McKennis Blog: Silver Linings Galore

Silver lining #1 – Got to go see Lady Gaga in Salt Lake City. BEST. CONCERT. EVER.

Silver lining #2 – Bought a pair of killer cowboy boots in Heber.

Silver lining #3-  Have been able to play Wii Winter Olympics a lot, I have at least 5 gold medals. No big deal.

Silver lining #4- I’m now coach of the year, at least when it comes to coaching people at duel GS races. Hint- go after exactly ten people, that’s when the track is fastest.

See? There are silver linings to every setback in life!  I have been living in Park City for the past four weeks to continue my rehab. So far so good! My leg is responding well to all the super cool stuff we have been doing. Just kidding, the stuff we have been doing for rehab is pretty boring and there isn’t much variety but I am really happy to be moving forward. My favorite rehab day is Friday fun-day. I get to play Wii Winter Olympics while balancing on a bosu ball, it is pretty hard but by far the most the fun rehab exercise. I have actually found that the alpine skiing is not that exciting, so right now I am really into Dream Skier-X. You get to hit huge jumps and can also get bonus points for doing sick tricks, I’m pretty good at doing twister-daffy’s but I am hoping that I can progress to backflips next week!  There has been some pain and stiffness with my leg but that is all normal and isn’t anything I can’t deal with.

 I will admit some of soreness I have at times might be from dancing at a Lady Gaga concert or walking home 10 blocks from Main Street  in cowboy boots. Downhill. Yes, I know. Not smart. But I have learned my limitations for the time being and will be taking the bus home, or perhaps start doing the one-legged dance. My teammate Stacey Cook set me and my other injured teammates up with some Lady Gaga tickets through one of her friends. It was so fun! Hailey, Chelsea, Megan and I had an incredible time.  We were quite the group. We may have danced like we belonged at the geriatric ward but it was awesome!  Thank you so much Stacey, you are the bomb.com!

We have also been frequent spectators at the duel GS races that have been held at Park City. I’m coach of the year, or so I’m told. I have been giving Cody Marshell some tips on how to dominate the duel race circuit and he has been killing it! It probably also helps that Cody is a ripping skier, but I’ll take some of the credit. I was Aspen Valley Ski Club Giant Slalom duel champion one year, so I really know what I’m talking about.

I am spending another few days in Park City then heading home to see Dr. Sterett on Friday. Hopefully he will give me the go ahead to start single leg strengthening and some new exciting rehab exercises! After that I am headed to California for ten days for a visit to the beach then onto the Mammoth Invitational. I am sad I won’t be able to ski this year, my team won last year (which also confirms my coach of the year status) and I will not be able to defend our title. Oh well, It will still be a good time and it is alway great to give back to the skiing community! The Mammoth Invitational supports the Mammoth Mountain Community Foundation and World Cup Dreams. I encourage everyone to check out the websites to see what it is all about!

https://www.mammothfoundation.org/events/

https://www.worldcupdreams.org/events

Spring is around the corner and I CAN NOT wait to get outside and go hiking, biking and enjoy some warm weather. I’m sick of this winter business, not too fun when you can’t actually ski. Only a few more weeks though! I’ll post an update after I see doc on Friday, keep your fingers crossed for good news!