better and stronger, and overdoing it and screwing something up. And that doesn't just go for when you're rehabbing, but really forever. If you are skiing like crap or really tired or something, forget it, bag the day and go hit the bar. The snow will come again.

Sometimes I just wish I'd listen to my own advice a little more :rolleyes:

[xboat]

yes.

as my surgery date nears all sorts of crazy thoughts are going through my head. the main one is "well, i could say screw the surgery, get a good brace and ski groomers for the rest of my life."

that really would suck.... :nonono2:

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Yes. I work out in my basement. The basement is also where I store my equipment so I am faced with my skis everyday and everyday I look at them ....

same here....my bike/trainer setup is in my garage and my skis are leaning against the wall 5 feet away from me when I'm spinning in there. When I'm grunting through the bike, I keep glancing over at them and saying, "I'm soooooo gonna ski the shit out of you guys when I'm better! I'm comin atcha suckas!"

mind games suck though. I'm sure I'll be hesitant at first. but hell, even when I was 100% healthy I'd always play mind games with myself when I'd drop into something sketchy anyways, so this will just be an extension of that feeling.

When I was 16, I knocked myself out pretty good while over-rotating a 3 and slammed my head down on blue-ice. I got knocked out, went into convulsions, and got life-flighted to a CAT scan because they thought my brain was swelling against my skull (I still don't remember any of this). Luckily, it wasn't all that bad...and in 3 weeks I got doctors clearance to ski again so long as I just kept it easy (i.e. groomer noodlin). Well, at this time, I used to compete in moguls and on my first run back I went straight to my local mogul run to the kicker that did me in. The mind games nearly had me running away, but I kept telling myself that if I didn't overcome my fear I'd be scared forever, so I pushed off and launched a 3 off that same kicker my first run and stuck it. Such a good feeling.

Just imagine how good it will feel when you are back.