What is your opinion on Snowboarding and other high risk of injury activities? I ask this because I know we are all training for either CCT or PJ and so much depends on our physical abilities. I am buying my season pass and don't want to sprain/brake anything so close to leaving. Just curious what others are thinking and doing?

My activties havn't changed a whole lot. The only thing I have left out is rugby. I'd go for it. You gotta get some recreation in some way or you'll go crazy.

I still plan i riding this season but i think im just gonna throttle back a little bit. i did quit skating because of the injury factor though.

Bosco I am feeling that way...I want to board this season...but you know how you take those nasty spills every so often...lol...I think I just might lose it if I don't get up to the snow this season...Jerrad..yeah...sounds about right...I think I won't take so many chances trying to do anything fancy...lol...and that is the same for me and Basketball...I cut it out..to much risk for ankle sprains and knee injury. Thanks for the response fellas...

it sucks stoping the things you enjoy. but i guess it means were that much more commited to the finish line. so that's good.....

yeah i had to drop the rugby too. it sucks, but i watch it a lot so that makes up for it.

I feel you guys...I had to cut out hockey this season and it's killin me...At least the NHL's back and runnin though so it gives me somethin to watch...

how sad we have resort to watching sports instead of playing them...ironic...isn't it...i guess we will get our share of "high risk" sports upon entering the pipeline..lol

[]yeah i had to drop the rugby too. it sucks, but i watch it a lot so that makes up for it. [/]

can't play, and I can't find it on tv <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> i may start just going to the practices though as we dont do contact drills very much. games are out of the question though

Guys,
A current STO and mentor of mine summed this issue up for me while I was in college and contemplating playing summer ball overseas, stating "Go ahead, but then again, I already have my commission." Please take that into account before making a decision. Watch the Discovery video again and you will see an episode where one of the pipeline students had his snowboard Saran-wrapped and up on the shelf until he passed the examination he previously failed. Guard MC and quite a few others have laid out training routines that can be done with training partners that suck just as much as any game or practice. If you already have a class date, you are on the road to success. There is no reason to derail that for the sake of an afternoon on the slopes.

word

Practices, backyard football, you guys really need to be careful.. How stupid was it for me to play Touch Football with EOD the weekend before the start of Team? Seemed harmless enough but I still got my ankle stomped on.. Black and blue all over.... THANKFULLY, I was able to tough it out with no injury.

It's good to see that everyone here seems to be in compliance with not being stupid. No need for me to keep beating the dead horse.

Tough topic. I think about this stuff a lot, especially since our CC/Track coach doesnt want us getting injured doing something outside the sport. Its hard to say because whenever my CCT buddy comes back from break hes busting out rodeo flips and such on the slopes. I like to think that its outside of our hands sometimes, but to still remain cautious. I mean you only live once right? I also like to see if there is a benefit in the risk, such as overcoming a fear. Just depends on the situation. Good luck in your decisions.

Let me add my experience. I have been working with Chief H for over 2 years on gettig into the CCT pipeline (prior service). Last December I went out and played flag football with some guys from my squadron. Everyone knows flag football is harmless. At least I thought it was until a ackward throw, and I could no longer pick my arm up without serious pain. I tore the labrum and pealed it away from the bone, requiring 3 anchors being mounted in my shoulder socket to stabilize the joint. I am 6 months postop and just now getting back to the point where I can start rebuilding core strength and muscle. My chances of being able to rehab back to the point of not being a liability if I did make it through the pipeline are now in question. All of this from a little game of flag football.

Luckily all I did before, since, and up to my date (which is in eight days thank you) was read, run some 10k's, and now swim (which is way more low stress than running I have come to see) So I know I'm going in safe but because I never did all of the stuff you all did I'm kinda thinking I might not be "the best canidate" for training. I dunno.

I do a lot of brazilian ju jitsu (no gi) and muay thai, but I decided to stop rolling and sparring about a month before my ship date, just to avoid any injury. It definitely sucks not getting to train with all my buddies, but it is absolutely worth it to keep myself in good health for basic *snicker* and of course indoc.

Pittles,
I do BJJ and Muay Thai as well. I had to lay off of it due to a scare 2 months back...I got dropped on my shoulder and couldn't train for 3 weeks. It is back to 100% now but it freaked me out and that was enough for me.

Hey a little off subject...but does anyone here have an ipod? and if you do have you tried out the H2O case they have for it online? it's waterproof earphones/case. So you can listen to music while you do water con's and swim...anybody tried it out there?

Heading to Misawa, Japan the 3rd of Feb. Going to Hakkoda to hit some backcountry pow with my brother. We are getting a guide to keep us out of trouble and from doing anything stupid. I guess just play it safe and try not to push to hard.

It may be wise to invest in a personal emergency beacon incase you get trapped in an avalance if you haven't already.

Right now my brother and I are looking at getting a pair of Ortovox x1s. At $280 a unit not very cheap but it's worth the investment, also getting shovels and probes. Been boarding since I was 13 but it's my first real backcountry trip.

Just be careful up there in Misawa man. we got record snowfall this year in Japan. Just got back from a two day boarding trip and some of that back country stuff is dicey.

Me and my friends tore up Hakkoda this winter. Personally I do not think you need a guide to help you out there. But it is definitely the best powder in Japan.