Quiver vs. Technique

[Gary]

Ron and I were talking July or August.....but if the conditions are better in June...

I'm up for that. Ron is having some knee surgery this week Saturday and not sure how long before the Dr. gives him the all clear to go ski.

June....works for me.

Let's see what Ron has to say. It would be great to get back on the snow before Dec and meet you out there for a couple of days.

Gary

[jbotti]

It appears that the timing of this trip will be dictated by Ron's knee. I had my knee scoped last June, but I tore it up pretty good in April. I was on a bike in two days fafer the scope and had it not been for the other issues with my knee I might have been able to ski in 2 months.

Let me know when you guys are planning on heading there and I will give it my best to head up for a couple of days. It's a real short hop for me and the whole area is gorgeous in the summer.

The better move is the trip to Chile in July or August!!! I did that 3 years ago. For some reason the hall pass from my wife is much tougher to get on trips to Chile!!!

[Ron]

Two days on a bike!  Yes, thats my new goal now.  Lets see what happens, I went to teh dr. yesterday for pre-op and now he wants to MRI the other knee after this one heals up.  Could be a long summer....

[Gary]

Ah yes..Chile..certain ly is one of those goals out there for me. Thought Timberlie Lodge would certainly be a closer more accessible mid summer jaunt. Will certainly let you know if I'm coming out and hoping that Ron could make it as well. If Ron has to do both knees, I know for a fact he'll be ready for the Steamboat trip in December knowing if it's 2 months recovery per knee,  he'll need the summer to get mobility and full strength back.  In that event, I may need to look to come out in June.

What did you think of the Chile adventure? Snow conditions, did you ski at one resort, how many days skiing, worth the $$?

Hey Ron...hang in there brother...we be all rooting for ya! Just park your skis be your bedside for encouragement! Hoping your left knee get's a pass and we can get out west for summer skiing.

Gary

[jbotti]

Chile was definitely worth it. I skied only at one resort which was Valle Nevado and I chose it for it's proximity to Santiago (it's about 1.5-2 hours from the airport).

We had no new snow when I was there, but the slopes were empty and the groomed terrain was gorgeous with cold temps and excellent conditions. When it snows down there, it usually snows a ton. They generally get 5-8 storms per season and all of them are large. Most resorts are above the tree lines and the storms have huge winds so generally the lifts are shut on storm days (and storms can last for several days). When the snow stops, I have been told it's a pretty big party for those that want to ski off piste. Generally the locals do not, so it's fresh lines for a week or more aftre the storm!!

As for the price, it was among the cheapest ski trips that I have ever taken. I used mileage for the airfare, and accomodations came with lift tickets and the package was dirt cheap. It also included meals and the food was quite good.

As one of my buddies said after someone on our trip complained about the lack of fresh snow, "It's july and you are skiing, shut up and enjoy it" which we did!!!

[Ron]

Oh that sounds great! I think we need to plan a trip. September....? I know I will be ready. The legs are still in good shape so I think the rehab will be pretty easy. They usually focus on muscle tone and strength so if that's still good, the recovery will be shorter. I have a great gym in my basement so I can workout there while watching some good ski-****. inspiration for sure.

[jbotti]

The name of the game after a scope is cycling and PT. I did PT 3 days a week, I did exercises at home every day, and I did some extra strength training that they designed for me. The key on the strength training is very (and I mean very) low weight and high reps but still causing pain.

It is hard to beat cycling for recovery. I rode 10-12 hours every week, and it did wonders for my recovery.

Find a good physical therapist and do what he/she/it says and do some extra work as long as it is not causing swelling or problematic fatigue.

You'll be good to go in 8-10 weeks assuming no complications.

[Gary]

Yep..the Herminator recovered from his motorcycle accident by using the bike...

Ok guys...Chile could be a great way to spit up our skiing fetish.

I wouldn't be able to do both Timberline and Chile....let's see how your recovery goes Ron and make plans accordingly.

JB...my wife has a friend that trains at Portillo and highly recommeds it....any thoughts on that resort?

Gary

[Ron]

The name of the game after a scope is cycling and PT. I did PT 3 days a week, I did exercises at home every day, and I did some extra strength training that they designed for me. The key on the strength training is very (and I mean very) low weight and high reps but still causing pain.

It is hard to beat cycling for recovery. I rode 10-12 hours every week, and it did wonders for my recovery.

Find a good physical therapist and do what he/she/it says and do some extra work as long as it is not causing swelling or problematic fatigue.

You'll be good to go in 8-10 weeks assuming no complications.

Good advice and I will follow, I am somewhat ashamed to say that this is my 6th surgery in 14 years. I've been to a couple of rehab sessions but its always good to hear it from the proverbial "horses mouth" about what works. So thank you very much I really hoped it would be a shorter recovery. I have the other knee to go. There is something catching under my patella when I deeply bend it and it stops the knee from fully flexiing, then it pops and moves. Its like a deep thud in my knee.

I AM DIEING TO SKI!  I keep having ski dreams....

[Gary]

Ok so stop "deeply bending it"....don't do that skiing anyways..well unless your free heeling.

Ok, get fixed, get better, watch ski vids, go skiing....see, simple. Notice I placed the comma after "see"!

Ski dreams..nice..can you pick your resort?

G

Be Carefull Ron where you take this...you know all that talk about "deeply bending it" and your ski dreams..

YOu could be cast into the abyss of endless summer!

[Ron]

You know in Ski dreams its always different. I don't think I really am skiing at a resort, just kinda skiing or driving through snow. Usually, good powder though.  Ski-**** is good. I think our December tee-shirts should say, "Skiing is my ****"

[Gary]

Nice dream...what skis or vehicle are you in..is it in color? This could start a whole new blog...

"Ski Dreams"

Like the tee shirt idea....anyone have a connection with a tee shirt and print shop?
We could have our names printed on them...or nick names...

Michael could have "Baileys"

[Ron]

yes, i do have connections!  And, I like where you're going with this. Nicknames for all, Although Chubby is not going to cut it! helmet stickers or jacket patches?

[Gary]

Come on Ron..Chubby is cute....Ok...How about for the whole group..."Gear ****"!

Ok...tuff on the kids...Hmm.

I like the tee shirt idea or maybe a vest we could put patches on from attended events.

Keep working the brain gang!

G