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Alex's Recovery Ride Giant Ride Whistler
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Two months ago, Alex, a dear friend, was riding around with some buddies testing some of his new features. Alex was hitting a 25’ kicker and got the speed right on the in-run but leant too far forward upon hitting the lip. From what friends have told me, he took one of the mightiest digs anyone's seen. I wasn’t available during the session and couldn’t video it. Enjoy the video!Rest upAlex!
I took a couple nasty crashes myself before buying my Leatt brace but holy sh*t..
...I know I would call it quits at that point.
Getting back on the saddle takes real courage.
Get better soon and ride safe
...I know I would call it quits at that point.
Getting back on the saddle takes real courage.
Get better soon and ride safe
That's the spirit bro! I just broke my collar bone and torn my liver in half basically. the doctor told me i might not make it till my next race season. but your story just inspired me to keep fighting!!
P.s anyone have a spare liver i can barrow for the next forever
p.ss RESPECT!!
P.s anyone have a spare liver i can barrow for the next forever
p.ss RESPECT!!
Broke my back in four places, took me four months to get back on the bike, although my brace used to go from my waist all the way to the top of my head so i had no upper body movement apart from my arms, yeah i fractured a bone in my neck to top it off 
but yeah it's probably been 9 months since i broke my back and i've now fully recovered, apart from i can't stretch my right arm far backward but that doesn't really seem to affect anything. Bit of advice though, take it easy and at least wait 5 months with those injuries at the least, honestly you'll come out of your brace you wont be able to do a sit up, really messes with your health. just take up xc for a month, lean a bit more to AM and then if you're confident enough hop right back on your DH, i'm sure you will. But for what it's worth getting fit on your XC will do you a lot of good and it'll probably increase your skill learning how the routes again on a smaller travel bike. Honestly though, sitting in a wheelchair for the rest of your life is not an option, take it easy and you'll eventually be back up and shredding eh? Oh yeah and drink plenty of milk, and eggs......
but yeah it's probably been 9 months since i broke my back and i've now fully recovered, apart from i can't stretch my right arm far backward but that doesn't really seem to affect anything. Bit of advice though, take it easy and at least wait 5 months with those injuries at the least, honestly you'll come out of your brace you wont be able to do a sit up, really messes with your health. just take up xc for a month, lean a bit more to AM and then if you're confident enough hop right back on your DH, i'm sure you will. But for what it's worth getting fit on your XC will do you a lot of good and it'll probably increase your skill learning how the routes again on a smaller travel bike. Honestly though, sitting in a wheelchair for the rest of your life is not an option, take it easy and you'll eventually be back up and shredding eh? Oh yeah and drink plenty of milk, and eggs......
Hey dude that was a pretty good watch. I broke my back in the exact same places as you did but luckily I didn't require surgery. On a serious note, don't cut your recovery time short, the surgeon that I spoke to when I broke my back is the best in Scotland and one of the best in Europe for dealing with Spinal Injuries on Children and he advised me to even take it easy once my recovery time was over. I know that you've probably been told by a tonne of people to take it easy but seriously do, since you've had surgery and all don't think of yourself as some sort of iron man, just wait out your recovery period and you will be so glad once you do.
All the best
All the best
thanks man! I'm going to be living in scotland from july 1 until august 4th! i may have to stop by this surgeon and even meet up with you!
Ya Man I have to agree with Downhill Pete. I shattered my T3,6,9,&10 in a Moto crash. more time the better. after the doc says youre cleared to ride, spend time in the gym and what not, build those muscles up in your back so you wont have back pain So you'll have those muscle to take the impact if you crash hard again. Like I understand if you rush into things coming back from a broken arm or colar bone but vertebrae I wouldnt rush that shit hahah
Great movie man
Great movie man
Definitely! Despite my itch to bike, I plan on spending a great deal of time at the gym working my body back into shape and doing rehabilitative exercises. Muscle fatigue is something i've been dealing with because of my time away from athletics and mtb. I've definitely been taking all of your comments to heart though!!! Thank you so much for your support and ride on!
Ok , first of all , Holy shit.
I have such respect for you after that , your in such high spirits from what happened.
Is there any major complications that your going to have for the rest of your life , or will you be 100percent after you heal?
And I just need to know were you wearing a neck brace and if not would one have saved you?
I have such respect for you after that , your in such high spirits from what happened.
Is there any major complications that your going to have for the rest of your life , or will you be 100percent after you heal?
And I just need to know were you wearing a neck brace and if not would one have saved you?
I broke my T7 in my first crash, and T10 in my second. After second time the doctors told me i'll never ride a bike again. And here I am. Alex, I know how you feel but my situation wasn't as hard as your's. If you crash that hard again, you probably won't be able to walk again. Stay strong and take time to think about what you'll do about your future riding, if you want to take this injury siriously. If you will, and we all know you probably will ride DH again, stay safe as you can. Trust me you will ride DH many years if everything will be ok, but it's not worth being paralised. Think about it.
I dig the optimistic attitude but don't take the injury and the recovery from it lightly. Listen to us old dudes, injuries catch up to you..especially if you get back at it prematurely. Nothing like aching everyday at only 31 and I don't even have five fused vertebrae. I'm not saying you can't get back to the things you love, but life is long.
Wow...Thats sick...I hope you go well soon and ride some Bikes!
Now im scared..and ask myself why i need every day bigger jumps? when it is enough?!
Mountainbike is a crazy Sport. And everybody who ride a Mountainbike is a little bit a Hero. All Guys there. Respect YOU and your Bike.
Whats the name of the Songs?
Now im scared..and ask myself why i need every day bigger jumps? when it is enough?!
Mountainbike is a crazy Sport. And everybody who ride a Mountainbike is a little bit a Hero. All Guys there. Respect YOU and your Bike.
Whats the name of the Songs?
haha thanks man and the first song is soundcloud.com/cc33/cc33-i-used-to-be-a-teenage and the second is, From Finner by "of monsters and men"
You have friends in the recovery world! Wishing you all the best healing vibes I can muster. Here's what my rods look like that they gave me last month. Hate to say it, but I consider myself lucky not to have had your recovery time (even though I have more metal). Keep fighting and never stop riding!
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151763966200442&set=a.10150258768290442.518326.788790441&type=3&theater
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151763966200442&set=a.10150258768290442.518326.788790441&type=3&theater
Huge respect to you man ! I'm in the process of building my own trails now, and only last weekend had a crash guinea pigging a new jump, luckily I'm fine, but your story makes me realise just how lucky I was. Get well soon buddy and shred those trails ! 
haha yea man guinea pigging is a shitty job but sombodys gotta do it. But i highly recommend investing in a neck and or back brace if doing so. learn from my experiences. I never thought it would happen to me but it made me realize it can happen to anybody
Props to you healing up and getting back on the bike... but dude... Where is your neckbrace? I know your probably not going to be riding the same stuff but would an ordeal like that not influence you into wearing one? After seeing just what affect a broken neck has on someone and seeing the pain and suffering with it I don't know if I'll even go near my bmx track without a full face and a neck brace, I just don't want to take the chances. Best of luck and healing vibes towards you though,
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hey,
I see you're from CT. Have you ever thought about speaking to other kids about what happened? I'm a teacher and mt bike rider. Just met a guy at Highland yesterday that had a serious injury and is back riding. Think about it. Would be cool to have you come and share your amazing story! Serious props for riding again, heck walking again. Hope all is well now and you can enjoy summer! Let me know if you're ever interested. I teach 6th graders and run a bike club. It would be sweet to share some of your experiences. You are an amazingly strong dude and deserve to share what you've been through. Let me know! Stay safe, but keep riding!
I see you're from CT. Have you ever thought about speaking to other kids about what happened? I'm a teacher and mt bike rider. Just met a guy at Highland yesterday that had a serious injury and is back riding. Think about it. Would be cool to have you come and share your amazing story! Serious props for riding again, heck walking again. Hope all is well now and you can enjoy summer! Let me know if you're ever interested. I teach 6th graders and run a bike club. It would be sweet to share some of your experiences. You are an amazingly strong dude and deserve to share what you've been through. Let me know! Stay safe, but keep riding!
I will this fall! I'd love to have you in an talk with my students. Show your video and have you answer some questions. Should be chill, but really cool! Hope this finds you well and hopefully you're coming up to the Claymore at Highland this weekend!!!!
Thanks,
Travis Stevens
well shit man, you're a trooper! Heal up quick man, and good luck on the recovery! It's incredibly inspirational to see someone like you, with your injury still stoked on riding a bike! 
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thats definitely every riders worst nightmare, being that close of not riding again and not walking. (im not sure if I would touch my downhill bike again)
Alex actually so lucky 3 So glad you are okay, and I hope you make a fast recovery 3 Speak to you sooon! Laura from Scotland 3
Damn dude, you sure are lucky to be walking! Your hardcore dude. Hope you have a speedy recovery man.
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same thing happened to me june 2012, wiped out dirt biking, same injuries, and i am talking and riding again, great video, and good luck on the recovery
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wow buddy. take care of yourself in no time you'll be killing those local trails! keep us posted on your recovery!
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you can't see it in the video but i actually cracked the helmet in 8 different places. Its an incredible helmet saved my life deffinetly buying another one
out shit dude i have like a massive chunk taken out of the top right, it fuckin sucks haha it looks kinda gehto now with green tape on the visor. i dont even kno wat it was that broke it sucks but watever. its pretty comfortable too aint it!
i think this competes with that supermarket guys vid if not better but most respect for the both of yus
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the worst part was i had just ordered a neck brace and it was in the mail. It might have prevented this incident but all that matters is that I'm walking!
The same thing happened to my friend and he was wearing a neckbrace and he only broke he collarbone and cut his head
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