Skiing With Bilateral Knee Replacement Surgery
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
LETTER TO THE EDITOR from Frank Rickus
You can ski with bilateral knee replacement in your sixties. Eight months after surgery I was back skiing in November and then teaching skiing at Stratton two months later.
I am a pharmacist and was working at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center when I had my surgery in 2017, where I had counselled many patients after surgery regarding pain and rehab. I convinced my surgeon to replace both knees in one surgery. It all comes down to motivation, pain tolerance. and rehab.
Simply, I did not want to miss a ski season and worked diligently at rehab through those eight months between seasons and bought new boots and skis that were easy to flex and turn. That worked out okay, but I was still wobbly with those first turns. But steadily I built up confidence and strength and – low and behold – I could ski the whole mountain and get back to my car afterward.
Prior to surgery my knees were bone on bone, I was bow legged and could just barely manage walking. Skiing was not a problem. No pain, movement was good, but soon after surgery I realized how out of position I had been, and now with proper alignment skiing is even easier. Today after seven years there is no degeneration of the knee parts, I’m stronger than ever, have been through a couple of ski accidents and falling off my ladder.
I am looking forward to skiing and teaching for about 50 days this season. I hike, bike, lift weights, and maintain my weight to keep those knees ready for ski season. If you are ever at Stratton look me up and let’s go bang some bumps together.
My Biggest Fear on the Slopes
On trail signage at Park City Mountain Resort Photo: Jon Weisberg
Several years ago, SeniorsSkiing surveyed its readers about their biggest fear on the slopes. The overwhelming answer was being hit by an out-of-control skier. It is my greatest fear as well.
Whether he/she may be drunk, stoned or skiing too fast for the conditions, or on a run well above his/her ability, or whatever the cause doesn’t matter. It is reckless and doing puts everyone on the trail in danger.
Think about it. A 150 lbs. person traveling at 20 miles an hour packs a wallop. The force of impact is equal to the object’s kinetic energy divided by the distance. Kinetic energy is the object’s mass (150 lb. person) times the speed (20 mph) squared divided by two, or in this case 30,000 Joules or roughly 22,133 lbs. of force.
The unknown is how far the person has traveled at this speed because he/she is traveling downhill and possibly accelerating. Even if the out-of-control person has only traveled a few feet, getting hit by another person with 22,133 lbs. of oomph may cause serious injuries.
Unfortunately, ski areas do not adequately police their slopes for out-of-control skiers. Their view is that when you step into your bindings, you assume the risk of injury to yourself and to others.
Most of what ski areas do to counter reckless skiers do is reactionary and defensive in the form of snow fences and warning signs. Stationing employees around the mountain who have the authority to take a lift ticket or season pass is something ski areas are loathe to do.
To further protect is ski areas against lawsuits, Colorado passed a law several years ago that made it much harder to sue a ski area if you are injured. And, if you are injured by someone who slams into you, you must sue the individual who hurt you. The ski area defense is “We weren’t involved.”
So, what does a senior skier do? Here’s my list of eight:
1. Ski with your head on a swivel.
2. When you stop, either stop on the side or by a ski slow or trails merge sign.
3. Wait until groups pass and there’s a gap.
4. Ski midweek and avoid weekends and holiday.
5. Don’t ski at the most popular areas. There are many ski areas where a long lift line are the two people who just arrived at the bottom of the lift a few seconds before you did.
6. Pick trails that aren’t crowded.
7. Ski along the edges. All those who ski in New England a lot will tell you that’s where the best snow is!
8. Get to know the mountain before you put on your skis, i.e., study the trail map to know where you want to ski BEFORE you step into your bindings.
Is A Custom Ski Right For You?
Credit: Parlor Skis
You have decided it’s time for new skis.
You walk in to your favorite ski shop and there, lined up against the wall, are 100 pair or more; all from brand name companies you recognize. All are high quality. But which one is best for you?
Since this is a buying decision that likely you make only once in several years, you want to make the right choice. You know the shop by reputation and past purchases. Maybe you know the staff there too. Ideally the rep who greats you is an experienced skier familiar with the areas you frequent and the trails and terrain you like to ski. The equipment match-making proceeds from there.
We’ve all done this dance. Today, however, there is another track that is gaining popularity: Custom Skis.
Here, you hook up with one of a handful of small companies around the country that construct a pair of skis that are built exclusively for you, the individual skier. The process is interactive. It considers not only the physical characteristics of the skier, but how and where the skis will be used: all mountain, or, powder, or carved turns; on groomers, hard pack, or in the back country; maybe lots of steeps and bumps; in the trees, wide glades, or narrow. Video of the skier showing style and technique may be incorporated too.
Is this for you?
First of all, realize this is not spring clearance sale shopping. To consider custom skis, start with the idea that you might spend north of $1,000 more than what you would lay out on a pair off the rack in a specialty shop. Second, understand there is a leap of faith in the process here. While there may be some limited general demo opportunity tor a brand test, you will own the custom made ski before the first time you put down tracks. In the discussion stage, be prepared to be as specific as possible and understand the options if outcome doesn’t work out.
Is it worth the price?
Mark Wallace makes the case that it is. A former D-1 college competitor, he co-founded Parlor Custom Skis 11 years ago. One of a dozen or more small companies across the country that are established producers of custom made skis, his Boston-based firm with 6-10 employees today produces 15-20 of custom made pair a week, each built by hand from scratch with specs developed and materials chosen after interaction with the individual client. It is a process that can take four to six weeks from initial discussion to product delivery.
And the finished product is not just technical. The cosmetics are personalized too. Want a picture of your pet staring back at you? It can be there if you want it.
“We build the ski with the client and we know it is unique because we develop the specs and control the production” said Wallace recently.
“On the hill, the skier knows ‘this ski is me’.
But how about the experienced senior skier? Chances are race results are not important anymore. Compatibility is. Are most able to tell the difference between a well chosen brand name model like they have skied for years and a custom made ski?
Bill Nizolek believes at least some can. He began skiing as a child and today, at age 67, still skis at least 80 days a year. He started skiing on Wagner Custom Skis seven years ago and now is as brand ambassador for the Telluride CO based firm.
“The person who benefits most from our product in an educated skier, one who regularly skis more than 25 days a season and who is passionate about quality.”
What about cost?
Says Nizolek: You can’t put a price tag on enjoyment.”
The custom, direct-to-consumer ski business is expanding and sales are nationwide. In addition to Parlor in New England and Wagner in western Colorado, there are established custom ski makers in just about every region, like Meier Skis in Denver, Igneous in Jackson WY, Praxis in Incline Village NV, Shaggy’s Copper Country in Northern Michigan, Community Skis in Mammoth Lakes CA, ON3P in Portland OR, and WhiteRoom Skis in Northern VT. All have websites. Some offer demo opportunities. Some also offer a small batch ready made ski model and some also build custom snowboards.
Is a custom made ski for you?
Says one veteran ski provider: “If you try it and you feel it, it’s worth it.
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