Leon,
        Sorry to hear about your injury, at least it was going into the winter. As far as Double Hardshells are concerned I believe they are the safest and best performing choice. Currently use the latest Goode Powershells, but have used Fogman and FM's also. Would be glad to help you set them up since your here in Orlando. I have over 15 years experience setting up Fogman and Goodes, so let me know how I can help you. E-mail me at [email protected].
Sorry, ED

Leon,

On September 30th I had a similar crash.  It was cold water and cold air, probably 55/52.  I didn't tumble, but had a fairly new ski (3rd outing).  I went to a shorter ski (a 68 from a 69.5) since i dropped from 210-220 range to 190-200 over the last two years.  The ski was turning great, but over torqued around 5 (my offside).  I think the tip of the ski was pulled toward my nose, but I may have had a side to side twist.  It was so fast.  I was skiing, tehn I was in the water.  It seemed minor, but I lost my back foot, and toasted my front.  I had animals too.

I don't have a break (so far), but a completely torn inside ligament, a partially torn outside ligament, a compressed something or other, some pulling of one ligament away from the bone, and some internal bruising on some of the bones.

I was on crutches until this week.  I'm limping around now.  The rehab guy (PT) says 4-6 more weeks and I'll only have a slight limp.  I heard 12 months for 80% strength.  The crutches sucked.  I didn't expect my hands to hurt so bad!  I actually kept in shape with all the effort of moving around though.  I fell on the stairs once and almost tumbled down, but caught myself midair on the railing.

The rehab the first day wasn't so bad.  He stretched the heck out of it today though.  Between a few days of walking and the stretching, its swollen up to where it was 2 weeks ago.  Modern theory is to move it as soon as you can.  Old school is imobilize for 6-8 weeks.  I can barely move my foot front to back.

On 2 and 3, I'm wondering those very things myself.  I'm not sold on hardshells, but will ask around.  I'm wondering if I can convince myself to continue, but I suspect I will.  The wife is another story.

Chris

Leon Jones wrote:

Yesterday I broke my left fibula and talus:o. The Doctor highly suspects ligement damage as well, but wont know for sure until he goes in with a scope. I was going from 2 ball towards 3, loaded BEFORE the wakes and went right out the front. The rear boot released (HO Animals) but the front did not. The wind mill action of the ski, while rotating (twice!) with the front foot in, did the damage. I'll have surgery once the swelling goes down.

  I have two questions:
  1. has anyone out there had this type of injury (Chris Rossi)? What can I expect with the 
      recovery/rehab? How long? 
  2. Would double hardshells have prevented this injury? Would dbl hard shells be advised
      for future skiing with this damaged ankle?
  3. How do I convince my wife to support my return to the water:P? This is my third
      major injury requiring surgery in the past six years. ...I think I know that answer

Hi Leon,

Sorry to hear about the accident, bad news. In the middle of last summer (Feb in Aust) I was free skiing on the river and turned right over a very small rolling set of waves that I hard even noticed - but skipped off the first to catch the second and high side myself into the water. I cracked a rib on the impact but also ruptured an outer ligament on my front ankle and suffered a 2nd degree (estimated by physio after looking at scans) tear on the lower ligament. The bone bruising initially hid the fact there was also a fracture in the talus while the hemorrhaging around my ankle also looked pretty ugly. It was as a 12 week rehab for me - boot, strapping and the finally mobilization.

I also ski with an Animal front boot which is a large - my foot size is 9 and wonder if my boot is actually the correct size as looking at sizing charts I think i should maybe be in a medium? I have a very low instep for my snowski boots and I have to strap in pretty tight for my water ski so thought that it may have contributed to the damage. If anyone had any thoughts on that?

The good news is that my ankle healed well, i skied on it at the end of the season and hit the snow later in the year along with a full season of racing enduro (dirt bikes) with pain free mobility - for the most part anyway! So that is something at least you can look forward to! 

Is the argument that hard shells will prevent these kind of injuries 'most' of the time?

Good luck with the rehab mate.

Cheers,
Mike