What is it about this country that causes otherwise rational people to haul themselves up to the tops of mountains, strap sticks to their feet, and throw themselves down, all will-he, nil-he?

Is it something in the air (in the atrocious beer, perhaps) to explain this national dementia?

Prior to moving to this country I was perfectly content for my most strenuous activity to be walking, forwards, on a level surface. On days when my dander was particularly up, I might integrate some vigorous arm-pumping to my routine.

Now I find myself assailed by troubles with ligaments of which I had previously been unaware, which dare to make themselves known by their sheer lack of stick-to-it-iveness! Which is to say that my comfortably sedentary lifestyle must now be disrupted by regular >shudder< physio-therapy.

All I can say is, there had better be some good looking sporty types about to distract me while I'm at it.

Sigh.

Hmm, I've just got back from <shudder>Physio (torture) this morning from excctly that. And we debated before that last run - Shall we ski down into town or take the gondola? Oh Lets ski down- FALSE. 3 months later I'm still paying for that mistake.

LOL thats exactly what happened to a mate of mine a couple of years ago, shall we catch the last gondola down or board down, he pursaded us to board down only to fall straight away and shatter his wrist, 1 op, 5 bolts and a plate later he was good as new.

Sounds obvious, but when skiing one should always be aware of one's limits... I'm not talking about skill levels, rather fatigue. I've come across loads of folks who focus on technical ability rather than fitness when making a judgement of whether to continue or stop for the day. IMO the latter can be as much a cause of accidents as the former.

I am always really conscious that at the end of the day I will be tired - even if I feel I am skiing well - and will force myself to say: "no that black mogul run is not for me right now - off to the easy red or easier blue or lift...".

But maybe I'm too cautious.

Important is warming up. Not before the first run (although that too), but before the season - yoga, skiing specific exercises etc. all help as it is a fairly unique sport, and even fit types (of which I am not one) find "new" muscles when skiing.

Ask your physio for some tips for next season. (And feel free to share them here .)

Hope this didn't come across as gloating or patronising.

Gute Besserung!

__________________
Never let right or wrong get in the way of a good opinion

Thanks, CarlosR -- and no that wasn't patronizing.

And believe me-- this was not a case of over-confidence (or at least only the very basest). 2nd time on skis this season, probably 5th time ever, trying new skis, my first run of the morning down a blue slope... Really it's more embarassing than anything.

statistically speaking (i know I read it somewhere....maybe Lake Louise ski hill in Banff) that most accidents happen on the last run. At Lake Louise, it is the same deal, you can ski/board down to the parking or take the gondola, whenever we agreed to ski (we were young, much more energy then - mom and dad normally took the gondola) I saw plenty of accidents, people just unable to take the turn in time or with enough strength....

I myself quite (boarding) after a particularly bad fall (not at the end of the day either mind, before lunch anyhow) - nothing was broken, thank gawd, but a bad enough concussion and the wind knocked out of me to scare the living bajesus out of me - so I never set foot in my board again. Now we are moving to CH and DH is getting ready to ski and he's much more excited than I am (he's Mexican!!!). might start out on the bunny hills (or whatever they call them here...where the kids learn to ski/board) to regain my skill....?
So I do feel for anyone who has had a serious accident. My brother broke his femer (wrapped himself around a tree!), that was a nasty sight to see, believe me. He didnt even feel the break till hours after, which freaks me out even more. He had a massive pole stuck in and screws all over the place....

Easy to do. Someone I know dislocated their shoulder by simply falling over. They were on skis but standing still at the time... just lost their balance.

Of course, it is often the case of 'just one more run' when one is already tired, but the statistics will be affected by the fact that if you have an accident, that is likely to be your last run on that particular day, whether this was your intention or not.

aye, that is one way to look at it. though I know plenty of people who have accidents, though not serious ones, thought the day and keep on going.

but your right, your last run when you've hurt yourself seriously might have been your first, the rest of the day just a wash I guess. But in these instances I think it is more likely a question of skill rather than fatigue.

Maybe. But you're uninjured. If I have to ask the question "One more run", then that means the answer already is "no".

I still have the tinnitus....

Ah good I'm not the only one to do that then. You can join my club for "I wiped out on a blue and effed my ligaments up".

Mine was a classy fall though I have to say I was taking nice big, wide, slow turns on a lovely blue slope when I hit a patch of ice (it was 10am and the sun hadn't quite gotten onto that bit of slope), one ski dug in going down the mountain, the other going up the mountain. Result - me doing the splits and my knee making the most sickening sound I've ever heard. I shudder at the thought. Stupid bindings were too tight as skis stayed firmly on my feet!!

No idea how I managed it but after 20 mins laying there, I walked down the slope (500m or so) to the restaurant as was too embarrassed to go in one of the rescue sledges

I still get pain in it now which is 2 years on.

Ha! I had both the same problems: bindings didn't release (and I got to see my left knee do a nice helicopter move as I lay on my back) and, not knowing until I got to the gondola to go home that I'd done anything of note, I did the walk of shame down the slope... a good 15 minutes of trudging downhill under the ski lift with the nattily dressed teenagers above me 'cheering me on.'