Lessons in Injury
Injuries at some point in your life are almost a certainty, and when you are constantly pushing yourself in the mountains the odds are even higher. No matter how much training and preparation you do, shit happens and we all end up facing an injury at one point or another.
On February 11th I competed in Kings and Queens of Corbet’s for my sixth time, and it’s no secret what I was going for. After I became the first woman to land a backflip into Corbet’s in 2020, I set my sights on the next goal: getting the double backflip.
Photo by Amy Jimmerson
I’ve been thinking a lot about where this drive came from. Kings and Queens of Corbet’s is a high risk competition. It’s a huge drop that you don’t get to practice on, and your first attempt is on competition day. Many pro skiers decline invitations to Kings and Queens because of the risk of injury. So why have I been so committed to this goal, that I’ve planned my entire winter around this competition SIX times?
I think my drive comes from a desire to help progress the sport of women’s freeride skiing. When I landed the backflip into Corbet’s in 2020, I felt so proud that I was able to put my name in the skiing history books. We all know that there is a lot of inequality present in women’s action sports, and I knew that anything I could do to advance the sport is helpful for women athletes everywhere to get the respect and funding they deserve. So I set my sights on landing the double backflip into Corbet’s couloir, both for myself, so I could grasp that feeling of accomplishment again, but also for all the young girls out there dreaming of going pro one day.
The training for this stunt started about three years ago. During my summers, I was going to water ramps and the airbag at the Utah Olympic Park, and then getting as many powder booter sessions as I could as soon as the snow started falling. Not to mention I was in the gym year round making sure my legs would be strong enough to take the impact.
(if you haven’t heard the term powder booter before, it’s when you and your friends build a large jump into a soft powder landing so that you can all try your new tricks onto a forgiving landing)
With all my training, by the time the competition rolled around, I felt confident in my abilities. I knew it was going to be challenging but I was taking all of my attempts to my feet or nearly my feet. So I knew I was ready and that it would be safe for me to go for it.
I noticed as the event got closer, that I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I’d be. Since I’d been planning this for so long, there wasn’t a thought in my mind about stepping down from trying the double backflip. I couldn’t possibly back down after all of the work, training and time I had put into this. So while of course I was nervous, I wasn’t overthinking anything, because I had already made up my mind years ago.
Photo by Keegan Rice
I stood up there with my fellow competitors, just soaking in the moment. It hit me that over the years at this competition I had gone from a completely unknown rookie, to one of the most veteran athletes there. This competition has really shaped who I am both as a person and a skier, it imbued me with more and more confidence each year that I competed. I look back at the nervous and awkward Veronica from 2018, and I feel proud of the person I’ve become: sure of myself, comfortable in my skin, and confident my place in the world of skiing. That’s what pushing your limits and attempting wild goals can do for you. It will allow you to reach a place you never knew you could.
Photo by Hayden Lynch
To be perfectly honest, I wasn’t even thinking about the possibility of injury. I had taken some hits trying my double backflips, and I always came out a little sore but overall ok. Something I attributed to my weight training to help with injury prevention.
However, I knew something was wrong as soon as I hit the ground. I heard a loud crack as my knee hit my chest and knew that I had probably broken my sternum, but what worried me the most was a sharp pain in my neck and my upper back. Every movement sent shooting pain through my neck and back, so I decided to stay still. I thought there was a real possibility that I had broken something in my spine, and I knew that with a broken back you’re supposed to stabilize everything to not cause any further damage.
Photos by Keegan Rice
I want to take this moment to give a heartfelt thank you to the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol, all the doctors and nurses in the clinic, the EMTs that got me in the ambulance, and everyone working in the ER that night.
The ski patrol had to rappel me down the rest of Corbet’s, before skiing my sled all the way down 4,000’ of vert. It’s hard to explain how incredible it is that they got me down quickly and safely from 10,000’ elevation down one of the steepest runs in North America. In the clinic, it took everyone there to help lift me onto the bed while keeping my spine and neck stable. Everyone along the way was talking to me and helping me feel safe through the pain and the fear. We have some of the best rescuers in the world right here in Jackson Hole. If you ski here long enough you’ll hear stories all around town about the people they’ve saved. They are true heroes of our community, and if you’re lucky enough to meet one of them, make sure you say thank you for keeping our people safe.
Photo by Hayden Lynch
In the aftermath of my injury I’ve had to do a lot of thinking. I oscillate between being proud of myself for going for it, and wondering if it was a stupid stunt. I think it’s normal to work through feelings of regret after an injury. However, I keep coming back to all of my training and preparation. I spent countless days on the airbag, hours in the gym, and time in the air. Mentally and physically, I was ready. For whatever reason, that day wasn’t my day, but that doesn’t mean it was the wrong decision. I’m still proud of myself giving this goal my all for so long. I know there is some young girl out there who watched my attempt and thought to herself “I could be the one to do that one day.” I’m here to tell you, YOU CAN. I know someone out there will pick up this goal after me and I can’t wait to see a woman stomp a double backflip into Corbet’s one day.
Photo by Corey Jackson
While I might step away from this goal, I’m left with a motivation to keep skiing as hard as I can, and to keep exploring the mountains all around the world. Skiing is my life, and this “failure” isn’t going to change that for me.
I’ve been so fortunate to have the support of my community and the ski community at large. I’ve had so many fellow skiers reach out, make me food and just come over to keep me company and keep my spirits up. This community is the reason I fell in love with skiing in the first place. The way people take care of each other and push each other to new heights is an incredible thing to experience.
Thank you skiing, I’ll be back in no time.
Photo by Amy Jimmerson