Snowboard Woes

(Below is a ranty attempt at Sleep is for the Weak‘s writing workshop. Prompt number four. A time when your body has let you down.)

There’s only one thing worse then Ben going away snowboarding, it’s him coming back. Yes I missed him and I’m so glad he’s back but for the next indefinite amount of time I have to hear about everything he did. I also have to hear about how his mum wants to take us snowboarding, how I should snowboard and all I can think of is that I can’t.

Firstly, my wrist completely prevents me from:

• Falling
• Pushing myself up via my hands
• Having any confidence

According to the doctor I have RSI, apparently by the time I’m 30 I probably won’t be able to use my right hand at all. Nice, thanks, doc.

But, I’m determined not to let it affect me like that. I still write and I still type (despite being told to take it easy by aforementioned doctor.) I had a thing called the lightening process done a while back, basically a technique that I can’t really explain. It involved hypnosis and as a result I don’t have constant pain. It was amazing and seriously changed my life.

However, if I still hand write things for an extended amount of time, lean on my hands or carry something heavy it hurts. Now, the pain is nowhere near as bad as it was a few years ago but it really hurts. I can’t explain the sort of pain. I still don’t know if it is RSI and I’m no doctor but I think I damaged a tendon/muscle/bone working with my wrists on a hard edged desk and it never healed properly.

Whatever it is it needs to go but I don’t think any sort of expensive therapy could fix it. Despite this I’m going to go to see a chiropractor. Ben’s been going to see one for his back and she has fixed him. However, it’s cost him £30 per 15 minute session twice a week. That’s a fucking rip off and I’m not sure I can afford £250 a month on this.

But then again I guess I can’t put a price on my health.

I’m not sure I can handle the pain on my wrist getting worse before it gets better. I’m such a wimp. But what is worse is knowing that Ben is going to keep going snowboarding without me unless I get my fucking act together.

It does say on the chiropractor’s card that she deals with RSI. I guess it’s worth a go. I might just have to haggle on price. Physio didn’t work and that’ muscle related. This might because it’s more to do with bones and nerves.

There’s also the fact that if I weighed less I’d be putting less weight on my wrist when falling over/getting up.

So that brings me to the second point, weight.

I need to be in the 13s at least before I even attempt real snow. I don’t know what else I can do to help me lose weight (eat less, actually would be a start.) I need to step my game up and remember that if I were lighter I’d be an amazing boarder.

I don’t have the leg – or wrist – strength to lift myself from a sitting position with a board on my feet to  standing ready to go. If I were lighter it’d be easier. I also look like a whale in my snow gear and I feel people are thinking of me as the fat girl trying to snowboard. It isn’t a fat person sport (what is? Sumo wrestling?)

Thirdly fitness.

I don’t have the stamina to be very active for eight hours a day for five days straight. This is why I am running. If I can get my general fitness level up then snowboarding will be easier.

The strain on my legs is immense, especially when on my toe edge. It pulls on the top of your thighs and calf muscles. This sport is pretty much about how strong your legs are. Legfail equals not being able to turn.

To remedy this I’m doing a fuck load of squats but I don’t know what else I can do to strengthen those muscles. I also can’t help but think that, once again, if I didn’t weigh so much I’d find it easier as my legs wouldn’t be holding up so much weight.

Gosh, I feel so fat right now.

So. The plan of action is.

• Get into the 13s
• Sort out my wrists.

I’m going to start putting Ben’s board and boots on every night and trying to stand up with them on. The  have a little wiggle around, some balancing etc. Just to get a feel for the board and hopefully strengthen my legs.

I’m going to hold off having lessons until I’m lighter and my wrists aren’t as gay. When they are fixed I can spend my £60 weekly chiropractor money on lessons.

I could cry, I’m terrified.

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