123. Do You Need ACL Surgery To Ski? (feat. Brian of Level Up Sports Academy)

On this episode I sit down with Christian from Sidecut Tuning to break down why ski tuning is one of the most overlooked upgrades for better skiing, more confidence, and fewer injuries. We talk about why a great tune can matter more than the ski you are on and how to spot the hidden equipment issues that make progression feel impossible.We talk about:✅ Why ski tuning feels secretive and confusing and how Sidecut is trying to make it simple and accessible✅ The most common signs of a bad tune including skis that feel hooky grabby catchy or refuse to pivot✅ How a tune can increase injury risk including dull edges aggressive base bevel and inconsistent shop work✅ Practical solutions like detailing tips and tails detuning and bringing a small travel kit so a bad shop tune does not ruin your tripIf you have ever felt like you could not trust your skis or you blamed yourself when something felt off this episode will change how you think about equipment. A dialed tune makes skiing safer more predictable and a lot more fun.Check out Sidecut Tuning:https://www.instagram.com/sidecuttuning/?hl=enhttps://www.sidecut.com/ 📌 Links and Resources Mentioned:Join The Legaski Club (my free community for skiers) → https://www.skool.com/legaskiclub-pro/aboutFollow me on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/the_ski_pt/Book a call with me → https://www.meettheskipt.com/

On this episode I sit down with Brian an Austrian Level 3 ski instructor and former ski racer who shares his experience navigating a complex knee injury including a full MCL tear with partial ACL and PCL damage and what the early stages of conservative recovery really look like.We talk about:✅ How the injury happened during free skiing and the immediate on slope response✅ What MRI results revealed and how different countries offered very different medical advice✅ Why Brian chose the conservative non surgical route and how doctors determine if someone can function without surgery✅ The challenges of six weeks non weight bearing including bracing limited movement and emotional ups and downs✅ Early recovery strategies like isometric contractions protecting ligament healing and managing swelling✅ Tools that can support recovery including blood flow restriction training EMG stimulation and ways to maintain strength safelyIf you are navigating a knee injury or supporting someone who is this episode offers a clear look at what early recovery can involve and how to balance patience with smart strategies that protect long term return to sport.📌 Links and Resources Mentioned:Join The Legaski Club (my free community for skiers) → https://www.skool.com/legaskiclub-freeFollow me on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/the_ski_pt/Book a call with me → https://www.meettheskipt.com/

On this episode I break down how to structure your dry land training during the ski season so you can stay strong reduce fatigue and lower your risk of injury even when you are skiing multiple days in a row.We talk about:✅ How to adjust your training when you are skiing several days back to back✅ Why mobility is the foundation for strong efficient skiing all season long✅ How to normalize strength asymmetries between your right and left leg✅ When to schedule heavy strength sessions so your legs are fresh for ski days✅ How to use capacity training to match the physical demands of your skiing✅ The simple squat strategy I used to prepare my legs for consecutive ski daysWhen you understand the demands of your skiing and train specifically to meet and exceed those demands you give your body the strength, endurance, and resilience to ski stronger all season while reducing your risk of injury.📌 Links and Resources Mentioned:Join The Legaski Club (my free community for skiers) → https://www.skool.com/legaskiclub-freeFollow me on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/the_ski_pt/Book a call with me → https://www.meettheskipt.com/

On this episode…I sit down with examiner and Level 3 instructor-trainer Riley Shepard @SkiWithRiley to break down the most common plateaus skiers hit—and the drills and decision-making that move you from intermediate → advanced → expert.Focus: Shift edge angles earlier, ski the fall line with intent, and master fore–aft movement—then turn those breakthroughs into real progress on snow.We talk about:✅ The three big plateaus: early edge angles, skiing the fall line, and true fore–aft control✅ Simple on-snow cues that work (lift all 10 toes, “ski on your sidewall,” chest over the outside ski)✅ High-impact drills: Dolphin Turns and the T-Rex double-downhill pole-plant for rhythm, rotation, and forward movement✅ Why poles and hand position change everything (and how arm rotation can “cue” leg rotation)✅ How to practice on flats vs. steeps, pick consistent pitches, and build timing without banking✅ Smarter video analysis: watch your skis first, decide the change you want, then match body movementsClosing: If you want faster progress this season, show up with one specific goal per day, film a few clean reps on a consistent pitch, and use these drills to lock in timing and pressure. Follow Riley at @SkiWithRiley for more: https://www.instagram.com/skiwithriley/ 📌 Links & Resources Mentioned:Dolphin Turns (NZSIA) → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8_c3le3XNIMore Drills Playlist → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0qpyQfzv5uti10VMsJJmDgim4CYQUQTKTry the Legaski Club free for 14 days → https://legacyrehabandperformance.com/legaskiclub-signupFollow me on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/the_ski_pt/Book a call with me → https://www.meettheskipt.com/

On this episode, I sit down with pro skier Amie Engerbretson to discuss injury rehab—from broken fibula and MCL/meniscus issues to debilitating Morton’s neuromas—and how smart training, better decisions, and Blister+ injury insurance have shaped her comebacks. Amie shares candid stories (including a post-op PE scare) and exactly how she’s used Blister+ to cover MRIs, PT, surgery bills, and even complications without the usual insurance runaround.We talk about: ✅ Why “prehab first” keeps pros on snow (strength, stability, decision-making) ✅ Amie’s tips  for overuse injuries, avalanches, and knowing when to stop skiing ✅ Mental game during rehab: ask for help, protect your headspace, and pace the comeback ✅ Blister+ 101: $25k per injury, reimbursement flow, what counts as an “injury,” and the need to float costs📌 Learn more about Amie: @amieski on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/amieski/ or her website https://amieski.com/ Join the Legaski Club (it’s free) and access resources to transform your skiing → https://legaskiclub.app.clientclub.net/communities/groups/legaski-club-freeFollow me on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/the_ski_pt/Book a call with me → https://www.meettheskipt.com/🎧 Listen now at the link in bio or www.legaskipodcast.com/120

On this episode, I sit down with Kate Edwards, certified mindset coach and founder of The Ski Mindset Coach, to explore how skiers can rebuild confidence after fear, injury, or self-doubt. Kate shares her personal story of freezing mid-slope in Courchevel—and how that experience inspired her to retrain in emotional freedom technique (EFT) and matrix reimprinting to help others reclaim joy on the mountain.We talk about: ✅ Why fear after injury isn’t about ability—it’s your body’s protection mechanism ✅ How tapping (EFT) calms the nervous system and quiets internal alarms ✅ Matrix reimprinting: filing traumatic memories so they stop triggering fear ✅ Simple breathing and language reframes skiers can use before a run ✅ Handling social pressure on the mountain and skiing with faster friends or family ✅ The role of fitness, visualization, and journaling in regaining confidence ✅ Kate’s step-by-step tapping routine you can try anywhere—even on the chairliftWhether you’re returning from injury or just want to rediscover the joy of skiing without anxiety, Kate’s tools will help you rewire fear into freedom—and build lasting trust in your body again.📌 Learn more about Kate → The Ski Mindset CoachJoin the Legaski Club (it’s free) and access resources to transform your skiing → https://legaskiclub.app.clientclub.net/communities/groups/legaski-club-freeFollow me on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/the_ski_pt/Book a call with me → https://www.meettheskipt.com/

On this episode, I sit down with Joe Dunn—aka Ski Dad TV—to unpack his outside-the-box approach to skiing: building balance you can trust, prioritizing turn completion before initiation, and why chasing a “forward move” often sends skiers the wrong direction. We explore practical dryland drills (rollerblades, slacklines, trampolines) and simple ways busy parents can prep for the season without living in the gym...We talk about: ✅ The origin of Ski Dad TV and why clear, reality-based cues beat old dogma ✅ G-forces, swings, and the “Gravitron” analogy—how proper carving feels (not forces you push) ✅ Completion → transition → initiation: using momentum from the last turn to start the next ✅ The “no forward move” debate: hips-over-feet lateral move first; then meet the tip as it engages ✅ CARV’s forward-move metric explained (foot acceleration vs. literal hip-drive) ✅ Dryland progressions that translate: wall leans, slackline balance, trampoline edge-feel, rollerblade one-foot turns ✅ Baseline fitness for real-world skiers—why general strength + mobility carry most of the load.If you’ve ever felt confused by “get forward!” cues— or you want dryland drills that actually map to on-snow positions—Joe’s framework will help you carve cleaner, stay balanced, and ski yourself into shape without guessing.📌 Learn more about Joe → Ski Dad TV (YouTube) — including “7 Ways to Practice Carving on Dry Land”Join the Legaski Club (it’s free) and access resources to transform your skiing → https://legaskiclub.app.clientclub.net/communities/groups/legaski-club-freeFollow me on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/the_ski_pt/Book a call with me → https://www.meettheskipt.com/🎧 Listen now at the link in bio or www.legaskipodcast.com/118

On this episode, I sit down with Chris Davenport, one of the most accomplished big mountain skiers of our time. From his early days in New England to his groundbreaking ski career and his work with DPS Skis, Chris has lived at the cutting edge of the sport and continues to shape where skiing is headed.We talk about: ✅ Conditioning to ski 150+ days per year ✅ Chris injury history including his partial knee replacement ✅ His role with DPS Skis and perspectives on ski innovation ✅ What he wants his legacy in the skiing world to be known forIf you’ve ever wanted to hear directly from a true ski icon, this conversation with Chris Davenport will inspire you to chase bigger goals on and off the mountain.📌 Learn more about Chris → https://www.instagram.com/steepskiing/ Join the Legaski Club (it’s free) and access resources to transform your skiing → https://legaskiclub.app.clientclub.net/communities/groups/legaski-club-freeFollow me on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/the_ski_pt/Book a call with me → https://www.meettheskipt.com/ 

On this episode, I sit back down with Dr. Nick Kennedy, complex knee surgeon, to wrap up this series on alignment and knee injuries.We talk about when boot fitting, orthotics, and strength work can’t fully solve extreme knock-knee (valgus) or bow-leg (varus). We dig into “corrective alignment surgery”, how it intersects with skiing, and realistic timelines for getting back on snow—including after knee replacement.We talk about:✅ Structural vs. functional issues: long-leg x-rays, dynamic valgus, and when PT/boot tweaks are enough ✅ Unloaders & bracing you can ski with—and when they help (or don’t) ✅ Osteotomy (bone realignment) in adults: who it’s for, risks, and why Europe does more of them✅ Uni vs. total knee replacement: how much alignment you can/should correct—and why “a little deformed” can be on purpose✅ Return to skiing after TKA: modern implants, realistic timelines, and building the strength/control to ski well againIf you’ve wondered where boot fit ends and surgery begins—or what alignment correction means for your future on skis—this episode brings clarity without the scare tactics.📌 Learn more about Dr. Nick → @nickthenemd | nickthenemd.com Join the Legaski Club (it’s free) and access resources to transform your skiing → https://legaskiclub.app.clientclub.net/communities/groups/legaski-club-freeFollow me on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/the_ski_pt/Book a call with me → https://www.meettheskipt.com/ 

On this episode, I sit down with Harald Harb—legendary coach, boot fitter, and founder of Harb Ski Academy—to unpack his complete approach to ski performance: precise measurements, footbeds that evolve with you, cuff alignment that actually lets you tip the ski, and on-snow validation so the shop work translates to turns.If you’ve ever wondered where comfort ends and true performance begins, this episode shows how alignment, equipment, and coaching connect—so your boots help you ski the way you intend.📌 Learn more about Harald → Harb Ski AcademyJoin the Legaski Club (it’s free) and access resources to transform your skiing → https://legaskiclub.app.clientclub.net/communities/groups/legaski-club-freeFollow me on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/the_ski_pt/Book a call with me → https://www.meettheskipt.com/