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Hirscher's Ankle Fracture Aug 17

Frankly

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Looks like Marcel Hirscher fractured his ankle today. I have no idea of the details or potential for recovery during the 17-18 season but given his conditioning and care he's probably in the best situation possible.

What do you experts think?

Not that I wish this on anyone and it is a joy to watch him race but it does open things up to other skiers to podium more. Who benefits the most, strategically?
 

Tricia

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I'm not an expert, but sending good healing vibes to Marcel. I'm sure he's got the best of the best to help him on his road to recovery.
 

Swiss Toni

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According to local reports he suffered a lateral malleolus fracture fortunately no surgery was necessary, but he will be in a cast for the next six weeks. There is some speculation in the Austrian press that he might now concentrate on the Olympic games.

I guess the biggest problem he faces is getting used to the new GS skis, the accident happened on his first day of on snow training.
 

K2 Rat

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although the fracture should heal somewhat quickly, missing this very important on-snow prep period will be tough. Especially getting used to 30m GS skis as @Swiss Toni pointed out. Obviously he can forget about Soelden and Levi and those are not that important anyway. If he can get his prep done in the Fall, he should still be the one to beat. Although Olympics may be a priority, I think he would still like to continue his streak of six straight overall globes.
 

Tricia

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From AP out of Vienna
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VIENNA (AP) — Marcel Hirscher’s preparations for the upcoming season were hindered Thursday after the six-time overall World Cup champion broke his left ankle in practice during his first day back on skis.

The 28-year-old Austrian will be in a cast for six weeks, and there was no immediate prognosis when he will be able to ski again. The new season, which includes the Olympics, starts Oct. 29 with a giant slalom in Soelden, Austria.

Hirscher straddled a gate at the Moelltaler glacier at the end of a slalom run. He was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Salzburg but the Austrian ski federation said he does not need surgery.

Hirscher posted a video of the incident on his Facebook page and said “the next ski day has to wait a little bit.”

Later, he also tweeted a picture of himself on a floating inflatable animal, holding two crutches and with his left lower leg in a cast, and quipped “time for a break.”

Known for sticking to one of the toughest workout regimes on the ski circuit, Hirscher has steered clear of major injuries during his career, apart from a scaphoid fracture that ruled him out of the world championships in 2011.

Winning 45 of the 203 World Cup races he competed in and earning eight medals at major championships, Hirscher is the most successful ski racer of his generation.

In March, he became the first male skier to win a sixth overall title. A month earlier, he won gold in both slalom and GS at the world championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

However, an Olympic gold medal is still missing from his trophy collection. At the 2014 Sochi Games, Hirscher was beaten to the slalom title by Austrian teammate Mario Matt.

Hirscher was expected to have four chances at next year’s Pyeongchang Games in February — in slalom, GS and combined as well as in the team event, which will make its Olympic debut.
 

Muleski

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Odd break. Hopefully just a freak accident. He's strong and in tremendous shape. I would bet if anybody needs minimal time getting used to the new skis, it's him. Presume he was on them late spring before his rest/dryland training block.

We'll see him back, and fast. Still seems hard to believe the break under those circumstances. Lucky it was not a knee, I guess.
 

Jack skis

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According the press release he did not need surgery. Nothing good about a broken ankle, but not needing surgery is way better than getting the knife. He is so good that he'll probably be back at full strength in time for another successful season, maybe not in time for a start on the glacier in October.
 

Primoz

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As others wrote, it's 6 weeks off. It's kinda late for something like this, as that means middle of October when he can start training normally. But then again, for him it shouldn't be that much of an issue, except GS rules changed so this will still play quite a big role all in all. Otherwise it was really stupid accident. During SL training he basically finished his run and was stopping and skidding down one pole early, and with bunch of bad luck, he hooked one last pole (those short 30-40cm poles) with ski.
 

MadPatSki

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As others wrote, it's 6 weeks off. It's kinda late for something like this, as that means middle of October when he can start training normally.

I broke my ankle hiking on October 4, 2015 and was wrongly diagnosed at the small local hospital. My ankle was really badly swollen. Ten days later I received a call from a radiologist from the hospital to inform me that it was a fracture. After going to an Ottawa Hospital; the doc told me that I should get back on skis 6 weeks later. I had a choice between a plaster cast or Aircast (i choose the aircast which I could removed for time to time and start some physio). (I don't recommend this to anyone, just because I did it), but I hadn't made my October ski turns yet; with an early opening in the East, I managed to go to Mont St-Sauveur and do 2 runs on October 24. I had no weight on the right foot, so I managed pretty well. The ski boot acted like a cast. The hardest part was to put on my ski boot as I needed the assistance from two friends. I returned skiing at the end of November to test my ankle as I was scheduled (plus I wanted to go) to coach our ski team on a pre-season 3-day trip at Killington in the 1st week of December. They weren't comfortable days, but I managed okay, even if I had to drive back to our hotel with my ski boots on as my ankle had swollen with all the skiing.

The following time on skis coaching after Christmas, where I might have been at 85-90% stretch-flexibility in the ankle. As my physio told me, you're 50, what do you expect Not that I've ever raced at a level close to the World Cup, but if all goes well, I would expect Hirscher to be back near the top of the standings by January (not necessarily winning), however he might be closer at time of the Olympics.
 

Brian Finch

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Are usually don't speculate, but physical therapists rehab this injury all the time. Providing it is a simple break, six weeks takes you to October 1 ; being in a ski boot is a great stabilizer and look out by Thanksgiving.
 

Muleski

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When I first heard this, I looked at a calendar, counted off the six weeks, and saw that it gave him MORE than a month until Soelden, which is October 29th.

Then, I slowed down and realized that he will be in a cast for six weeks, and that sounds like best case. Then he will need ongoing work with his physios, will need to get back on snow, may need to even dial in different boots, etc. So, yes, even with his conditioning and strength, the resources of the Austrian ski federation, Atomic, and RedBull, who knows?

I am no medical professional, or a pretender. But I have seen decades of ski race injuries, and have seen some aggressive timetables for enough of a recovery to be back at it. But I sort of think this might not be rushed.

I would assume that Soelden and Levi will be out. No SG at BOP, or LL. I guess we'll see him in Val D'Isere which is mid December for sure.

My bet is still on him for another overall, and I think we'll see a big show in Korea. My hunch is that he will ski this season, and the next and then retire. Which has been his plan all along.
He's said he'll retire by 30. Enjoy watching him while we can.
 

Tricia

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Are usually don't speculate, but physical therapists rehab this injury all the time. Providing it is a simple break, six weeks takes you to October 1 ; being in a ski boot is a great stabilizer and look out by Thanksgiving.

I am no medical professional, or a pretender. But I have seen decades of ski race injuries, and have seen some aggressive timetables for enough of a recovery to be back at it. But I sort of think this might not be rushed.
Same kind of thinking here. He's not out, not by a long run.
 

Moses

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Will be interesting to see what it means for Dave Ryding - they had a great race in Kitzbuhel last year but Ryding has yet to beat him & win a WC. Who knows, it could be a lucky break for him. Will certainly be very exciting in Levi, one of his best venues
 

Muleski

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Will be interesting to see what it means for Dave Ryding - they had a great race in Kitzbuhel last year but Ryding has yet to beat him & win a WC. Who knows, it could be a lucky break for him. Will certainly be very exciting in Levi, one of his best venues

I don't think it means too much. Dave Ryding is a very solid SL specialist, ranked around 10th in the world. But, not only has he never won, he's been on the podium just once, last year at Kitz. He's also 31, not a kid. It sounds like Hirscher might miss Levi, and no other SL's. So, I guess that is one start when Hirscher, who I don't think has ever finished behind Ryding, might "free up" some room. But there are a lot of guys in that top 10 that typically beat Ryding. It's a tough group.

I'm looking for HK to have a dominant SL season. We'll going to see a lot stronger guy, based on rumors of his summer training. A lot of iron, a lot of food, etc. I think Michael Matt will have one, too. He came on so strong last year. Both are about 23?

Kind of curious about Levi being "one of his best venues?" I am guessing you mean Hirscher, who has had done really well there. Ryding, has not done much there, but then again his skiing has really improved just a TON over the past two seasons. Lots of reasons for that. Not sure the easiest hill on tour suits Dave. Very, different that the hill at Kitz, for example, with all of it's terrain,changes, pitches, etc. I would think that a guy who grew up doing a lot of skiing on plastic and indoors who be the opposite, though he does well on hard hills. Maybe he'll keep closing the gap with the top handful?

I'm assuming that this injury to Hirscher is just not going to be significant, as I hear no reports of people close to expressing concern. And normally when things are problematic, you hear it sneak out. Quick doom and gloom. At least that's the norm. I recall after Anna Veith's crash, the press was chasing it up as a typical knee ACL/MCL. Then a number of people on the hill, and close to the Austrian system, started quietly chatting that it was so much worse. Pretty quickly, there were rumors that she might never return. Hearing NONE of that with this. As others have said, he should be in fine shape by the time the meat of the season starts. It's more of an aggravation, it sounds like. Messes up the timetable, others will be testing his skis, etc. Even at 85%, Hirscher can win any day, IMO.

Almost two and a half months {at the latest} from when the cast comes off until Val D'Isere, second week of December. At that point he would have missed one SL, and two GS.

Also going to be very interesting to see how the GS season unfolds on the new skis. A different subject.

I would love to see Ryding and Khoroshilov on the SL podium in Korea, BTW. Incredible long shot, but sure would be fun. And very non alpine power like! Two very well liked guys.

Hope everybody stays healthy!
 

Swiss Toni

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Latest reports suggest that he will be out for up to 15 weeks. Apparently he decided not to have surgery because he didn’t want to take the risk that a plate might affect the fit of his boot.
 

Muleski

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@Swiss Toni, VERY interesting. I almost made a comment that the Austrian guys are often pretty closed mouthed about who they share info with.
That sounds a lot more serious, and makes the talk of being ready to make a bid at the Olympics make much more sense.
Given ALL of the fiddling over the years with his boots it makes even more sense to me.
Thanks very much for sharing that.
Changes the whole picture for me. Need new sources, HaHa!
 

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