Up and Ridn

Back was pretty well healed soon after Donato visit, so riding resumed when work and traveling allowed.

At least 5 to 7 high quality stationary bike rides in the cellar help to keep the heart, lungs and muscles from wasting away too badly during the time since my last post.  Traveling to Minnesota and Arizona one week and Austin, TX another week certainly put a cramp on the quantity of workouts.  I did manage to bring the Sufferfest videos on my IPad so got some of those in at motels.

Have been to Killington three times since the last post so it is shaping up to be a good year on the board.  Conditions have been good, with lots of loose snow on top of hard pack.  Weather has not been too cold.  Last Sunday was a challenge to see in the fog, but good practice to adjust by feel.  Got a couple more snowshoe hikes up Murdock Mtn in the backyard as well.

Will be leaving this Saturday for a conference in Reno, but arriving a couple of days ahead of it to snowboard at Northstar and Heavenly.  Should be a good time! 

End of Year Injury Report

Knee and shoulder injuries in July start cascade of attention to all areas needing repair.

After an injury free first half of the year, it started with a simple knee twist when my worn tires slipped off the slick rock mountain biking at Grafton. A quick recovery and then a tumble on a rock slide hiking on Big Slide Mountain shoving my elbow and arm up into the shoulder joint. This one did not get better on its own. Also, walking down that mountain in the slick rain without full use of my arms put added pressure on the knees. As a result, I started to get treatment for the shoulder.

As the shoulder responded, attention turned to the knees. All the time, biking and spinning and snowboarding were all possible because the treatments did not hamper the activities. Until I added some injuries to the list doing the activities.

First, practicing wheelies on the front yard, landing hard on my back and snapping my head and neck back. Then catching an edge on the snowboard and re-injuring a repaired right shoulder. And finally, shoveling snow of all things, taking my back out again.

The ART sessions with Kieth Donato go from one damaged body part to another and back again. Today back to the back. The net accumulative effect is a slowly repaired and better functioning body able to do the ridn I want to do.

It is easy to get discouraged, but if the overall net effect is to re-build and strengthen weak and incorrectly functioning joints -- it is positive. At the end of the year the shoulder is better than it was going into that hike in July. The knees have promise to also be better with new alignment of the soft tissues around them; and the back issues which go back to running days, are being addressed. The New Year should be one of continued progress for total health and performance.

Snowboarding 07-08 Starts With More Flexibility and a Loss of Edge

A lack-luster week of cycling ends with a new beginning for snow riding. Weekend warrior is NOT what I want to be, but this week did not allow for any training. However, by Sunday things were feeling better.

The Italians were touring farms Wednesday through Friday, leaving no time for riding during the week. I have been watching the Killington Trail reports of mounting man-made snow and even some (4") natural stuff. On Saturday I had a A.R.T. shoulder session in the morning and Donna and I took care of errands all day. After taking an early PM nap, I managed to get out on the Lemond for a 5-Hill ride. Only problem, it was so cold and I was so "full" from eating too much and burning too few calories during the week, that I cut out after the 4th hill.

Not to worry, Sunday was reserved to make the first trip to Killington to snowboard this season! I packed up early and made it to the K-1 Base before 9:00 am. By 9:15 I was riding the Snowdon Triple ready to head down Chute and Bunny Buster. Conditions were perfect! The sky cloudless and blue, the wind silent, the temperature comfortable in the 20's. The snow was deep and crunchy with man-made packed powder on top of ice. The crowds were thin except for Bunny Buster, which was a choke point as all the trails dumped into it before getting down to the lifts. First run was ok, the legs were quick to remember what they had to do. By the second run, all was right with the world!

First run of the season! One shot and then battery was gone.

As the day progressed I felt very good. It dawned on me early in the day, I did not struggle to get upright after getting my boot in the bindings like I usually did. I soon realized the shoulder work Dr. Kieth Donato has done paid dividends -- I now have much greater range of motion with my neck and shoulders, which now allows me to push my body upright from the sitting position with both feet bound to the board without any pain or effort. This is a new, improved and more FLEXIBLE body for snowboarding!

After heading up the K-1 to ride East Fall and Rime off the Canyon Lift, the snow conditions worsened. As more people moved the loose packed powder around, the ice beneath became exposed. Additionally, my board's edge was becoming more dull with each run. My edging lost its edge and my nerves became on-edge. Without being able to trust that I could carve in the snow and ice, the conditions became treacherous. Coming down towards the end of East Fall I lost my heal-side edge completely while going fast. As a result, I hit my ass and head hard -- first ass, then head. It happened so fast I did not have time to strain my neck and the helmet took the full effect of the whiplash. I had to sit there awhile to let the cobwebs clear.

Last run after getting fresh battery.

After that, I headed down to the bottom. Getting through Bunny Buster proved to be much more of a challenge now! Finally I got to the car and got a fresh battery for the camera. One more run from the K-1 peak to bottom to take pictures. My edge, both mental and physical, was shot, so it was a slow and careful ride down.

The start was a success and fun. I will get the board sharpened tomorrow and hopefully we will get some natural snow to cover the ice.