Is a knee injury a guarantee if you ski moguls a lot?

[Greg]

Love to ski bumps, and luckily I haven't sustained an injury, but I've pretty much come to accept the fact that a knee injury is pretty likely. At this point, I'm okay with that. I'll probably just head right back to them after I recover if that happens. You can take me out of the bumps, but you'll never take the bumps out of me.

So...are there bump lovers here that have sustained a knee injury? Did it keep you out of the bumps? Temporarily or for good? Are there older mogul nuts here that have skied bumps their whole life, but never got injured? Any other stories or comments?

 

[JimG.]

Love to ski bumps, and luckily I haven't sustained an injury, but I've pretty much come to accept the fact that a knee injury is pretty likely. At this point, I'm okay with that. I'll probably just head right back to them after I recover if that happens. You can take me out of the bumps, but you'll never take the bumps out of me.

So...are there bump lovers here that have sustained a knee injury? Did it keep you out of the bumps? Temporarily or for good? Are there older mogul nuts here that have skied bumps their whole life, but never got injured? Any other stories or comments?

Never hurt anything skiing bumps.

But there are some trees and cliffs in Vermont that have a few stories to tell.

 

[jarrodski]

If you're knees hurt you're doing it wrong. You may way too much and there's the possibility that the east coast-edness of the bumps your on is a little too "hardpack"

I had knee issues when I weighed 230, decided that I didn't like that and dropped 50lbs. In addition to all the Richard Simmons feel good nonsense, I have no knee issues and I ski like a jerk.

 

[Greg]

If you're knees hurt you're doing it wrong. You may way too much and there's the possibility that the east coast-edness of the bumps your on is a little too "hardpack"

Well, I'm trying to adopt the correct WC technique with good A&E, etc. Still a long way to go. Weigh too much? :lol: We haven't met yet. I can easily be blown over by the slightest breeze. I'll take icy bumps over flat hard pack any day...

 

[RuffusCorncobb]

good question Greg

Love to ski bumps, and luckily I haven't sustained an injury, but I've pretty much come to accept the fact that a knee injury is pretty likely. At this point, I'm okay with that. I'll probably just head right back to them after I recover if that happens. You can take me out of the bumps, but you'll never take the bumps out of me.

So...are there bump lovers here that have sustained a knee injury? Did it keep you out of the bumps? Temporarily or for good? Are there older mogul nuts here that have skied bumps their whole life, but never got injured? Any other stories or comments?

I had knee problems for years till I took up Mt Biking a few years back. The docs had said that working weights would help it but I don't excersize unless I am having fun doing it so I never spent enough time in the gym to do them any good. now I can ski bumps with out my knees giving me any issues but some times I know they are stressing to the max and the more I build up the strength the more I feel like I will be able to over stress the knee and tear something out.

Last year was just an incredible year for me skiing because I made a bit of a leap forward in my bump technique and I am totally excited for the coming season. But I do worry a bit about injury's I am getting into those years where a lot of guys start cutting back but I want to do more not less so I am looking for ways to keep my knees in one piece yet still be able to pound down the bump runs.

No answers here just more questions

 

[JimG.]

I had knee problems for years till I took up Mt Biking a few years back. The docs had said that working weights would help it but I don't excersize unless I am having fun doing it so I never spent enough time in the gym to do them any good. now I can ski bumps with out my knees giving me any issues but some times I know they are stressing to the max and the more I build up the strength the more I feel like I will be able to over stress the knee and tear something out.

Last year was just an incredible year for me skiing because I made a bit of a leap forward in my bump technique and I am totally excited for the coming season. But I do worry a bit about injury's I am getting into those years where a lot of guys start cutting back but I want to do more not less so I am looking for ways to keep my knees in one piece yet still be able to pound down the bump runs.

No answers here just more questions

Try to eliminate words like "pound" from your bump vocabulary.

Good A&E keeps your skis on the snow and the need for pounding or bashing is eliminated.

Easy to say, harder to do.

 

[2knees]

Love to ski bumps, and luckily I haven't sustained an injury, but I've pretty much come to accept the fact that a knee injury is pretty likely. At this point, I'm okay with that. I'll probably just head right back to them after I recover if that happens. You can take me out of the bumps, but you'll never take the bumps out of me.

So...are there bump lovers here that have sustained a knee injury? Did it keep you out of the bumps? Temporarily or for good? Are there older mogul nuts here that have skied bumps their whole life, but never got injured? Any other stories or comments?

I would say yes, its pretty much a given you'll tear an acl along the way.

Tore both of mine. Got em both fixed. still ski bumps. still have knee pain. i deal with it. once i cant ski bumps anymore, i'm gonna try snowboarding.

 

[ctenidae]

You can take me out of the bumps, but you'll never take the bumps out of me.

You know, you can go to the doctor, he'll give you a shot and clear that right up.

Just ask Marc.

On topic, do anything often enough for long enough, and you're likely to sustain an injury, whether it's :idea: or or :beer: or :argue: or

But, them's the breaks. You pays your moneys, and you takes your chances.

 

[mlctvt]

I would say yes, its pretty much a given you'll tear an acl along the way.

Tore both of mine. Got em both fixed. still ski bumps. still have knee pain. i deal with it. once i cant ski bumps anymore, i'm gonna try snowboarding.

Exactly why I usually avoid moguls. Also I suck at them. But seriously, I really can'
t afford to tear an ACL and miss out on all the other sports I enjoy. A repaired ACL is never as good as it was originally.

 

[JimG.]

I would say yes, its pretty much a given you'll tear an acl along the way.

I just don't agree with this statement. I have no facts to back this up, but I'd be willing to bet that your chances of tearing an ACL is 100% greater during a warm-up run on a groomer where you take an unexpected slow twisting fall and try to fight it (like most "experts" would because they're too expert to fall) as opposed to skiing bumps as fast as you can all day.

 

[2knees]

I just don't agree with this statement.

SHOCKING! :smile:

I dont pretend to mean that as fact, its my opinion. and my personal experience and the personal experience of alot of bumpers i know.

 

[jarrodski]

...chances of tearing an ACL is 100% greater during a warm-up run on a groomer where you take an unexpected slow twisting fall and try to fight it (

That is how almost all knee injuries occur in relation to tendons and ligaments. Line Skis invested 10's of thousands, probably more, on their binding. Which did work, but then the factory suggested lighter gauge metal material to keep weight down, resulting in failures... resulting in bad imaging from consumers... resulting in 10's of thousands for nothing-edness...

but back to subject, do your stretches before you go, stay active all year, and think smooth as opposed to smashing... you'll be fine

 

[dwbai]

My first time posting here.

Let your top of skis absorb shocks instead of your knees. Let your knees bend naturally or pull them hard if bumps are deep and steep. Don't jump from bump to bump except for a few occasions. I feel the rotation of knees can cause minor injuries but not absorption by knees.

The point is "Use your skis not your body, and let them do work for you."

 

[AMAC2233]

My dad has been skiing bumps his entire life. This past March he tore his ACL while bumping regularly; on a turn he just felt a pop, and could barely ski down. Had to get surgery in May and will be lucky to make it out in November.

 

[Greg]

My dad has been skiing bumps his entire life. This past March he tore his ACL while bumping regularly; on a turn he just felt a pop, and could barely ski down. Had to get surgery in May and will be lucky to make it out in November.

How old is he?

 

[deadheadskier]

My arguement would be the simple one. The more often you engage in an activity with the possibility of injury, the greater the chances of it happening.

I also agree with thsoe that say you're more likely to pop a ligament skiing groomers than bumps. The angle in which you are driving your knees to make turns is much more unnatural than that of skiing bumps.

As I get older, I just pay more attention to my body. I'm not 18 anymore and can't do 30 runs a day down Agony. I can however do 10-15 spread throughout the day after about 10-12 days on the slopes and getting my legs back into ski shape. I just don't push it. That's not to say that I don't ski hard anymore, I certainly do, but I also don't ignore fatigue like I once did.

I think if you ask most people, the run they got hurt on was the 'okay one last run' one.

 

[AMAC2233]

How old is he?

He just turned 50 in July.

 

[BushMogulMaster]

My dad has been skiing bumps hard for over 30 years. Never injured on skis. Ever.

I would have to agree with the sentiment that if you are skiing bumps properly (WC, not bashing), than you're less likely to sustain a knee injury in the bumps than you are going for a hike.

Now... there are always different kinds of injuries that you could have in the bumps. But knees should be alright if you do it right.

Of course, there are always unexpected variables in a bump field, such as someone who has no clue cutting in front of you, or finding unexpected ice under 3" of fresh, or taking a bad jump. These (and many others) are all situations that any kind of injury could occur, be it knee or otherwise. However, they are no more likely occur in a bump field than they are on the flats.

Don't worry about an injury, just deal with it if it happens. That doesn't mean be careless, but don't be overly cautious. You're probably more likely to get hurt when you're skiing too defensively and cautiously.

My .02

 

[jack97]

I also agree with thsoe that say you're more likely to pop a ligament skiing groomers than bumps. The angle in which you are driving your knees to make turns is much more unnatural than that of skiing bumps.

I also agree.... check out the utube vid of bode below (posted this elsewhere). Look at the angle he makes to carve a turn. The lateral angle of the body with respect to the knees while he is in the middle turn (when he make the largest edge angles). In the sport skool vid series they have another segment which McNichols emphasize rolling the knees more into the turn, this allows the edge to get into a strong engagement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41llqEmmlQI

Martin and Smart emphasize keeping the hips over the feet so that it in the position to make absorptions in the middle of the turns. Hence less lateral stress on the knees.

 

[threecy]

once i cant ski bumps anymore, i'm gonna try snowboarding.

That's terrible - why would you voluntarily get a lobotomy?