ACL Recovery: One Year Out, and My Final Post on the Topic.

Okay. While I suppose I reserve the right to maybe post about my torn ACL once again after this post, I’m not planning on it. But I’ve been waiting quite some time to post this one.It’s officially been one year since I went under the knife to have my ACL replaced. It was one year [...]

My Eleven Month-a-versary

Today is my eleven month-a-versary since having ACL reconstruction surgery. I haven’t spoke much about my ACL recovery recently because a) I didn’t want to bore everyone and b) frankly, there hasn’t been much to report since about the six-month mark. Months six through ten were pretty much about rehab and waiting; now that I’m [...]

The Complete Jay Peak Writeup

I’m finally back from my Jay Peak adventure, having returned late Sunday night. This was my third trip to Jay, and unfortunately might be my last. A little background on Jay Peak Jay Peak is nestled just inside the Quebec/Vermont border, about eight hours from Toronto and a couple from Montreal. It’s so close, in [...]

Fistfights and Shredding: The Return to Whistler

I’m writing this from Vancouver airport’s Air Canada lounge courtesy of Elite Steve, who managed to get me in as a guest. I must say, these lounges are pretty sweet; free Internet, booze and cheese abound. I travel a fair bit, but not enough to make Elite. Dammit!

(Observational note: I appear to be the only person in here with six days worth of facial hair growth, a snowboarding t-shirt and a can of Canadian by my side. Everyone else appears to be well-dressed, shorn and drinking wine.)

I’m obviously en route home from my latest snowboarding adventure: Whistler. We arrived Thursday and left Monday night. We’re flying the red eye back because we wanted to get another day of riding in. Talk about Highly Obsessed!

Here’s what went down in Whistler.

First Turns With the New ACL (And Mt. St. Louis Moonstone Conditions)

Today was a big day for me: I hit the slopes once again, a little more than eight months after having my ACL surgically reconstructed. It’s been a long eight months, with countless hours spent stretching, weightlifting, running and bending, both at physiotherapy and at home. So, needless to say, I was a little apprehensive [...]

Eight Months Out: Am I Serious About Snowboarding?

Tomorrow will mark eight months since the ACL reconstruction surgery, and the opportunities to snowboard in Ontario are becoming very real.  I’m very tempted to get back to it; in fact, I scheduled the surgery in March 2007 on purpose so I could get back to riding as soon as possible. But I’m still a [...]

Seven Months and Counting

Those of you keeping score at home will undoubtedly know today marks seven months since I had ACL reconstruction surgery on my left knee (OK, so maybe I’m the only one keeping score). The knee feels great; I’m running without any hindrance (except the DonJoy knee brace, of course, but that doesn’t get in the [...]

Donovan McNabb Blows My Mind

I’m watching the Redskins-Eagles game and I can’t believe Donovan McNabb is playing his second NFL game since tearing his ACL a mere ten months ago! I cringe every time he gets hit. But at the same time… I’m impressed.

The ACL Recovery Timeline and Other Miscellaneous Bits

My physiotherapist handed me a chart today that detailed the life of an ACL graft, and provided some very interesting nuggets of information: The graft strength early in day one is still 100%. That’s before the graft goes, “oh shit, I’ve been taken out of the hamstring and put in the knee.” The graft is [...]

My New Knee Brace: Donjoy Defiance

I won’t get it for another week or two, but I’m getting a yellow and black DonJoy Defiance knee brace to help me through the next two years of sports and snowboarding. Someone came over and fitted me for one last week. I’m apparently getting a “short calf” version that doesn’t run up and down [...]