Lutha

February 5th, 2013 at 2:44 PM ^

As much as I love skiing, the risk of massively f*cking up your knees is always present.  Hope Vonn can recover in time for the next Olympics.

jmdblue

February 5th, 2013 at 3:00 PM ^

ski-bumming in Steamboat Springs and I used to ski pretty fast before switching to telemark gear.  The women's WC downhill came to town and the gals spent the week before the race training while they cordoned off a steep top to bottom path down the mountain and groomed it and hardened it until it was about perfect.  The point?  Those gals were jaw droppingly strong skiers who skied unbelievably fast.  So fast they'd startle you as they blew by.  I'm shocked there aren't more serious injuries given the speeds involved, the lack of margin of error, and the need to completely sell out for any chance to win.

mGrowOld

February 5th, 2013 at 3:02 PM ^

From the looks of that replay her knee buckling caused the wipe-out, not the other way around.  Looked like a routine run until her knee caved in which obviously took her out.

Hope she's ok.

stephenrjking

February 5th, 2013 at 3:05 PM ^

It's going to be tough. It's a year away, and getting into the right condition and the right groove can take time even after the knee is healed. It's a real shame--Vonn is the best American skier ever, and perhaps the top woman skier ever, and there's a good chance she will not be at full speed for the Olympics. 

Really unfortunate for skiing at the Olympics. It's hard to pick a favorite for the men's speed events because there aren't any transcendant stars (not so much the GS and slalom, which have real strong players) and while the women's events have people like Maze and Hoefl-Reisch still standing, the best woman racer looks like she's out. After last year's complete dominance, this is a real nightmare season.

BornInAA

February 5th, 2013 at 4:47 PM ^

Skiing -- Thirty years from now, I don't think it will be in existence. I could be wrong. It's just my opinion, but I think with the direction things are going --  [coaches] want bigger, stronger and faster year in and year out. And that means you’re going to keep getting big crashes and concussions and blown-out knees.

If I had a daughter, I would have to think about whether I would let her take up skiing.

Needs

February 5th, 2013 at 6:00 PM ^

 

Sarcasm -- Thirty years from now, I don't think it will be in existence. I could be wrong. It's just my opinion, but I think with the direction things are going --  [people] want bigger, louder and snarkier year in and year out. And that means you’re going to keep getting big misunderstandings and confusion and blown-out sarcasm detectors.

If I had a daughter, I would have to think about whether I would let her take up sarcasm.

MGoClimb

February 5th, 2013 at 6:05 PM ^

I've been a ski racer for almost 12 years.  The sport is dangerous.  Over the past few years, FIS (International Ski Federation) has made several changes to the ski specifications that racers must follow to be eligible.  It's changing the sport immensely, and all in the name of safety.  Many (myself included) think it is ruining the sport. 

It's dangerous, but something that we all do willingly.

yigit

February 5th, 2013 at 6:00 PM ^

ACLs and MCLs are pretty easy to fix.  The lateral tibial plateau fracture is the real bugger.  Inevitably, the cartilage surface is jacked up and these things take anywhere from a long time to never to heal.  Unless it's a minimal microtrabecular fracture it's pretty safe to assume that she's out for the Olympics.

MMB 82

February 5th, 2013 at 8:39 PM ^

as a result of a skiing injury, would you mind terribly if I skip watching the video? Thank you for not embedding it. And best of luck to Lindsey on her recovery. You to, Mr. Countess!