This weekend's ski trip unfortunately ended with my first ride ever on the Ski Patrol sled. Went to Sugarbush with our neighbors and the kids. Spent most of Saturday cruising around Lincoln Peak and Mount Ellen. Conditions were a bit icy early but softened up as the day went on. Up top the snow was surprisingly good despite the day before's rain.
Accident happened coming down Birch Run on North Lynx Peak late in the afternoon. Blue square bump run that was lightly moguled the first time we tried it in the morning but by the time we got back the bumps had grown.
I was not going overly fast as I lost my left ski going over a mogul and the other ski got stuck against a bump. As I fell forward and rolled over my ski the binding was not releasing and I had the awful feeling that my lower right leg was about to snap. Fortunately the binding let go at the last minute and I ended sitting up between bumps. Felt my legs to make sure I was in one piece and I noticed blood on the snow uphill from me and freaked. I then moved my hands from my right shin area and they were covered with blood. I had on black pants or would have seen the blood immediately. Thought I had a compound fracture for sure and the ski patrol was down to me in ten minutes or so. I can tell you that there was no intense pain, just LOTS of blood. I was surprisingly calm as my neighbor was screaming at everybody going by to get the ski patrol down to us.
Turns out one ski (Brand new Atomic Izor 9.7's) actually lacerated my lower right leg, from under my knee, down to my calf (15 cm long I was told...6 inches) and as I found out later cut me down TO THE BONE and into my calf muscle. Ski patrol sledded me down to the S-Bush medical building and I ended up in Central Valley Medical Center with 29 stitches, an IV hookup and a tentanus shot! The doc there told me that normally ski lacerations are minor in nature and my wound reminded him of the many chain saw accidents they encounter!
First ski injury that ever required medical attention in my 26 years of skiing so I guess I was due. I have a March 1 trip planned for Lake Tahoe and the docs seemed to think that barring any infections or setbacks I should be OK. I condider myself lucky because sitting on the hill and not wanting to look under my snow pants I really thought I had a serious fracture and as my teeth were chattering uncontrollably I was thinking about surgery, a nicked artery or worse. Thank God my 8 year old daughter was ahead of me and did not see all the blood.
In hind sight thinking about the accident, alhtough I do not fall often and ski mostly in control, I was reminded in a split second that skiing is a dangerous sport no matter what type of terrain you usually ski. I am not an overly agressive skier anymore and now ski mostly with my daughter but I think at times I let my guard down. At times I feel invincible and this accident was probably a good wake-up call for me.
Oh and regarding a helmet, yes I was wearing a helmet and needed it. On the sled ride down the hill I had my head facing down the mountain and the back of my head was banging against the sled repeatedly. If I did not have my helmet on, add a concussion to my injury report! :wink:
One other note. Before the ski patrol came a couple of skiers sat with me and kept me calm. One actually used my glove to press against my wound trying to stop the bleeding. Not many skiers would stop and help in an accident let alone one where there was a lot of blood on the snow around it. Hats off to them and the ski patrol at Sugarbush! :beer:
Now I am laid up for a few weeks and my wife just filled my Vicodin prescription. PM me and maybe I'll send samples! :dunce:
Marc
Accident happened coming down Birch Run on North Lynx Peak late in the afternoon. Blue square bump run that was lightly moguled the first time we tried it in the morning but by the time we got back the bumps had grown.
I was not going overly fast as I lost my left ski going over a mogul and the other ski got stuck against a bump. As I fell forward and rolled over my ski the binding was not releasing and I had the awful feeling that my lower right leg was about to snap. Fortunately the binding let go at the last minute and I ended sitting up between bumps. Felt my legs to make sure I was in one piece and I noticed blood on the snow uphill from me and freaked. I then moved my hands from my right shin area and they were covered with blood. I had on black pants or would have seen the blood immediately. Thought I had a compound fracture for sure and the ski patrol was down to me in ten minutes or so. I can tell you that there was no intense pain, just LOTS of blood. I was surprisingly calm as my neighbor was screaming at everybody going by to get the ski patrol down to us.
Turns out one ski (Brand new Atomic Izor 9.7's) actually lacerated my lower right leg, from under my knee, down to my calf (15 cm long I was told...6 inches) and as I found out later cut me down TO THE BONE and into my calf muscle. Ski patrol sledded me down to the S-Bush medical building and I ended up in Central Valley Medical Center with 29 stitches, an IV hookup and a tentanus shot! The doc there told me that normally ski lacerations are minor in nature and my wound reminded him of the many chain saw accidents they encounter!
First ski injury that ever required medical attention in my 26 years of skiing so I guess I was due. I have a March 1 trip planned for Lake Tahoe and the docs seemed to think that barring any infections or setbacks I should be OK. I condider myself lucky because sitting on the hill and not wanting to look under my snow pants I really thought I had a serious fracture and as my teeth were chattering uncontrollably I was thinking about surgery, a nicked artery or worse. Thank God my 8 year old daughter was ahead of me and did not see all the blood.
In hind sight thinking about the accident, alhtough I do not fall often and ski mostly in control, I was reminded in a split second that skiing is a dangerous sport no matter what type of terrain you usually ski. I am not an overly agressive skier anymore and now ski mostly with my daughter but I think at times I let my guard down. At times I feel invincible and this accident was probably a good wake-up call for me.
Oh and regarding a helmet, yes I was wearing a helmet and needed it. On the sled ride down the hill I had my head facing down the mountain and the back of my head was banging against the sled repeatedly. If I did not have my helmet on, add a concussion to my injury report! :wink:
One other note. Before the ski patrol came a couple of skiers sat with me and kept me calm. One actually used my glove to press against my wound trying to stop the bleeding. Not many skiers would stop and help in an accident let alone one where there was a lot of blood on the snow around it. Hats off to them and the ski patrol at Sugarbush! :beer:
Now I am laid up for a few weeks and my wife just filled my Vicodin prescription. PM me and maybe I'll send samples! :dunce:
Marc
I'm sorry to hear that. At least you are typing to us about this and not in the hospital.
