Lanning tests repaired knee at La Parva

T.J. Lanning’s dreams of returning to the snow turned to reality late last week when the 24-year-old began testing his surgically repaired knee on the snowfields of La Parva, Chile. Lanning is spending a week in La Parva freeskiing, doing drills and “making sure my knee doesn’t blow up again” with Europa Cup men’s downhill coach Tim LaMarche.
    Lanning, who had microfracture surgery in May to repair a bone bruise on his femur, admitted to having dreams of skiing again after enduring a rigorous summer of workouts and rehabilitation with USSA Strength and Conditioning Coordinator Per Lundstam. Lundstam had Lanning in the gym doing total-body fitness workouts three days a week and foregoing his usual summer diversions like waterskiing and wakeboarding. The result? Lanning says he’s in the best shape of his life and healthier than he’s been in years.
    “Now we’ll see as he goes to snow,” says Lanning’s head coach, Sasha Rearick. “He’s got to continue to be smart.”
T.J. LANNING'S DREAMS  of returning to the snow turned to reality late last week when the 24-year-old began testing his surgically repaired knee on the snowfields of La Parva, Chile. Lanning is spending a week in La Parva freeskiing, doing drills and “making sure my knee doesn’t blow up again” with Europa Cup men’s downhill coach Tim LaMarche.
    Lanning, who had microfracture surgery in May to repair a bone bruise on his femur, admitted to having dreams of skiing again after enduring a rigorous summer of workouts and rehabilitation with USSA Strength and Conditioning Coordinator Per Lundstam. Lundstam had Lanning in the gym doing total-body fitness workouts three days a week and foregoing his usual summer diversions like waterskiing and wakeboarding. The result? Lanning says he’s in the best shape of his life and healthier than he’s been in years.
    “Now we’ll see as he goes to snow,” says Lanning’s head coach, Sasha Rearick. “He’s got to continue to be smart.”
    Lanning said he expects the knee to feel even better after a week of skiing as renewed motion often helps break up any lingering scar tissue. If the knee passes the test, Lanning will join his teammates for a speed camp beginning Sept. 20 in Portillo, Chile.
    “I just want to get back on snow, get out there and feel it through,” Lanning says. “I’ve got to keep the reins on to make sure I get through the first week with no swelling.”

Smarter, more committed approach to rehab
The oft-injured Lanning insists he’s taken a smarter approach to rehabbing his knee this time. Instead of rushing to get back on skis and chancing further injury, he’s taken a slower approach. Instead of pushing the injured leg to get better, Lanning’s spent much of the past three months biking to improve endurance while also strengthening his upper body.
    “[The surgery] gave me a chance to really get myself in shape and get everything that’s been beating me up over the past two years fixed,” Lanning says. “My goals are to stay healthy and be in the best shape ever.”
    Rearick praised the work of Lundstam and his staff but hastened to add that it took a renewed commitment level from Lanning himself to see dramatic results.
    “It’s a commitment level I’ve never seen from him; it’s not renewed,” Rearick says. “He’s brought it to a level of professionalism and commitment that’s never been seen. He’s always been talented, he’s always worked hard but this is totally different. It’s not about working hard, it’s about owning your career, and when you understand that you own your own program, you bring a much different approach to it. Everything we could have ever dreamed, and all the things we’ve worked for and kicked and screamed at T.J. about over the years, he has taken care of it.”