Conference vicki::boats

    Matt,
      I'm assuming the injury was due to one foot coming out of the boot
    and the ski windmilling ?  If so, which foot, front or back?
      A good friend of mine had a serious injury when, during a fall, his
    front foot came out, and the leverage created by the ski caused torn
    ligaments in his ankle and a twisted knee of his rear leg.  He has
    since taken up *golf* and his Ski-Eliminator didn't go into the water at
    all last year. :^(   He was on a HO Mach 1 whith double wraps.
    
      My configuration used to be, single rear toe strap for beginning/end of
    season beach starts, and double wraps for warmer water/slalom course
    runs,  (O'Brien TRC with plates) but now I'm basically running the
    front wrap/rear toe strap year round.  (O.K., so I don't like to get
    wet - and it makes those flying dock starts *so* much easier)  :^)
    
      The only injury that I've had (I guess I've been fortunate so far),
    was a slightly dislocated shoulder from, you guessed it, going out the
    front after crossing both wakes.  The ski's tip got buried, and
    stopped;  I kept going a-la Superman and popped the shoulder during
    splashdown.  It took about 5 months to comfortably lift my arm above my
    shoulder, and still twinges(sp?) from time to time (18 months later).
      (I KNOW: I broke at the waist, and didn't keep my shoulders back..:^)
    
    Ski Safe...
    Doug

    The last sentence of Dougs reply is the answer. Stay in the correct
    position. You know shoulders back, hips forward.
    The falls that I take when I happen to be in the right position don't
    hurt at all. Sometimes the ski even stays on. But when I get tried and 
    and start coming forward and fall coming over the ski the results are
    usualy couple of brused ribs the ski on the other side of the lake and
    I have to pull my suit back up. My wife was just complaining about her
    shoulder the morning. She did a real nice double end over end around
    Oct. 1  So I think that keeping in the right position and stop skiing
    when you get will help cut down on the injurys. Also strech those
    muscles as I learn the hard way pulling a hamstring early this season
    doing a deep water start behind a big I.O. won't do that any more no
    matter how bad I want to ski.
    
    steve

    Doug,
    My accident was just like yours,the tip stuck and sent me out almost
    past the buoy before I landed. I wear double high wraps and both feet
    have always came out at the same time but this time the angle that the
    ski entered the water was so extreme it just bent my front ankle beyond
    it's limit. 
    
    Is your friend just apprehensive about skiing again or is it the
    doctor's rules that he refrains from waterskiing? Personally,I am 
    concerned about my future as far as slalom skiing is concerned,I guess
    I started this note hoping to read about GREAT RECOVERIES!!
    
    sign me,
    
    kinda glad the lake is froze over for a while (lots of rehab time)

    RE:: .2
    
    If we could all stay in perfect position through the wakes,Andy Mapple
    would have a much more difficult job of holding the world record!
    
    I have yet to see someone run the course without making a form error
    somewhere,Ialso don't see too many people make a hard pass and 
    immediately want to turn the boat and take er through 2 mph faster.
    it's human nature to push it to the limit. The mistake a lot of us make
    is that we spend too much time striving to improve our buoy count.
    
    Not enough time is spent building the foundation,improving consistency
    and technique. Hence,slumps,aggravation,intensified weak-bad habits
    and the results thereof.
    
    Like you said,strech out,warm up and strive for that perfect form.
    With that I would like to add,and I am tatooing this on my own brain,
    "Leave your ego at home,improve technique,ski wider,earlier,smoother
    develop proper body position so that it become second nature."
    
    Matt SPLAT

    
    The number one reason I've noticed that I fall (ie: break at the waist,
    or some other equally stupid manuever) is that I'm tired.
    
    I have to continually tell myself to stop and wait for the next run
    after a little rest. I find that so much of slalom skiing is in my 
    head and a lack of concentration leads to certain faceplants.
    
    As for injuries this season.... broken thumb, damaged ribs and a
    downright sore toe after kicking some concrete below the water
    surface (Hi Jeanne).
    
    A healthy season to all next year!
    
    Rick
    

re <<< Note 937.5 by ARCHER::SUTER "Cold toes! Cold nose! Ain't froze? - Hit it!" >>>
>                             -< Ouch, that hurt! >-
    
>    A healthy season to all next year!

	So, given that the fat lady seems to be clearing her throat, 
what ELSE (in addition to developing perfect form) are we doing to
avoid injuries next season ? 

	Me ?   I plan on some strength training,  errr.... "soon"
and maybe some aerobic snow shovelling, if the kids don't clear the 
driveway before I do  - -  that sort of thing.   Also slush jogging 
and wet grass snow skiing.

	Reg

Hi everyone,

I'm finally back from short term disability.  I had knee surgery in October
for my Anterior Crutiate ligament, remedial meniscus tear and cartilage tear -
yes all that from one fall on ski's...

I had just gotten up on one ski (a new trick at the time) and a boat cut off
our boat.  Well the wave buried my ski and I tipped over.  My feet didn't come
out of the boots, so my knee took the pressure.

I'm still not walking, so I don't know if I'll get on ski's this summer.  Rehab
is time consuming and painful.  I can't drive my (standard) automobile or 
much of anything yet.

I hope the doctor will let me ski again but unfortunately it is his decision. 
And what's worse he doesn't live on a lake and own a boat - so he has no idea
what not skiing will do to my psyche!  

As far as this topic goes...I have no idea how I would have prevented injurying 
myself.  It was my first run of the day and I was feeling strong.  I think it 
was a combination that will never happen again and that is why I will probably
ski again if I am allowed.  I did learn that my life vest was my best pal
in the world!!

Attitude is 100% of recovery, so hang in there everyone - I am!

Karen

Re -.1

	Hang in there... I had the same injury and had orthroscopic and 
reconstructive surgery. I did mine snow skiing. When I first started 
physical therapy I could not even do 1 leg lift. I still won't be skiing this 
year but with another 5 months of P.T. I should be water skiing this 
year. I had my 2nd operation, the ACL reconstruction on September 5th.  
	The biggest problem I have is getting the leg all the way strait.
The latest protocall according to my surgeon is to work on getting the leg 
strait as soon as possible. I had problems with an HMO not recognising the 
extent of the injury and had to go outside the HMO for proper attention , 
that's why I did not get the oprerations sooner, this also slowed my recovery 
because of lost muscle tone. 
	The good news is that it is progressing; sets of 60 leg lifts in every 
direction with a 5 pound weight, bike riding, and quad and hamstring nautlis 
exercises with 20 pounds. Almost everyone I talk with assures me that if you 
stick to the P.T. regiment the ACL reconstruction is 100% succesful and you 
can do everything you used to about 9-12 months after the operation.(in most 
cases witout a brace)

Jim

    I had a similar injury four years ago (softball related).  I was lucky
    in that I didn't require surgery, just extensive PT.  The leg came back
    alot stronger than it ever was because of the exercises which I had to
    do.  I was in a straight knee brace for three months then a shorty one
    for three more.  Trying to get the leg to bend was the most painful but
    once the stretching was done progress was rapid.  I have no problems at
    all now. I find myself automatically doing some of my leg exercises
    when I'm sitting watching TV or at work.  The injured leg is now
    stronger than the other.  Good luck.  Be patient.
    Wayne
    

    
I've been lucky so far, the worst I've done is strain
my lower back on the slalom course.  Next year I plan 
to wear a Valeho back thing-a-ma-jig when I ski the course.  
And also do more abdominal crunches! 

I do more reps instead of more weight when working out
on the machines.  Instead of 20 reps with 50 lbs on the
lat pulldown, I'll do 40 reps with 40lbs, 20 front,
20 reps to the back.  More repetitions instead of more
weight will help build endurance.   

Tennis (singles) gives me a  great aerobic/cardiavascular
workout,(and it's fun). Jumping rope is excellant exercise.
15 minutes is equivalent to 3 sets of tennis.  I take yoga 
(stretch classes) once a week, as well as stretch before, after 
and sometimes during slalom runs.  Stretching keeps me flexible
and helps prevents injuries and muscles soreness.

The muscles that give me fits after the first ski of 
the year are the biceps, quads, and hamstrings.  Towards
the end of the ski season, a visit to the chiropractor
is necessary to get myself back in alignment.  This sport
takes it's toll like no other!  It hurts, but I love it.  :>)

Jeanne
     
                                                 

    re:: .10
    
    I like your off season training schedule,keep it fun and interesting!
    The only thing I can't see myself doing is Yoga. I have finally been
    able to start jogging and this morning I played tennis. You should of
    seen the smile on my face,it was great to get out and do something
    really aerobic,and I even beat my wife which was awesome!
    
    Sort of patiently going down the road of recovery,
    
    Matt
    

    
    Ok,it sounds like a few of us with "water on the brain" are considering
    going out and skiing during this January thaw. What kind of precautions 
    are you guys taking to prevent hypothermia?
    
    1. a drysuit with long underwear on underneath
    2. a hot water shower in the boat to warm up the hands and feetsies.
    3. Lots of hot liquids like lemonade,hot chocolate,coffee.
    4. Extra towels and a coupla sets of dry clothing.
    5. definately a cold water hood.
    6. dishwashing gloves taped around your wrist before the glove goes on.
    7. A truck or van sitting on the dock,running with the heater on
    melt-down mode.
    
    What have I forgotten,besides a lot of pre-skiing stretching and
    warming up? Maybe the phone number of the nearest ambulance service?
    :-)...911...
    
    Personally I have yet to find a way to keep my toes from hurting like
    hell. they stick out the front of my Contours and are exposed to the
    frigid water,it makes me wish I were dead when they start telling me
    just how cold the water is. 
    
    matt

    It finally happened,I've been skiing for two months now,it was past
    due, I've been patiently waiting for it to happen,wondering what it
    would be this time around,courious,not anxious mind
    you,:-),for................................................
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
      MY NEXT INJURY!
    
    This time it was a Hyper-lite in the forehead at super-sonic speeds
    attained @28 off,23 mph going from the  2 ball to the 3,a weak side
    pull,a world class facial,tuck,roll,roll. Just like the pro's.
    
    24 stitches and a good headache later,I'm ready to go back out
    there tomarrow or the next day,if I am not still dizzy,and kick that
    course in the butt with a new hyper-lite,since I cracked the other one
    with my forehead. 
    
    To the skull or not at all.....
    
    That's my motto
    
    Matt..
    
    btw...how do I keep my stitches dry till Friday????

re           <<< Note 937.13 by COMET::KLEINM "NOTHING IS TOO EXTREME" >>>
>                      -< And the blood flowed.......... >-

	Yeowww !   Sorry to hear about that one.

	Heal quick  - -  come back and gettem agen, eh ?

	Reg

    onna Hyper-lite,a wakeboard,a surf-ski lookin object.
    
    They really do have tournaments for wake-boarders. The competition
    consists of freestyle(similar to tricks in 3-event traditional)and
    slalom. Open division has a max. speed of 23, 25 for the pro's.
    
    I believe you can start as slow as 15 but the wakes are huge.
    Even at 23-25 mph,the wakes are'nt exactly small and the rooster is
    real mean at certain line lengths. This sport is radical because
    you have to hit the wake attempting to edge this 2 1/2 ft. wide ski
    at an outrageous angle because it won't turn at the buoy like a regular
    stick,it needs a lot of deceleration time,and if you hook the turn too
    tight,you will eithor get tons and tons of slack,or the fins will just
    pop out of the water. A person's off side turn is what determines how
    successful he will be at this event,again,you need outrageous angle
    because of the amount of time and room needed to slow the thing down.
    
    So far my best is 4 @ 32off-23mph. The pro's are running deep into 38
    and sometimes 39 1/2 at 25 mph!!! They are wild to watch!!
    
    But,be careful with your off-side pulls,it feels very awkward and
    uncomfortable,and no matter how good ya get,you'll always be right
    on the virge of letting that far shoulder break towards the boat
    just enough to send you into the water at about 40-50 mph with a very
    dangerous instrument attatched to your feet.
    
    Have fun,it IS addicting and has been proven to improve your slalom
    scores on the stick.
    
    matt

    A poem that my chickee friends wrote for me:
    
    My,my,what a big bump you've got on your head,
    you're so lucky that your not dead.
    
    You probably survived cuz it's full of lead,
    We are sure that when the girls seen it they fled.
    
    we know you're bummed cuz you can't ski,
    and you are stomping around the house like a mad swine,
    
    all we can say is.....
    
    
    Have a little cheese with your whine!
    
    

	I think it started with the first couple of runs of the 
season, outta shape, bad form, trying too hard, etc., anyway...    
I've had a sore shoulder for a couple or three weeks now and I put it
down to over-reaching, I think I've been trying too hard to do the arm
straight out trick and that leaves nothing to give at the elbow if the
boat yanks hard (timing is off coming out of the turn).   I fell the
usual number of times on friday, the last one was just as I was coming
out of the wakes on my off-side pull - I had been trying to get further
forward on the ski too, but this time I buried the tip (bigger wakes
from that sport nautique and a somewhat random rope length).  I went
down on the sore shoulder and got a BIG OUCH !   It was clear to me
that it was out of place, so we passed up beach joint re-sets and went
to the E.R. at Marlborough.   Bummer !   Dislocated (now re-located) 
shoulder, puts me out of action for... TBD.

Morals:
	Don't overreach unless/until you're really good enough to
	avoid sudden  "negative slack"  (-: every time. 

	Do stretching exercises, keep limber, warm up, etc.

	Do pay attention to any aches and pains that might indicate 
	stretched/torn ligaments or tendons - a joint might be losening up.

	Be sure you can get an injured skier back in the boat, 
	preferrably without agravating the injury.  I was lucky, Rick 
	hoisted me onto the platform by my life vest and we trolled
	the few hundred yards to the dock.  The age requirement on 
	spotters makes some sense to me this week, though some
	strength is also required.  Rick's ~16 year old daugher had 
	been spotting OK, but she wasn't much use for hauling.
		{full width platform was appreciated too}

	Reg

PS	Maybe this is the season to learn new tricks  - -  like 
	eye-splicing (-:

    Reg,
    
    Sorry to hear about your injury. A friend of mine,just last Sat.,
    pulled his shoulder out of place crossing the wakes in an off-side
    pull. he too was skiing too hot for the shape he was in. The water
    was rough also and the weather a bit cold. he did not stretch out
    eithor. 
    
    I agree with your preventative tips plus I would like to add that
    during the early season,one should run easy passes back to back
    day after day to build endurance and to memorize that perfect 
    body position,lock it into the brain,so that it is second nature!
    
    Muscle memory,I beleive is what they call it.
    
    Crash

    Reg-
    
    You'll heal a lot faster -- and a lot more cleanly -- if you get 
    physical therapy.  I separated my shoulder while snowskiing this 
    winter, and it put me out of commission for a good two months.  My 
    doctor told me that it would never be quite the same as it was, but 
    I refused to believe her.  I got extensive physical therapy (ultra
    sound plus isometric, passive and active exercises, plus occasional
    massage and deep friction therapy) and now my shoulder appears to be 
    as good as new.  Your doctor should be able to recommend a good local 
    physical therapy group (I used the group at Nashua Memorial) and I 
    can recommend a great masseuse in Tyngsboro.
    
    Anne

    Reg,

    	Sorry to hear about your injury. And you were skiing hot this year!
    Well, from someone who knows.... it ain't so bad being relegated to
    driving only. Let's see... ankle, ribs, thumb....

    	All the best in your recovery....

    Rick

    I guess we are kinda like an engine that is running too lean and hot
    you're skiing real hot,setting new personal bests,and I guess that
    is when we are most suseptible to injury. 
    
    this year,when I find myself nearing a personal best,I chill for a 
    couple of days. May,even June is too early for our bodies to
    experiancing personal bests. 
    
    ?????????????????????????
    
    i don't know,I guess if it's gonna happen,it's gonna happen.
    The only thing we can do is watch our form and make sure we
    are not sacrificing it just to round the next buoy. I realize tha
    one has to learn to scramble now and then,as long as it is only 
    NOW AND THEN.
    
    take er easy Reg.

    
    Well Reg, as Jimmy Connors says "I hurt, BUT I'LL BE BACK"!.
    
    And you will be back!
    
    Jeanne
    

Yeah Reg, get well soon!  Besides, with you on the sidelines, who else am I gonna
give my "professional" advice to?  :-)

...Roger...

re      <<< Note 937.23 by ROGER::GAUDET "Because the Earth is 2/3 water" >>>
>                       -< Warning, hip boots required! >-

> Yeah Reg, get well soon!  Besides, with you on the sidelines, who else am I gonna
> give my "professional" advice to?  :-)

	Wasn't it you that was critiqueing Jackie wednesday night ?
Didn't you point at me and say something like, "Him, he gets WAY back
on the ski coming through the wakes, Ya don't wanna ski like THAT !" ?
So, thats why I dug the tip in  - -  I  *_DO_*  hope your per_fer_shnull
advice liability insurance is all paid up  (-:

> ...Roger...

	Reg

RE: Reg...

Ouch...that hurts worse than your shoulder........NOT!

Yeah, that was me who said that to Jackie.  But it's true, you get *way* back on
the ski.  'Course, *you* were stupid enough to listen to me, so *I* think it's
partly your fault!  :-)

...Roger...

    I told my wife that this would be NOTE_worthy....
    
    While playing on the kneeboard last weekend my wife was doing some
    360's...(actually they were 720's but didn't count because the last 365
    degrees of which, she was no longer holding onto the handle)
    
    I kept telling her, "you had it, you just got to pull the handle in and
    grab it with your free hand."
    
    After the third attempt (which she also completed, but didn't pull out
    of) she was all psyched up for a 4th attempt, but I noticed a stream of
    blood trickling down the side of her face.
    Not wanting to freak her out I said "ARE YOU BLEEDING?!?"  she freaked
    out and said, "AM I BLEEDING?!??!?"  she came over to the boat and sure
    enough a small, somewhat deep gash above her left eye.
    Trying not to upset her (and trying not to laugh {I know_I'm bad}) I
    gently said, "Time to go to the Hospital for STITCHES". 
    She took 7 small stiches, and was a real trooper through the whole
    ordeal.  I later apologized for being somewhat less_than_compassionate
    though the ordeal, "..but if you held on, it wouldn't have happened!" 
    :^]  
    Evidently the tip of the kneeboard hit her in the eyebrow, and the
    extra plastic from the molding process (sharp edge) is what cut her.
    
    "And see that, you were leaning to far forward..."
    
    Moral:  sand off those sharp edges of your water toys...
    
    Doug

    
    Yup..... Tell Trish that she's not alone in the "bleeding profusely
    from the head cuz of the kneebard" club....
    
    I took one two weeks ago where the board bonked me on top of the head
    once I came back up to the surface of the water. I didn't know I was
    bleeding either until the boat occupants told me, then held out a
    mirror and I looked like an aquaintance of Freddy or Jason. SITCHES?
    Nah! it's above the hairline and now two weeks later, I can comb my
    hair "normally" again.
    
    Needless to say, now when I'm underwater after being seperated from
    the kneeboard, I come back up hands first! I guess there are
    disadvantages to riding a glass board, huh?
    
    Rick
        

    Personally,I feel that every tricker,whethor they do it on a trick,
    a kneeboard or a wakeboard,MUST learn to protect their head
    
                            THE HARD WAY!
    
    
    I did. ,and so did my wife,and my best friend,and several other
    friends of mine.  :-)
    
    Ya ain't a tricker til ya have the can show the battle scars on the
    forehead.  That's my motto!
    
    Matt