torn acl issues

After the first surgery they put a straight-leg cast on my leg, which left my leg with no muscles at all when it came out after 2 months.

OK, I won't feel bad about the rehab I'm doing... I was walking the next day, well, kind of. Thanks to everyone for the great advice. I was looking at the freeride plus as a better binding, which seemed to have a toe release function, but then I looked at a marker baron and it's like night and day. I can always put the dynafits back on after awhile.

daveheinbach,

That sucks about your knee. Sorry to hear. I’m exactly 10 months post ACL reconstruction. I did the hamstring graft.  I was on my road bike after about 7 weeks, and then spent all summer road/mtn biking. I also joined a gym and hit the weights and pool 3-4 days a week.

About skiing: I got a good brace and skied for the first time this month. I’ve got few days in so far. Ski touring and powder skiing feels great. The softness of the powder gave me no discomfort. After the first few turns it felt like business as usual. Lift serve and firmpack skiing feels pretty good, but the knee felt more vulnerable with the longer sustained turns and higher impact. First day we skinned & skied about three grand and I had no pain,  swelling or soreness. Good start.

Bindings: I ski on Dynafits mostly, and I have some Barons on some new inbounds / slackcountry skis. If you ski on Dynafits and rip your skins w/o removing your skis, don’t forget to take  your Dynafits out of tour mode. I never used to but I do now. I think the Baron is a really good choice. Keep the DIN backed off you will be good to go come summertime. Take care.

AR

If you find yourself not able to ski maybe you should take up snowboarding and get a splitter. Being fixed to the board does have its advantages in some respects.

Yeah, I split already but love the simplicity of touring on skis. I was totally shocked at how much easier it is to get around on skis. Well, except for that downhill thing.....

I tore my ACL about 20 years ago. I would recommend finding a good physical therapist that specializes in sport injuries. If the initial rehab is done right you shouldn't have any issues. I've found that if I stay active, lift weights and stretch I have no pain or loss of motion. I ride 40+ days a year, climb, and surf without a brace. I switched to snowboarding/ split board touring which puts less stress on your knees and only occasionally xc ski.

Yes, I have a great PT.

It's great to hear about people's experiences with what I'm learning is a fairly common injury. I've certainly considered sticking to splitboarding. I could trade my ski setup for the split kit and skins and some hard boot bindings and be riding for no extra cash outlay (I sold my hammered splitboard last winter). And I'd wager that using my AT boots would make split touring better in many ways, like more edge control while skinning, a narrower profile so easier to stay in the track, a crampon-compatible boot, and a faster transition as well. And bottom line, when turning on the board I get to use both legs, which I'm sure would significantly ease the stress on the knee.

It's great to hear about how people have rehabbed. Right now I'm about 4 weeks out and still have trouble with stairs. Very humbling. But if Aaron was out at ten months with a hamstring graft I see that some spring corn may be in my future!