Day 1 - How it happened

It was the third day of a great ski trip with my family. We like to go to this small ski resort called Sipapu. It's half an hour south of Taos, New Mexico, off highway 518. You might not even know it was there but it pops up like a pleasant surprise just off the highway. It doesn't boast the best snow in the world, nor can it compete with places like Steamboat, or Vail, but we have memories here so we come back when we can. The sky was a vivid blue, a few low clouds meandered across the Ridgeline, and the surrounding mountains had fresh snow from the night before. The slopes received 3 to 5 inches of new, white, crisp, fluffy snow. The day before I had upgraded from ski blades to longer skis poles. If you've ever skied on blades before you know that they're great to learn on.  They give you more control at slower speeds, but the drawback was instability at higher speeds.  I needed more speed! So I upgraded to the longer skis, which give you more control of higher velocity. The polls were the problem. I wasn't used to them, I was used to pivoting my lower body in order to turn. I like the polls they came in handy, I'd have to learn how to adapt to them.  

Ski runs at Sipapu. The location of my fall is circled in red.

I had been on three full runs down the mountain already, and this is going to be the last before lunch. My brother-in-law wanted to go down some black diamonds, I let him. Though I've done blacks myself I prefer greens and blues, I'm here to have fun not kill myself. I was headed down a run called Sassafras, what you might call the main drag on this mountain. It’s a beginner’s run, but the intermediates branch off from it. The snow was great, as I mentioned before, it was new, and powdery, and I loved it! It felt like I was gliding on silk, and whenever I'd turn a burst of snow would shoot up behind me, like the kind you would see on the magazines or movies.

A text from my sister right before the accident

I was headed for a run called Lower Oops, which I realize is quite ironic. The turn off for Lower Oops comes up suddenly, but I was ready. I banked left and then quickly right to make the entrance. I could feel the fatigue in my legs from two days of skiing. They cried out in pain but I was having way too much fun. About 15 feet into this hill I shifted my skis right to slow my speed. Unfortunately, not being accustomed to having polls, I did not lift them high enough and my right ski ran over my right poll.  This halted my rightward momentum, at least as far as the lower half of my body was concerned, my upper body still wanted to continue at the same speed. I must have somersaulted because I saw the world spin, it lasted only a moment. In the next instant I landed with all the grace of a new born elephant.  My shoulder met the ground first, I heard a crack, and for the first time in my life I involuntarily screamed out in pain. I knew something was wrong, and knew it would not be a good idea to move. I waited for what seemed like 10-15 minutes, but was probably about two. Three snowboarders headed my direction and I flagged them down. I told them I wiped out really bad and asked if they would head down the mountain to let the ski patrol know. I thanked them over and over knowing the odds were good that I wouldn’t see them again. If by any chance you are one of the snowboarders that helped me, thank you, what you did was selfless, and meant the world to me. 

Ski patrol came by maybe a minute or two later. "Wow, they made really good time", I thought to myself. He told me his name, which I promptly forgot (I blame the pain), and reassured me the medics were on their way. He got my name and asked me my age, and for the first time I had to say I was 30. If it weren't for the fact that I was so glad to see this guy, he would've made my crap list for making me say I was 30, think I'll lie next time. The medics arrived, and started examining my shoulder. I knew exactly where it hurts so I guided them and felt the bone move. This was the moment it all became real to me. I had broken a bone. My vision started going Black and I realize my brain was panicking. I took several deep breaths. Dry, cold, crisp air flooded my lungs and brought a welcome distraction. Panic, after all, is the mind killer and I needed to get down this mountain. I got my brain under control, and they helped me stand up. They set me down on the sled and wrap me up like a human burrito. If there's a silver lining to getting injured on a ski slope this is it. That might have been the coolest ride in the world! 

Peeking out from the top of my burrito I saw my brother-in-law waiting for me at the lifts and yelled to him. They help me to the medic building and where we were met by my parents. Knowing my mother really wanted a photo I asked her to take one. Yes I'm still wearing my helmet, you just never know. They drove me to Taos where x-rays were taken and pain medication was administered (I now understand why morphine is addictive and kept locked up). 

My life would be different for the next two months. I was told I would have to sleep elevated, keep my arm immobilized in a sling, and I would have to use my left arm for all lifting. This would mean no trip to Austin on the 3rd, no working out, driving with one hand (I really hope that's legal), and having to use the mouse at work with my left hand. That last of the bigger deal than you may think! 

That's it, that's the story. My time as a southpaw starts now! I plan to chronicle it here on this blog. Every obstacle, hardship, or change in my normal daily routine. Hope you enjoy it :-)