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Post Injury Fear Complex

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Shredability
Posts: 2757 - Karma: 501
I searched around google and some other stuff but couldn't really find anything that was involving skiing/mtb.

So last summer I compressed my spine and broke my neck (c-1) while coming up short on landing while riding my bike. I have been having a really killer season this as far as pow & cliffs etc. But when it comes to pow booters and larger cliffs, I find speed cheking alot and going it with alot less speed then my norm. I just don't really seem to be up to snuff with where I was last year as far as the just "fuck it & huck it" attitude. I was wondering if anyone here has any of the same issues and how they dealt with them, I would really appreciate some serious help and advise.
Jan 22 2011 9:10PM
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jason...
Posts: 9006 - Karma: 780
pretty much only one thing you can do, conquer your fear. fuck it and huck it, it's a tough mentality to re-install after hurting yourself but it's pretty much the only thing you can do to get yourself back up to shape.
Jan 22 2011 9:31PM
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jibking1212
Posts: 807 - Karma: 50
i try to get my confidence each day..like start off doing little jumps and rails..and then work my way up once i can say well i did that and this is only 10 feet bigger
Jan 23 2011 12:22AM
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ReignMan
Posts: 1852 - Karma: 226
i realized that the more im not scared the cleaner and bigger my stomps are.
Jan 23 2011 2:13AM
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PeterWojnar
Posts: 3937 - Karma: 678
When I was 12 I WAY overshot a jump on the Ice Coast and got a concussion, delaminated a ski, cracked my helmet... I still don't like the park. I just don't have much of a reason to venture into it, since I live on the west coast and there's much better skiing than park to be had, so I just don't hit any larger-than-small-medium jumps. I kinda like rails a bit but really I'd rather huck a cliff than ski park.

Pow = friend.
Jan 23 2011 2:20AM
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Kangbang
Posts: 14211 - Karma: 423
If you fear of getting injured, then just don't huck the bigger cliffs. Take it easy and just have fun. Remember, it only takes one bad fall and you won't ever ski again.
Jan 23 2011 2:23AM
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Bonzalo
Posts: 2593 - Karma: 1,812
This time is I'm agreeing with you. Practicing sports mostly is about having a good time, having fun, if you dont feel like doing park or doing rails, then don't do it, nobody is pushing you to. But if you really want to and you feel like your fear is limiting your ski then you should try something crazy, that's the only way you will finish with your fear.
Jan 23 2011 2:29AM
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PartyHon
Posts: 2019 - Karma: 425
Ive gotten hurt pretty bad in my life: broken back, torn acl, 4 broken ribs, 7 concussions and the list goes on. I tell myself these things just happen and you wont do yourself any good quitting or holding back. you are bound to get hurt doing this sport. dont be afraid of getting hurt. stuff just happens. if you enjoy the sport of skiing as much as i do you won't think of how you will be out. think about how fast you can get back.
Jan 23 2011 2:55AM
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Kangbang
Posts: 14211 - Karma: 423
Then again, how many injuries can a person take, eventually you will become a vegetable. Instead of looking at the short run how this will be fun, look at the long run, what if I fuck up? What if their are rocks in the landing. Better be safe than sorry.
Jan 23 2011 3:09AM
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blatt
Posts: 5584 - Karma: 3,097
I've just had my third concussion, and just got cleared to ski again. Now, whenever I go off jumps, I tell myself "I'm gonna get another concussion".
Jan 23 2011 3:11AM
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PartyHon
Posts: 2019 - Karma: 425
true. very true. but in my case i have a heart disease thats already going to kill me i a couple years so thats taken care of
Jan 23 2011 10:38AM
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grown-ninja
Posts: 3031 - Karma: 175

broke l1 l2 and l3 in my back (not the vertabre but the little "wings" thats come off) the side 6 weeks ago, They said to not ski untill the summer, but I feel a lot better and dont know if its worth risking it and possiably hurting my self again, didnt get hurt nearly as bad as you OP but I definatly am going to be a little shook next time i clip in

Jan 23 2011 1:06PM
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Stickity
Posts: 7750 - Karma: 769
holy shit
+vibes dude
Jan 23 2011 1:11PM
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Dwarftosser1
Posts: 2602 - Karma: 951
that sucks man +++++vibes
Jan 23 2011 1:12PM
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whitechocolate
Posts: 582 - Karma: 260
but progression feels so good
Jan 23 2011 1:15PM
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jason...
Posts: 9006 - Karma: 780
if everybody went around with that attitude no one would ever try anything new ever again. getting hurt is part of any sport, if you're not falling and hurting yourself at least sometimes, you're not trying hard enough
Jan 23 2011 1:17PM
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Shredability
Posts: 2757 - Karma: 501
NS is so helpfull, thanks guy, and yea I don't ski park anyways (no hate)
Jan 23 2011 6:46PM
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yellav
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 1,215
im on the same sorta program. i was way into the whole park scene and then i ruptured my spleen a few years back and it really put me off of it. ill cruise through and straight slide the features and throw 3s and such these days but im not really tryna learn new stuff or push my limits at all. living in utah now makes that really easy though hah, the stoke i get from spending all morning to earn some turns is way more than i ever got from dancing around on rails.
Jan 23 2011 8:39PM
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SkierPT
Posts: 2205 - Karma: 4,862
I usually go out before I'm healed and tell my self I'm going to take it easy on the slopes. Did this last night after suffering a minor concussion last Saturday. I was having a mellow day but I kept pushing myself..idk why...I have that problem. As soon as i knew it i hit my head on an awkward, unlucky fall. I just don't know what to do now...I got a headache again and kinda dizzy...fml
Mar 9 2011 10:25AM
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TechnoPotamus
Posts: 11626 - Karma: 3,522
I know exactly what you mean....and honestly I let it win because I evaluated my priorities and other things were more important to me.

I tore my ACL completely through, not a shred left, and my MCL 50% through on a corked 5 gone wrong. I also got a nice concussion as part of it.

My rehab took 13 months. I literally couldn't jog or run until 13 months later, and I couldn't do what I love most (lifting weights) for that whole time. I lost a lot of weight and muscle that I had poured my fucking heart into gaining and it just sucked so bad. For me, it wasn't worth it anymore to go balls to the wall because I tried for a bit after I was all healed up and I would still get twinges in my knee if I landed wrong.

My advice is to start slow, very slow, as if you're learning how to ski park or huck cliffs again for the first time, and build up very gradually even if you feel like you can just get right back into it. Skiing will always be there, but if you fuck your body up by not treating it right - you'll be in a really bad situation so just be smart!
Mar 9 2011 10:41AM
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Fluttershy
Posts: 586 - Karma: 763
yeah i had the same problem. after my backsurgery i hit my tailbone on the knuckle of a jump doing a 3 a couple times and it hurt a lot. i stopped doing them for awhile and i didnt get any better. awhile ago i just decided to go for it and i did good. so my advice is to just try whatever u think u can do and not overthink the "what if" factor gl man :)
Mar 9 2011 11:23AM
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skiierman
Posts: 28699 - Karma: -5,563
the only progression you need is the progression of urlachers. it is the best trick.
Mar 9 2011 12:04PM
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nevkoskier
Posts: 41 - Karma: 20
just every day that you have fresh pow just try to do one hit just as big or bigger than you used to on a large but safe cliff or jump, once you go big a couple times and land you will be charging just like you used to.  You have to just tell yourself to commit on at least one hit, and build up to the hit throughout the day.  Falling is bound to happen if you want to go big but dont be afraid of it just respect it.  This what i did to get myself to hit large bmx jumps again, and to zerospin on 60+ foot jumps after i got pretty serious injuries. Also remind yourself you can fall without getting hurt, which really makes you more comfortable going big.
Mar 9 2011 12:45PM
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Stose
Posts: 7109 - Karma: 4,123
i feel you for sure. last year  i hit my head doing a backflip and it messed with me. i would have nightmares about it and i became even afraid to backflip on the trampoline. but i got my coach at windells to help me get backflips back and now im back to doing them consistantly
Jul 28 2011 2:56AM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
Going to be weird skiing this one run at Ski Bowl again this year...
Jul 28 2011 2:57AM
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Alex_G
Posts: 11902 - Karma: 1,019
dude i have that shit it sucks. blew my knee a couple years ago shit sucks. your injury sounds much more painful
Jul 28 2011 3:09AM
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I.B
Posts: 8137 - Karma: 24,358
Agreeing with Kangbang's first post in this thread
Jul 28 2011 3:25AM
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dxbskier
Posts: 18 - Karma: 10
If anything this thread should highlight the respect professional skier's deserve, people like CR Johnson's inspirational return to skiing before the second accident, or Candide Thovex (that massive crash on bertha that broke his back), they suck it up and get back out there going bigger and better.
Jul 28 2011 3:28AM
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dxbskier
Posts: 18 - Karma: 10
p.s - I broke my collar bone on a rail 7 years ago, never touched them since!
Jul 28 2011 4:53AM
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CKpolicy
Posts: 2587 - Karma: 2,463
Doesn't sound like a complex as much as just being cautious. Nothing wrong with starting slow especially after overcome
Jul 28 2011 8:28AM
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CKpolicy
Posts: 2587 - Karma: 2,463
Fuck my iPhone. Overcoming some gnarly shit. Good luck
Jul 28 2011 8:28AM
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.MASSHOLE.
Posts: 7504 - Karma: 11,659
I feel you too. Im nervous to hit up the park because the two major ski accidents in my family came from it. My brother broke his Tib Fib by overshooting a landing just enough and one ski didnt come off. I also was involved in an accident where I shattered my left arm in 4 places. Its just mental for me now.
Jul 28 2011 9:13AM
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Jibberino
Posts: 2089 - Karma: 1,346
Your logic is fucked. According to it, we shouldn't ski at all. Skiing is a calculated risk, and the only way to avoid getting hurt is by not skiing at all.

In other words, risk is inherent in skiing, what you should do is ski to the limit of what you feel is comfortable. Then if you want to, try and expand that limit. Considering your injury and the fact that you're mentally affected by it, the way to go is baby steps. Just a little higher and a little faster every now and again. You may not get back to exactly where you were, but at least you will feel the accomplishment of having pushed your limit.
Jul 28 2011 10:54AM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
Perfectly natural. Afterall, fear is there to keep us in check and alive.

I had a really bad case of bruised ribs from a fall when I was 17. While the effects of the ribs were physically gone after about 6 weeks, the mental part stuck with me the rest of the winter.

I slowly worked past it the next season and had the most productive season yet, until I hurt my shoulder on the mountains closing day.

Now, as a result of my predisposition to shoulder dislocations, I do not ski park anymore. Part of it is out of total fear, the other part is out of necessity.

Find what makes you happy skiing, and do that. For me, it's skiing trees and soft snow. I make do with that and it keeps me happy. I miss park sometimes, but when all is said and done, I know that my park days are past me. If dropping cliffs is your thing, and you need it to enjoy skiing, slowly work your way back into it.
Jul 28 2011 12:18PM
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loganimlach
Posts: 5132 - Karma: 14,054
i haven't felt comfortable on a park jump since 2007 because of my stupid knee. there's always this lingering doubt that i'm going too slow and then i usually overshoot the shit out of them.
Jul 28 2011 12:27PM
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2L208
Posts: 1075 - Karma: 308
go into anything you do with confidence. just do it don't think about it too much. and in the nicest way don;t be a pussy has always been my moto
Jul 28 2011 12:29PM
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pghjibber
Posts: 1298 - Karma: 329
i know exactly how you feel

I was doing a flatspin 7 and completely overshot the jump into the flats before landing at 900 and tilted backward. I broke my neck (c4-c5) during the most progressive season of my life and had the whole spinal fusion surgery, etc. I kept hearing doctors telling me how lucky i was not to have a spinal cord injury, especially since it would have been so high up the spinal cord that i likely would have had trouble breathing on my own, let alone probably wouldn't have use of my arms or legs...

that was a super heavy time in my life as on the one hand i was eternally grateful but also had the ultimate mind-fuck of trying to graduate college while dealing with my injury

i remember literally sitting in my "fixed income securities" midterm exactly a week after my surgery and just trying to process what had happened... needless to say i failed that midterm as i simply couldn't be bothered to deal with such trivial shit

THANKFULLY it does get better. It took me some time to gather my confidence on jumps again but I pretty much got my tricks all back after this past season and the injury has actually helped broaden my skiing abilities to include more powder/big mt skills.

Just keep focused on the positive... you're skiing... you're healthy and enjoying life. If you work at it things will improve, you'll worry less and have more fun. Injuries are scary as shit, you might not ever be able to completely block them out, but you can control your fear
Jul 28 2011 1:30PM
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Flying~Squirrel
Posts: 6494 - Karma: 190
its not a "complex" or a "disorder" its just your body knowing that it got hurt so it tell you to avoid doing that... so just sack up and do it or dont.
Jul 28 2011 1:36PM
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PartyHon
Posts: 2019 - Karma: 425
i feel ya dude. after a compressed fracture of 4 vertebrae, torn acl, 4 broken ribs, 2 broken wrist, broken ankle, 3 concussions, and more stitches than i can count. it is definitely hard for me to progress due to the injuries i sustained trying to progress. its all a mental battle, try to only visualize the skiing aspect of the sport, not the injuries. if you are scared to do something that you could do before, thats just natural.

try to start with smaller cliffs, jumps and work you way up once you feel comfortable, and then try something out of your comfort zone
Jul 28 2011 2:12PM
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jamesdominguez
Posts: 107 - Karma: 10
Just remember that it may not take one season for you to "come back" if you don't find some serious positivity somewhere in your brain.
I injured myself two times in a row three years back and was out for a whole season. During this time I developed ITBS which has stayed with me since then. I've been through some serious seasons of depression, where I just feel worthless because I can't do what I love--I felt the ITBS had destroyed my chances of ever being competitive again.
Last year I got into the backcountry after a full season off and it was the tits. I did some trivial park work too but I was only dropping medium size cliffs and being really cautious in the park. I figured maybe I could at least be a recreational skier.
Once I accepted that skiing might not be my life something weird happened in my head. I started living around normal people, away from mountain life, and the world felt very alien to me. I was just out of my element. And one day I remember waking up and driving down the freeway to work; just looking at the vast number of cars driving, calculating my chances of being in a car crash and dying or being paralyzed. That was a game changer. After that I've just been on the mission. I work every day to make my body stronger and my mind is just made up that I'm not going to be the guy who gives up over a medical condition. I just realized that life is short and that you will die one way or another, and that allowed me to move on. Not only did I move on but I found this fire that I didn't even have when I was at the top of my game.
Now I'm just chomping at the bit to get into some gnarly terrain and onto some scary features. All these youngsters doing wicked double flips has me pumped and I just can't wait to fucking own this shit. I think about it all day every day.


The day you find that crazy, animal skier part of your mind--not a single fuck will be given that day.
You'll stop focusing on getting hurt and instead develop this one track mindset that is completely focused on becoming so strong and so skilled that you wont make mistakes that lead to injuries. You'll be more determined and more aware than before, and if you're smart you'll strengthen those areas where you were injured EVERY DAY.
Peace to you brother, find that fight.
Aug 3 2011 8:29AM
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thebilly_b
Posts: 12 - Karma: 15
Sounds weird but I watch a few crash reels. Makes me realize that the majority of crashes you will walk away from, and you're probably not gonna hurt yourself. People are doing plenty of gnarly things and are still walking away from them. It's the sort of thing that the more afraid of getting hurt you are, the more likely you are to injure yourself.
Aug 3 2011 8:35AM
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T.MARTIN
Posts: 1333 - Karma: 62
I had a pretty bad crash up at whistler a little over 3 months ago and had to stay in the hopital for 3 days. I just recently rode the whistler glacier and after 3 months of waiting and hearing about my friends ski days I took one day easy and hucked the second day. The only thing you can really do is watch videos of others skiing and mental put yourself in their position. Also don't think about the consequences, just ride and have fun.
Aug 3 2011 11:43AM
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