New Year, New Knee

I'm back! It's been forever since I have posted and that is due to a few reasons, but the main reason is because I have spent the past year rehabilitating my left knee after surgery last April.

2012 was a frustrating year for me because my surgery on April 2 was on the same injury that I sustained in August 2011. Unfortunately this injury put me out of training and competing for effectively 2 northern and 1 southern seasons. However, I've done the hard yards in the gym and in rehab, and I am happy to say that I recently returned to snow for 7 weeks training. As frustrating as 2012 was for me, it's all in the past now, and it's time to look onwards and upwards. But first, a trip down memory lane...

Spot the difference? My knee - 1 month post-op (left) and 9 months post-op (right)

Thanks to Stu and his team at The Sports Clinic for handling my rehab :)

Thanks to Keith and his team at #Niagara for the awesome sponsorship of these 'Cycloid Vibration Therapy' machines. The Portable Hand Unit and the Thermo Cyclo Pad were instrumental in my recovery process. 

My best friends for 4 months. Thanks to a bloodclot, I had to inject these blood thinners into my stomach everyday for 4 months. Certainly cured my phobia of needles!

My knee brace for 4 months. Still had to carry out my patrol captain responsibilities. Although, I'm not sure what SLSA would have to say about this...

At 4 months, the brace came off and I was back in the gym.

In fairness, 2012 wasn't all bad. The time rehabilitating my knee also gave me an opportunity to explore some other things - mainly the elusive contents of my university books. That's right folks, I've finally done it! Proud to say that after 5 long years, I successfully completed my Bachelor's degree in Economic and Social Sciences (major in Government and International Relations) from The University of Sydney. My graduation ceremony is this friday so I'll be sure to post some photos up from the big day soon!

Looking forward to my graduation this week!

Celebrating after my last exam with my brother, Lachie

Moving on...
I've just returned home from 8 weeks in Europe where I successfully completed my return to snow program. I was lucky to enjoy 2 weeks at the end of Feb freeskiing with my parents. After a bit of a mishap on the first day of our holiday (we were crashed into by a drunk driver), the rest of the time with them was incredible.

Our rental car was destroyed by a drunk driver. Luckily no-one was injured. He blew 0.16 at 10.30am. Big night mate?

Celebrating my birthday skiing with mum and dad

After mum and dad left, I joined my coach at the Dutch training centre in Zell and See, Austria, for the remaining 6 weeks of my trip. This is where the Dutch, Great Britain and New Zealand national teams are based. The facilities are great, with an in-house cook, large ski room and gym, and plenty of world class training areas within 5-20 minutes drive. It's also great to be able to share a house with friends and other athletes.

Here I eased into drills and gates. With physio and careful management, I'm pleased to say that my knee handled things well and I was even able to have time adjusting to the new ski regulations which are coming into effect this year. After a long time out from competitive skiing, it was too soon to start any races this trip, but I'm certainly hungry to get back into competition come July.

Picking up my new skis for this season from the factory in Altenmarkt. Thanks #Atomic!

This year is going to be huge. I've just been named in the Olympic Squad for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. The real team will be chosen from this squad, so it is the first step, in a very long process, but exciting nonetheless. There are some really talented girls in contention for the team, but I'm going to work hard and ski my fastest and see where it takes me! I'm in Melbourne this week for a Sochi 2014 Team Assembly and the Ski and Snowboard Australia Awards Night. I'm already back in the gym training harder than ever. In a funny way, my injury has changed me. If anything, I think it has made me a better, more focussed athlete, more determined to fulfil my potential and chase my goals and dreams.

Photos from the #A.S.P.I.R.EtoSochi team assembly today. 

#Sochi2014 Team Assembly. Uniform fitting, team briefings, medical exams, media photos & interviews and even an impromptu visit from #ASADA for a drug test. 

There are a number of people I owe a great deal of thanks and gratitude to. Firstly, thanks to my parents, other loved ones and friends for putting up with me the past year. Secondly, thanks to my coach Jonny Rice. We've had 7 great years together. Looking forward to more!

Thanks also to the many people who helped in my rehab and come back. Thanks to Dr Tan, my surgeon, and Stu Pavely, my physio. To the fabulous Will Procter and Tim Leahy - my strength and conditioning coaches - you guys are awesome. Your dedication to not only myself, but all your athletes, is incredible.

Thanks to Leonie, Nick, Anika, Debbie and other staff at SUSF EAP program for your continued encouragement and support.

Finally, thanks to my sponsors, and also my number one fan club at the Ski Club of Australia for your continued friendship and support.

Until next time...

All my love,

Lav xoxo

PS - Check out these videos from training. Hope you enjoy them!

GS training in Leogang 

GS training in Maiskogel-Kaprun

GS freeskiing on the new ski in Maiskogel-Kaprun