Zamansky injures knee, will miss rest of season

By Published On: January 12th, 2007Comments Off on Zamansky injures knee, will miss rest of season

PARK CITY, Utah — U.S. Ski Team alpine racer Jake Zamansky is on the mend after partially tearing a ligament in his right knee in a World Cup race late last month, and the 25-year-old plans to undergo surgery on a balky shoulder in about a week.
PARK CITY, Utah — U.S. Ski Team alpine racer Jake Zamansky is on the mend after partially tearing a ligament in his right knee in a World Cup race late last month, and the 25-year-old plans to undergo surgery on a balky shoulder in about a week.
    Zamansky hurt the knee in the giant slalom at Hinterstoder, Austria, on Dec. 21.
    “The snow conditions were just really, really tough and inconsistent. The ski just loaded up and my knee gave to the inside and it popped pretty good. I almost tore it all the way. It was pretty close,” said Zamansky, who is back in Park City, Utah, and was taking in the World Cup freestyle aerials action Thursday night.
    “Everything else is good in [the knee], it’s just the MCL.”
    Zamansky admitted that he’s been pretty lucky with avoiding injuries during his career, and he was having a solid season on the World Cup a season after winning the NorAm GS title and earning a slew of World Cup starts in the discipline.
    “It’s tough timing, for sure,” he said. “I was feeling pretty good and just trying to dial things in a on the harder hills a little bit.”
    Making the injury even more difficult to take is Zamansky’s opinion that the Hinterstoder race should not have been run because of  “dangerous” snow conditions and flat light. He criticized the FIS for trying to hard to hold races in snow-starved Europe this season — and perhaps not taking athlete safety seriously enough.
    “I personally think FIS is trying to force things right now. Obviously [Europe’s snowless winter] right now is scary and unfortunate, but I don’t think [the FIS] should try and force things and jeopardize the athletes’ health.”
    “You gotta take your losses. Anyone who’s been to Vegas knows that. I don’t want to see them try and force stuff.”
    Despite the injuries, Zamansky said he misses racing already and is eager to resume racing next season. He flirted with the idea of giving it up a few seasons ago.
    “As far as I’m concerned, I’m still young and have a long road ahead of me. If anyone begs to differ, they can come talk to me,” he said with a wry smile.

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About the Author: Pete Rugh