A Mended Wing
This summer on June 25th I underwent my first surgery to heal my dislocating left shoulder. Needless to say having your arm pop out of it’s socket is not the most comfortable feeling in the world and the more you do it the easier it comes out. After doing my research and seeing my local doctor for a referance I decided it was time to mend my wing. Two weeks after meeting with the surgeon I travelled south to Squamish BC where Dr. Brooks-Hill performed a Bankart repair to reattach my damaged ligaments.
The reality of surgery and all that goes with it was something I couldn’t have fully anticipated. Everything from how the medication and pain killers affected me to understanding I couldn’t participate in my summer activities was hard to deal with at first. Summer was here and I’d have to “sit this one out.” I made the best of it by changing my focus from athletic activities to other satisfying ways to stay busy. My best bud/ski partner Geoff Bate had the same surgery a week before I did on the same shoulder with the same surgeon. Our idea was that together we created one useful set of arms. We’d go to the ropeswing, but instead of hurling our meat out of the trees and into the glaciel runoff water we tended to a garden and played music on the beach. The down time was especially key in learning more about the mental aspect of my sport. Visualizing, setting goals, preparing my mind for competition and learning to understand how my body works were all valuable lessons I hadn’t focused on as seriously before hurting myelf.
During the fall months I spent a great deal of time hiking around the Pemberton/Whistler area which craved my need for exploration. I also started working closely with my physioterapists to bounce back from my surgery. My goal for post op was to get in the best shape of my life. Lifting at the new gym facility at the Pemberton Community centre, along with some grueling cross country bike rides and trail runs have kept me wanting more. Now 6 months later as Whistler/Blackcomb resorts opens I’m finishing up work as a painter to get back on my sticks and charge this season!
Special shout out and thanks to Cathy Ivany at Local Motion Physiotherapy for keeping me motivated and making my stretching/workouts fun and Lisa Kudla for developing my program and teaching me how stay conditioned for my sport.
See you on the slopes!
