Would you compete if your couldn't give 100%?

**Tri-Ungulate** · 03-14-2009, 07:31 PM

So here's my WWMD dilemma/blog:

Crested Butte US Tele Extremes are coming up next week, and I've been planning on going all season. Unfortunately I kinda jacked my left knee a few weeks ago at the Big LePowski thingamajig, then exacerbated it last week on a long-ish tour. It's not terrible - I can still ski on it just so long as I don't hyperextend it, but when I do it leads to a lot of pain. I'm gulping down Vitamin I at max doses and it's still kinda sore when I gimp around on it. It's an old injury but it rears its head when I do something stupid like I did earlier, but the chronic injury itself is tolerable most of the time. Still, I gotta kinda baby it now and am not sure I can charge 100%.

To make matters worse, I'm working the day before the event, so can't get down to scope out the venue and conditions - I'd be going into my prelim run pretty much blind, though I have some degree of familiarity with most of the lines from previous visits to the 'Butte.

I really want to go, and have taken the time off for the event itself. I've even reserved a room at CB and feel like I'm ready. I got beat out last year in my division by a local CB dude and would like to put up a reasonable return this year, maybe even take the title back Inshallah, but I have a nagging worry that I'll just exhibit major suckage and/or fuck up my knee worse.

Should I just STFU stop being a pussy and sack up or should I put it off this year? Any thoughts?

**nickites** · 03-14-2009, 07:44 PM

Sounds like a tender subject...
I say come back stronger next year and try to preserve the rest of your season by playing it mellow.

**RTR** · 03-14-2009, 07:46 PM

^^^

Here's the thing: You putting forth an 80% effort is tantamount to others putting forth 110% effort. At least, this is what I saw of you on the skin track, last weekend.

“Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat.” --Malcolm S. Forbes

**upallnight** · 03-14-2009, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by Tri-Ungulate

Should I just STFU stop being a pussy and sack up or should I put it off this year? Any thoughts?

tri-u:
is this your first comp of this type? i'll assume so; forgive me if that's not a fair assumption.

it seems to me that lots of people sign up for these events and then find a reason to bail. i'm not saying the excuses aren't legit, nor am i saying that stepping up to compete in a competition isn't an intimidating thing.

further, how many times do you hear how people were bummed on their performance during their first comp, even if they were uninjured? lots.

my point is this: it's the rare person who goes out and kills it on their very first try, even if they are a great skier. therefore, although you are not 100%, you can resolve going in that you will compete but not charge your hardest. it will give you the comp experience, and you'll then not be disappointed in a low score as you know you were injured.

you're in position to kill it next time. perhaps use this time to get nerves out of the way? it is just skiing.

plus there's more to a competition (think: comaraderie) than ripping great lines.

just my $0.02.

**leroy jenkins** · 03-14-2009, 07:49 PM

I dunno, does destroying your knee in the comp, and being useless for months, and owing lots and lots of money for medical stuff sound like fun to you?

If so, SEND IT BRA

Not being able to lock your knee means that its unstable and fragile right now. (I stayed at a holiday in last night). It will probably heal fine if you just stop abusing it for a little bit.

**Nathan Explosion** · 03-14-2009, 07:49 PM

Go. Even if you get your ass kicked, you have a 99.9% chance of having an awesome time.

**RShea** · 03-14-2009, 07:58 PM

I would only be looking at a few things- first can you injure the knee more by even trying the competition appearance (ie would any of the moves be risky because of the earlier injury (or could you do a brace or something to give you enough support)? If you answer yes to that, then probably sitting out is best. The other thing is if the knee is good to go, but you will be holding back mentally then I'd go just for the experience even if you could not win it.

**Trackhead** · 03-14-2009, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by upallnight

tri-u:
is this your first comp of this type? i'll assume so; forgive me if that's not a fair assumption.

.

Not his first comp.

**adrenalated** · 03-14-2009, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by upallnight

tri-u:
is this your first comp of this type? i'll assume so; forgive me if that's not a fair assumption.

Tri-U has competed at CB at least a couple times, and has won the masters division.

My opinion, having never competed but planning to enter this one: if you think you're running a major risk of injuring your knee more, don't go. But if not, and you think you'll have a good time, it'll be worth it even if you don't do well.
Of course, this perspective is coming from someone who doesn't expect to do very well, but is hoping to have a good time.

Hope to see you there.

**mtnbikerskierchick** · 03-14-2009, 08:14 PM

One thing to consider- if your knee is bugging you a lot, you are more likely to hurt either that knee more or hurt your other knee due to overcompensation. I'm pretty sure that's part of how I blew my ACL a month ago.

Also, my first round of blowing my ACL 12 yrs ago, I came back skiing 4 months after surgery. I competed the whole season but my knee was always sore and always swollen. I could never compete at 100% and it drove me crazy. It was so hard for me mentally during the season because I knew I wasn't performing how I should perform. I wasn't physically capable. In retrospect, I should have just taken the whole year off to free ski and never should have wasted the time or money competing... should have just waited until the next year.

It's a tough decision, but if I were in your position, I wouldn't compete. But, you know yourself better than anyone else. So, you're the best at making your own choices

**splat** · 03-14-2009, 08:20 PM

TU - fly over here and I'll hook you up with an orthobionomist who will put you into the 100% range within 24 hours. Swear to god.
I need a testimonial for a story I'll write someday.
edit:
If you don't go, I need to borrow your LPs from the 23rd-30th for the Outside/Backcountry ski test.

**Cyber Cop** · 03-14-2009, 08:21 PM

Take a nice mellow pow tour and take care of your body. Master is a nice way of them telling you you are OLD and sometimes you need to slow down and ski another day. Or maybe it just means you need Viagra?

**Rossta** · 03-14-2009, 11:03 PM

Here's a story of fucked knees: I'm a veteran, I've torn my left acl and my right acl. Both times, I was skiing with some other injury.

If your knee feels better by the time the comp comes, ace bandage the shit out of it and go for it. Icing, stretching and glucosamine can help accelerate the process.

It's up to you, but I say don't do it if your leg feels unstable.

Just listen to your body.

**Daywalker** · 03-14-2009, 11:33 PM

Originally Posted by adrenalated

Tri-U has competed at CB at least a couple times, and has won the masters division.

My opinion, having never competed but planning to enter this one: if you think you're running a major risk of injuring your knee more, don't go. But if not, and you think you'll have a good time, it'll be worth it even if you don't do well.

Tri-U, this guy speaks the truth. I know you care about this thing. You've proven yourself before. Bottom line, it ain't worth your knee. If this was something you had to prove to yourself/others it's one thing but you know that you've done it before (and can probably do it again). With this in mind, make a sound judgement based on what your body is telling you.

**Tri-Ungulate** · 03-15-2009, 10:33 AM

Thanks to everybody for the thoughts.

uan - it's not my first comp, but I want to attend for the exact reasons you mention, particularly the camaraderie. So I'm definitely going down to CB, and have decided that I will more than likely try to compete, if for no other reason that I enjoy the fun and the good vibe with fellow comp attendees. Plus, I wasn't able to make it to the Alpine Meadows and Taos comps due to work constraints, and the CB event is always a good time. So adrenalated, I'll see you there.

Like I mentioned, it's an old injury, both my ACLs and MCLs are either stretched and/or torn, and I've been skiing on them that way for a long time with braces on both sides. The left one hurts a little more over the past couple of weeks, but it's been feeling a little better lately. My dumbass thought is that if I really do end up blowing a knee out, I'm way overdue for a surgery anyway, I have good insurance, orthopods I trust, and it's late in the season already

It may still kinda hurt, so may not be able to really give 'er, and that will suck like MBSC mentions. Then again, it may go OK and it can still be fun. Since I'm in the relics, geezers & has-beens division, I still might hold up OK, but we'll see how things shake out.

I am a little worried about jumping into the course blind. I'm wondering about conditions - specific questions for MBSC and/or goldenboy or any other CB locals - how is coverage? Specifically, how are things looking on the Headwall, Sock-It-To-Me, Staircase areas (ot any other likely venues)? How are they compared to last year or the year before?

Thanks for reading my schweet blaahg.

**Deep Days** · 03-15-2009, 04:36 PM

I can't imagine the snow will be very nice down there. All of CO needs the white stuff pretty badly right now, and the forecast isn't looking so hot. It may be very different from the Front Range, but I'm thinking the probability of serious hardpack conditions is considerable.

I wouldn't advocate competing on something that hurts a lot (due to the likelihood of significant injury), but you're the MD and not I... If you're worried more about doing well, then I'd say go for it, even if you're not expecting to win. I sure as hell wasn't expecting to win (I was just stoked at the prospect of making it through qualifiers), and I thought the competition was a fun, enjoyable, and fulfilling experience.

Just my $0.02 (but keep in mind the Gosey exchange rate for real value

)

**pointedem** · 03-15-2009, 06:13 PM

No.

IMO those comps demand some serious mental prowess. .. if you are entering you obviously have the skills to ski at that level...but if you know that you aren't 100% it's just one more (big) thing hanging in your head.

Really comes down to what you personally are trying to get out of that comp experience.