herzogone

So I unintentionally mastered this new trick, it's pretty basic, but here goes:

1. Find a nice easy, flat, box in the park with just a little bit of height
2. Do a couple warm-up runs to get a feel
3. Lean back, fall back, tense up, and slam your head to the ground, preferably on ice

Here is an instructional video of my first success:



Okay, so here's the actual explanation. I was at Killington on Saturday and things were pretty hard-packed as expected since it is virtually all man made snow that has been through countless freeze-thaw cycles at this point. I was feeling pretty good on my new board, so I checked out the park. The box looked easy and familiar enough, so I figured I'd just 50-50 it to shake the cobwebs off. I was trying to play it safe and not try anything new, so I did the same thing a few times. One too many as it turns out.

I remember starting the run, then next thing I knew it was 4 hours later and I was in the medical center being told I had a concussion. My son and his friend relayed what happened since I had no memory. Apparently, after the fall shown in the video, I got up and rode to the bottom of the lift, but then sat down next to the shack there instead of getting back in line. My son and his friend realized something was wrong since I started repeating myself so they got the attention of the lift operator who summoned ski patrol.

Luckily, aside from a headache today and an incredibly sore back, I'm okay. I was wearing my helmet, which may very well have prevented a much worse skull fracture (they are particularly good at that). The force of the impact actually caused my GoPro to detach, with the adhesive pad ripping the finish off my helmet (that is some good adhesive). Luckily, I'm paranoid about losing my camera and had a tether for it also. I know my injury isn't nearly as severe as many others on here, but I wanted to share nonetheless. Also, I highly recommend helmets, especially in the park (even more if you're a klutz like me )

zk0ot

yuck the vid made the snow look horrible!

this happened to me last year. but off some jacked booter... Forgot how i got to the mountain. Forgot the Ambulance ride.... Forgot how i wound up on my couch with IV holes in my arm. Diagnosed with Cerebral Fissures aka "a ripped brain." = out for last half of season.

Cool to see it on tape tho. hahah hope all goes well for the rest of your season.

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BUCK FURTON

Deviant

Glad you're somewhat ok, concussions suck, I've had way too many myself but I hated to hear you in that video right after the slam, sounded like you knocked the wind out pretty good too. Hope you didn't get the vomiting part of a concussion after that some of us get.

xDOTY

Happened to be but on a rainbow box. Got whiplash, I was wearing a helmet, too. Now, I never go without one. Hope you have a speedy recovery!!

lonerider

Ouch, good you are generally alright... take it easy. As I enter my thirties I have been more careful about my long term health instead of "shaking it off" and "pushing through things" like I used to...

I like how I can hear you at the end of the video saying "Yea I'm good... go ahead" - reminds me of the following

herzogone

Yeah, things were getting icy as it got into the afternoon and things got shaded. I should have know better. Yikes, your injury sounds much worse, glad you're okay also. One of the first things I said in recovery was "I hope I got video of that" Thanks!

Thanks! Yeah, I definitely think it must have knocked the wind out of me pretty good (I think I even wheezed "ow, my head"). I did get lucky and didn't have any vomiting.

Bummer, glad you recovered though. I've had an incident with a rainbow box too, but luckily mine just resulted in severe butt bruises. Thanks!

Haha, thanks lonerider, that vid made me laugh! I definitely need to be cautious as well, I'm actually 35.

david_z

you probably should buy a new helmet after a slam like that. snow helmets aren't rated for multiple impacts.

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NYinfamous2k2

Dammmmmnnnnnnn man, that looked RUFF, at least you have footage of it, I still laugh my ass off when I see the footage I have doing something similar, should probably send it into that MTV show rediculousness lol

Jenzo

That's EXACTLY what I did, except off a battleship box that was at least twice as high. I bruised up my back pretty good (took over a year till the pain was completely gone) but my mellon was fine.

Can someone give some tips on how to fall backwards? all I ever do is fall like a tree.

slyder

Hope your all right. This is also a fear I have as a dad that rides with his kids.
As stated get a new helmet.

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Thanks
-Slyder