JohnCox

@Ralph Lee - If you enter the tournament scene this year, I think you'll be surprised by what the "average skier" is built like. The guys that are getting in to fairly deep short line are, for the most part, in pretty dang good shape. For me, skiing was my trigger to loose a ton of weight, and continues to be my motivation to get in better shape. We all know when we are out of shape, and all have good reasons to do it (family, health, the cost of life insurance...). I did for over a decade - joined gyms, tried every diet there is, tried the fad diet pills. Nothing stuck. You need something to actually make you stick to it. For me, it was skiing. I'm not a big believer in eliminating carbs....but I do spend a fair amount of time in the gym. I do reduce the carbs in my afternoon meals (depending on the time of year and my goals, I eat between 4 and 7 full meals a day), and eliminate them in my last meal. But, I could still be eating, say, 8-10 baked potatoes a day... Anyway - there's nothing all that magic about my approach. Low fat, low sugar, low sodium. Eat clean, and often enough to keep your metabolism up (never more than 4 hours between meals). And, or course, exercise. I weight train, but there are other ways to get the body going. I can't speak much to the differences between PP and ZO. In my fat era, I went for 12 years without skiing at all, so I basically went from manual driving to star gazer (less than one season) to zero off. Once I find the setting that works for me, I love it. Go get it!

Although with my arm injury next year may be different, I've managed not to be sore for the last 2 or 3 years when I started back skiing, and I haven't had a hand issue for as long as I can remember (again, I suspect this year will be different). I train with weights, period. No DEDICATED cardio (I promise that my supersets and circuits work my heart just fine). I don't lift particularly heavy, but I do lift a lot. During a typical week in the winter, I will weight train between 8 and 11 times (yes, some doubles). I do mostly traditional exercises, but I do focus some things more towards things that will benefit my skiing (thighs, back, shoulders in ways that come close to loading the body in the same manner, although not as heavy, as skiing). As for my hands, until this year, they just stayed hard. In the summer I have skied a lot, and weight trained some, and weight train a lot in the winter. When I do weight train, I wear no gloves at all, no matter what I'm doing. Back, shoulder, and arm days really do a good job keeping the callouses worked in. I don't know how advanced you are from a weight training standpoint, but give me your email address, and I'll be happy to send you my winter routine. It's a 4 day on, one day off program that hits everything...It does take time and effort. But has worked well for me

I get that...but.... Hard to believe the difference just in the images above.

I can't figure out why you left without one, @Wish...

I love it...plus this.

The tendon at the base of the bicep is at the top of the forearm, @AB. That's where mine ripped off. 2 screws and 3 months later, I'm happy to curl 8s... It definitely looks different than my right one. The base of the bicep is now about an inch higher on the arm....hope that gets more uniform as I increase workouts.

@AB - I've had issues with elbows and biceps before but was having a good season with that. The Wednesday before I did it, I took a really bad hit, and think I did some damage. It was hurting for a few days, and I think I partially tore it then. The hit that did it was nothing....so, I don't know what to tell you. I had a season that it hurt for months, and this one was just a few days

I'm up to 8 now. :D

I know....I've made it past that a little. Was not embarrassed at all in the gym doing curls with 3lb Dumbbells...

Thanks @tjm. It doesn't really hurt, which makes I tough...but I'm following orders!!

Dang right, @Wish! Thanks

Thanks, @Razorskier1. That's my plan...no need to do something stupid. Again.

Went for my 3 month follow up with my surgeon yesterday about the ruptured bicep. I don't like the way it looks compared to the other one, but he says that MAY come back some....ugh. He explained that the first 3 months were about being safe and allowing the tendon to attach to the bone. The next 3 months will be about re-gaining some of the strength that I have lost. Nothing crazy or heavy, but that I could do some training. I just happened to have made a list of the +/- 65 exercises involving my back, chest, shoulders, and arms that I have not done since May, laid it on the table, and asked which I could do now...he looked over the list and said "all of them....with light weight and moderation....but you cannot ski..." Obviously, I want to ski, but all of this is so I can ski even better next year. I wanted to hug him for giving me back my workouts....but just grinned and thanked him. Then I went to the gym....

It's coming along, @SkiKolb. Obviously, I wish faster...but, there's no reason to do something stupid and set me back. It feels great, which makes it harder. I see the doctor on Thursday, and hope he lets me start adding some back, chest, triceps, and shoulders back in to the mix...I've lost about 30% of my size, and who knows how much strength. But, I have jeans that won't go over my thighs now... I'm doing all I can. Thanks for asking

Can't wait to get back on the water and try on e of these!

Good grief. If Jeff mentioned something, it must have been worth mentioning. The judges deemed it worthy of a re-ride and a decision was made. That should have been the end of it. Dave Miller was the only one that I think could have anything to say, and I'm sure he did at that moment. When the judges started listening to all the egos and personalities, they lost. They lost spectators, viewers, and credibility. Hats off to Jeff and Andy for just stepping out of the fray and letting the judges deal with the garbage (and any other skiers that did). Yes, Jeff skis on a Mapple, but I'd say the same thing if he was still on the "mystery" ski.

@rwskier - incredible video... really. CP looks extremely confident right now...

About 0.5 seconds after my left bicep tendon ruptured on Memorial Day...

Wing it is good, but just love her. I have a son and a daughter, and have learned that, no matter what, just love them. My experience with each has been drastically different. There are things that I wish I could change, but sometimes, all you can do is love them, and make sure they know that. You don't need it yet, but attached is an application that you can provide to potential suitors in the future. I like to introduce myself to them by showing them my concealed weapons permit...and letting them know I may be armed at any time. Enjoy it, @Horton

I've gone to ski with Andy probably a dozen times...3 of those, I left with a new ski. And every time happy with the decision. Enjoy!!

www.itapestore.com

Well, I have gotten the surgical cast off and advanced to this.... for 6 weeks. Total time still projected at 6 months...

Picked my daughter up from there yesterday. She LOVED it!! Great camp, great staff, and tons of fun!! She's going back next year for sure!!

I take her tomorrow, eric

Thanks, guys. I appreciate the comments and support. @Texas6, the tendon at the base of my left bicep snapped. No doubt it was partially gone already (took a bad hit last Wednesday that I know now did some damage), because the connection off of 2 was not hard. That just was the last load it could take... @Commuterfisher - great job! Keep that up! Food will be my challenge, but also that I cannot train in the gym like I want to. All the work I've put in to build some size and strength is going to fade a little..... One of my training partners has put together a basket of clean healthy food for my recovery so I might not eat junk...... And is insisting I come train them to keep me involved. I won't let myself get away from it. I'll go to the gym and do what I can and train my regulars. I will ride and coach in the boat every chance I get (went twice this week). As soon as a can after surgery, I'll be driving, because I love to drive. I was supposed to ski at Little Mountain this coming weekend.....obviously I cannot do that, but if I'm up to it, I will go watch at least one day. My goal this year was to run 38 in a tournament (since the ones in practice don't really count). That will have to wait until next season, I suppose. I'll keep you guys posted.