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In Jamaica, we have a saying “What sweet you gwine sour yuh!” Loosely translated as What's fun, can turn into a bad time for you. It's like having that one last shot of vodka while saying "one for the road." Which usually, literally ends up on the pavement/the road.
The first anniversary of my ski accident is in a few weeks and I wanted to take a trip down memory lane or in my case memory slope.
Black Girls DO Ski:
It was on my bucket list (skiing, not breaking my bones). I've always wanted to ski. It seemed so cool! Plus the hashtag #Blackgirlsski was very inspiring. So when the time came to go skiing, without reservation I jumped at the chance.
Style On The Slopes
I imagined myself looking like a pro-athlete zipping down the mountain; in functional yet stylish gear.
Inspired by my Pinterest boards and fellow black travel & lifestyle blogger Jenna's World View; off to Decathlon I went shopping for my ski gear!
Skiing is an expensive sport. I almost backed out of the trip when I saw the price tag for just one jacket and it was on sale! I was lucky enough to be able to borrow some equipment that saved thousands on rental costs.
There Are No Kangaroos In Austria
The day finally came and the whole family packed all our gear and a week's supply of stuff and drove to Austria.
The drive from Warsaw to the picturesque ski resort town of Bad Mitterndorf, Austria is just over nine and a half hours long, but in the interest of everyone's sanity, we did it over 2 days with a short stop in Vienna to see the sights; The Wiener Riesenrad, The Vienna Operahouse, Belvedere Palace and the Hundertwasser House.
It was there we learned from one souvenir shop owner, that some tourists visited Austria and voiced their disappointment and shock when they learned, there were in fact No Kangaroos In Austria.
Ski School
My lessons took place next to where the 4-year-olds were learning to ski. A really safe space. The children seem to be having so much fun in the snow and were naturally skiing within a few hours.
We the adults learned how to walk in our skis, and point our skis into a triangle "the pizza" for more stability and control, (I'll get to that later). We also learned how to turn and stop (I'll get back to this too). I was falling all the time and sweating more than I usually do in -9°C freezing temperatures, but by day 3, I felt I was getting better and I could really get into the sport.
On day 4 we upgraded to the higher mountain range. Despite me still falling and rolling down the sides of the mountain I remained optimistic that one day I will be a good skier.
The Climb
On the final day, I decided to ditch ski school and go with a friend instead. (This is the start of every misadventure in every adolescent movie or horror flick ).
We chose a little hill, something manageable. There was a kiddies' village at the base and 4-year-olds were swooshing down the hill and zipping up to the top screaming "Again, again!"
Slowly up we went to the top on the dreadful ski lifts. The ones where you sit on a disc no bigger than a dinner plate and you're pulled by the holy spirit to the top.
I really hated how unstable it felt. Being pulled up into the air, wobbling and grabbing on for dear life, almost like going to heaven but you weren't ready to go yet.
The Triangle of Sadness
I got to the top and the instructions were very simple and clear.
"I will go down in front of you and you just follow me." And then she asked "Do you know the pizza?"
As previously mentioned the triangular position of your skis is supposed to give you some control as you plummet down the side of a mountain.
After which I can't fully explain how it is that I started my descent. I imagine it was the Gale force winds, within seconds I was headed down the mountain and I knew three things very clearly:
Firstly, I was on my own. I tucked my ski poles under my armpits and tried to remember what I learned at ski school.
Second, the Pizza wasn't working for me. Despite my friend being in hot pursuit screaming "Do the pizza!" and me screaming back "I AM doing the f**king pizza!"
Final thoughts, if I don't stop now I'm gonna crash into kiddie's village and I might actually be pulled into real haven this time.
Kristoff my instructor taught me how to turn... I willed myself and I managed to turn and avoided crashing into other skiers ascending the heavenly ski lift. I was out there saving lives but risking my own as I got closer and closer to the base of the mountain rapidly approaching the two-story building, I calculated if I don't stop now, in 10 seconds I'll be a goner.
The Fall
The sound of your tendon snapping and your bones cracking is something that you cannot fully comprehend until it happens to you. Or if you're familiar with the sounds that Rice Krispies make when you pour milk on them; snap, crackle pop!
There I was, face deep in the snow. In complete silence unable to make a sound. Like snubbing your little toe on furniture, it's so painful you can't even yell Ouch! Or in Polish Ała! My friend finally caught up to me, her voice was full of excitement "Oh my God Stacy! You were awesome! You were doing so well! That was super!
It was not until I grunted and patted the snow like a defeated MMA fighter then she realized that I might be hurt. At the time when it happened, I think we were all in denial. I refused the crutches from the hospital. I only accepted them after the nurse promised me that they were covered by my insurance. (As it would turn out I would need them again six months- I fell down some stairs. That's for another post).
Weak In the Knee
The MRI's showed that I broke a bone, and tore my Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), and thigh muscles, all resulting in major damage to my right knee.
I didn't know that is possible for my knee to be so swollen, and stay swollen for months, despite all the cold cabbage presses and Voltaren.
I had countless sessions of cryotherapy, laser therapy, rehabilitation, and Indiba therapy, all non-invasive so that I would not have to do surgery.
I was unable to walk for two full months, on crutches for four months and after a year I am unable to do a light jog.
Never Say Never
When asked if I'll try to ski again I always say hello no! But once I'm ready I'll try cross-country skiing or ice skating. Some will argue that generally, all winter sports are dangerous. If I never try I'll never know and I won't have amazing stories to tell like this one.
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