Well, it has happened to me again... another wakeboarding injury that will sideline me for the remainder of the 2008 season. <BR> <BR>The injury: technical term is a "lis frank" dislocation, but basically I broke a bone in my mid-foot area that requires surgery with the placement of screws in my foot to repair it. <BR> <BR>So many people, who have never ridden a wakeboard, are telling me to never wakeboard again. The main reason is two years ago I tore my PCL ligament in my left knee and 4 years ago I broke my left ankle. <BR> <BR>So how many injuries does it take to call it quits for everybody? <BR> <BR>Not sure if I can handle the idea of never riding again... but for a 30 year old recreational rider... this hobby is taking it's toll on me.

Don't stop. <BR> <BR>We have a guy who used to be on the VT wake club who tore his ACL, rode for three weeks after he was "finished" rehabbing it, and then partially tore all of the ligaments in his knee. I can guarantee as soon as it's healed, he'll be back on the water.

we all know this sport is about risk and reward (especially at our ages!)....so the question should be: will riding still be fun (and rewarding) if I limit it to a less risky style of riding that will decrease my chance of injury? <BR> <BR>now, if you're getting injured by carving the wake and doing straight airs, then maybe wakeboarding isn't for you. but if you're coming up short on your next 5 or 7 or mobe off the dub, then maybe you could tone it down a little and still enjoy the lifestyle that is this great sport. <BR> <BR>good luck with rehab....and for what it's worth....I say don't quit....but that's just me...and just so you know it's possible, I've progressed more since I turned 30 than ever before (which isn't saying much, but I do have a few inverts and a couple of spins)

At 29 your to young to quit, maybe just back er down a bit when your healed. Also, you prob have accsess to some great pain killers!

One of my friends was a die hard wakeboarder, rode as much as he could and progressed really fast. However he had more than 3 injuries from wakeboarding over the years and was the same age as you (has a family too) He finally called it quits after his last injury and took up Hydrofoiling. Since then he no longer has injuries and likes it just as much as wakeboarding.

im currently injured with a sprained MCL...i have had 8 stiches in my head, 2 concussions, and sprained this same MCL 2 years ago. I cant wait to get back on the water. Every injury has been some what my fault. For example, this current knee sprain happened because i was throwing a big tantrum at the end of my second set when i knew i was tired. The tantrum was sloppy and i landed with too much weight on my back leg....sprained my knee. <BR> <BR>I think it really is more about learning your body and not pushing yourself beyond your limits.

Cory...ask yourself what wakeboarding gives you and simply do a 'cost benefit' analysis. At 34, nothing gets me out of the stresses of life like getting out on the water, and so for that reason I decided not to give it up. A neurosurgeon told me I needed to consider it seeing as how my pinkie finger was numb for months after the concussion. I tore two ligaments in separate knees and had 2 concussions (4 different accidents, years apart). Once I healed from the last concussion, I went back to 'basics' and learned my tricks switch. Basically, I rode 6 months switch, and it felt great because suddenly a W2W trick was 'new', I felt like I was progressing but didn't take any punishing falls. If wakeboarding is simply something to do on the weekend, pick a new sport like trail riding or golf, but if its in your blood, don't make your decision until the trauma of the accident has receded from your short term memory. Best of luck on the recovery.

Tone it down, just pop around a little and have fun. I used to be all about progression until I blew my acl/mcl. I still love it, just have too much on my shoulders to get hurt again, with family and job depending on me. I just kick around and have fun. Try wakeskating or foiling.

Just sprained my MCL as well. Last October I broke my tail bone trying to "slide" on some bouy's. <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/uhoh.gif" border=0> Those are the only two injuries so far but I can't imagine life without wakeboarding. The three weeks in October that I couldn't ride were he!!. (So are the 2-3 months in the winter that the lakes are iced over, but snowboarding gets me by). <BR> <BR>Like Cory said, know your limits.

i have had many injuries and its not stopping me at all. i have broke my leg and had a compound fracture, broke my foot, bit my teeth through my lip, broken pinky, atleast 5 concussions, hyper extended leg and sprained some ligaments, and recently i tore my acl, medial meniscus, lateral meniscus, had a bone contusion, and dented my pcl but in 6 months when its healed i will be back at it for sure! keep riding man!

Dude in the end its up to you, but i dont think i could live without riding now. Its such a release for me now, i have so much fun doing it. I dont think i could find something to replace it even if i tried. <BR> <BR>But good luck on the recovery and i hope i see you out there sometime.

Hey Nick, <BR> <BR>That VT guy you're talking about was out this week already. Plus, we're planning on going out next Monday &amp; Thursday. I guess the anticipation of riding his new Marius is too much... <BR> <BR>On this topic, I broke my collar bone this past spring. Riding? No. Playing 2-hand touch football. <BR>Two years ago I broke my shoulder. Riding? No. Snowboarding. <BR> <BR>Point is, if you are active in any sport, you will get injured. The question is, is it worth the down time for you? For me, I'll never snowboard again as I can get my winter fix w/ skis and have low risk of injury. I don't want to do anything that will risk my wakeboarding season. Same goes for football, although I am toying w/ an adult soccer league this fall...

In the meantime take up wake surfing as it is fun stuff an you will not hurt yourself.

i say don't quit. heal up the rest of the year and over winter. you'll be jonzin' to go again in no time!

Take your time getting back and heal properly- that's the biggest reason people keep re-injuring themselves. Also- make this an opportunity to re-evaluate your form on the easier stuff before you go big again. I busted my ankle almost three years ago and it STILL bothers me from time to time and I am still afraid of tantrums, as that's the trick I killed it on. Whatever you do- never quit- just take a new approach!

It’s a tough decision to make. But the love of the sport will keep me in it. I’m not that good and at 47 years old I do have to watch what I do. Like others have said, know your body and what it can take. I have progressed in this sport and am happy in what I am doing. Its fun to learn new tricks, but to go big and get hurt is not what I am looking for either. <BR> We love to get out 3 – 4 times a week to ride. Even get up at 5 to be out on the glass at 6 am. Nothing is better than that glass run in the morning. Just to hear that board making that slicing sound through the water and riding out on the flat smooth cushion of water. So far I plan on riding till at least 60 to 70, it sure keeps you young!!!! <BR>O by the way started boarding at 42, now own a 06 XStar. You guys talking of hanging it up at 30ish is something I don't understand. I’m just getting started; just tone it down a little.

I'm currently out for the season and I've missed most of it due total destruction of my knee (ACL, MCL, &amp; Lateral Meniscus Tears). I'll be back next season without a doubt. I've convinced my wife-to-be to let me get a boat and go at it hard before we have children. After that point I'll have to tone it down. <BR> <BR>Things to consider: <BR>1. Is it keeping you out of work? <BR>2. Are you unable to care for your children? <BR>3. Is missing the season really upsetting you/ letting you down? <BR>4. Are injuries breaking your bank account (mine has just about devoured my boat down payment)? <BR> <BR>If any of the above are true, I'd definitely recommend turning it down a few notches or give it up. <BR> <BR>(Message edited by andytr32 on August 08, 2008) <BR> <BR>(Message edited by andytr32 on August 08, 2008)

I wont recommend one way or the other except to say possibly tone it down, like the others have already said but I would say dont take advice for those who have no knowledge of what they speak "So many people, who have never ridden a wakeboard, are telling me to never wakeboard again"

Three years ago...lis frank. My doc said I might not be able to board again. Did my PT and went back out on a board. Two years ago...torn ACL. Everybody told me the same thing. To give up boarding. Did my PT and went back out on a board. Now I hit the gym everyday and continually work on keeping strong to prevent further injury. Hell...Im riding bigger and stronger than I ever did.

Dan how your broke your collar bone playing touch football is beyond me. I bet you wear gloves and grab tindy.

as I get older, I ride a shorter rope so it is effortless to clear the wake and easier for me to do tricks. It isnt worth much to me if I cant make the boat and house payment if I am laid up for 4 weeks because I have to ride a 75 foot rope and run 27 mph like guys who get paid to do it.

Something else to consider. Does your livelyhood depend on your ability to 'ambulate' well? If your medical sales job would be affected by these periods of down time then you bag it or at least ride less agressively. I am not sure I would risk my livelyhood for wakeboarding. Now if your job is like mine in an office setting then it is your call and having suffered my share of injuries, I would still ride. <BR> <BR>Also is riding for you more about the boating lifestyle in which case surfing and skating are good alternatives.

Yo, I think that's the same injury that Nick Jones suffered a couple years back. As far as I know he's still not riding 100%. Maybe something to look into. He'd be a great resource if this is the same injury. <BR> <BR>I think every rider has asked themself this question before. I think only you can answer it for yourself. This is a sport that gets into your blood. I don't think I could quit if I tried. Over the years I've toned it down a bit and probably don't ride as much as I used to. I've also slowed my progression a bunch. There's no way I could quit cold turkey though. If I got more than a week without riding I'm itchin' to get on the water. <BR> <BR>Take your time, do the rehab. Get out on the boat with your friends while you're recovering and just see what happens. <BR> <BR>Good luck

i'm with evan. take your time gettin right and see what happens. i could never up and stop riding. i was busted up for 3 weeks with this ankle and just about went insane. <BR> <BR>btw evan...rode with Nick the other day and he looked to be like he was riding pretty well...a couple of 7s and 9s and the sickest nose grab crowmobe and skeezer...he takes it to blind so retardedly late

Lis Frank Syndrome is no joke. The first doc I went to could only diagnose it. He had never actually seen it before. Make sure you see a specialist to have it repaired. My doc sent me to a guy at Johns Hopkins that had alot of experience with lis frank. Even the specialist was hesitant to tell me I would be able to go back to boarding. He told me the only thing he could guarantee me was that I would have mobility issues unless the surgery was done correctly. To this day (with a successful surgery) I can only flex my foot partially. But its still not stopping me from riding. I make sure I have bindings that fit properly (broke my foot in my binding)and I did everything the physical therapist told me to do. And I still do those exercises today.

Just know your limitations.... I started riding at 35 and have had a ruptured disk, 2 broken ankles, a broken foot, countless concussions and busted ear drums &amp; now a n ACL tear. I also have had other nagging minor injuries but I will probably contibue to abuse myself. <BR> <BR>If you are not pushing yourself that much you can ride injury free for longer periods of time. Unfortunately the injuries have caused financial lapses in my work history so I will be slowing down a bit after this ACL repair.

i am almost 54 years old and i am riding as hard as i can. truth be told i am a pretty poor rider but i can do wake to wake and ollies and 180's and am working on heel presses and trying to jump the wake toe side behind our xstar (which is a fairly long jump at 70-75 feet). my goal is to be riding at age 85. i push as hard as i can and have had some injuries but i plan to keep on riding until i can't. i believe i could learn inverts and 360's but i am afraid i couldn't stand up to the beating it would require to dial it in so i stand pat on my limitations. my advice is ride forever, just tone it down to doing the things you can do successfully 90% of the time and leave the rest alone. but keep on riding and enjoying the lifestyle. my philosophy is the best rider in the boat is the one who goes home with the biggest smile. have fun, that's truly what is all about, to just be in the game, not to win every game. good luck and let me know as soon as you ride again. i will be pulling for you. stephen