2014 is going to be a showcase year for the ski racing world. Not only do we have the Olympics in Sochi to look forward to, but a number of skiers are making their come backs this year. This season, Lindsey Vonn will make her return to the slopes as well as Bode Miller, the Austrian powerhouse Klaus Kroell and German slalom star, Felix Neureuther. On the women’s side, Tanja Poutianen, Marlies Schild and Federica Brignone will also make their returns to the world cup circuit after their injuries last season.
Injury is almost second nature to ski athletes. All professional athletes suffer damage to their bodies during their careers. Ski athletes do tend to have the most surgery rendering injuries. When a ski athlete falls, they fall hard and often not without consequences. Many athletes don’t come back after injury, most make it back on the circuit but few are able to perform at the same level prior to injury. The mental and physical road back is arduous. When an athlete gets carried off the slope the road to recovery has begun. It’s a journey that sometimes takes over a year to complete. These guys are not sitting around by the beach as they recover. They are spending long hours with a physical therapist, they pretty much move in to the nearest gym and then there are the countless doctor visits pre and post op. Athletes are well guided and supervised on their physical recovery, it’s the mental recovery that they are all alone in. Sometimes the extent of the mental trauma doesn’t show up until they are back on snow. So when these guys and gals get on the podium or finish within the top 15, it’s a testament to their hardwork, determination and passion.
