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This article is part of a paid Content Partnership with the advertiser, Hospital for Special Surgery. Daily Voice has no involvement in the writing of the article and the statements and opinions contained in it are solely those of the advertiser.

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From Slopes To Surgery, HSS Doctor Shares Skiing Tips, Experiences

STAMFORD, Conn. -- Dr. Sabrina Strickland, an orthopedic surgeon at HSS's Outpatient Center in Stamford, shares her knowledge and experiences as a skier, as well as tips for how to avoid ski injuries

Dr. Sabrina Strickland is board-certified in Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery.

Dr. Sabrina Strickland is board-certified in Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery.

Photo Credit: Hospital for Special Surgery

Miraculously, in my 35 years of skiing I have never suffered a serious injury, but I certainly have come close. I still remember my first time on skis. My parents dropped me off with my middle school friends at a ski area near where I grew up in Massachusetts and I set off up the hill on the tow rope only to come crashing down, skis off, multiple times. By the end of that day I was hooked and starting taking ski lessons after school. 

In high school I went on school ski trips and joined the ski team as a senior. I wasn’t good enough to be competitive but I loved it. Attending college at Cornell did not provide much opportunity for skiing but I was able to ski at Stratton during the holiday breaks and taught kids how to ski as a ski instructor.

I went to college planning to become an orthopedic surgeon and I knew that there would be little opportunity to take time off or ski for that matter. Fortunately, my college best friend’s family had a house in Crested Butte, Col. How lucky was I to have a free place to spend a year off before medical school? That year, we hiked up to reach the farthest, most extreme spots and skied all day long.

A 10-year hiatus followed during med school and residency during which I didn’t ski more than a day or two.  When I returned to skiing, I was happy to discover that new technology made it easier to ski, and I quickly returned to the trees and steeps.

Whether learning for the first time or a seasoned pro, here are several suggestions to minimize injuries when skiing:

  • Wear a helmet. No matter how many years you skied without one, it can save your life
  • Have your bindings and boots checked at least once a year. My ski popped off on a steep trail last year in Snowbird, sending me downhill headfirst. It turned out the binding had malfunctioned
  • Get in shape before ski season; you will have more fun and ski safer
  • Include some balance exercises as part of your work out, which will help you ski better
  • Have your skis tuned constantly. There is no such thing as too sharp

This article is part of a paid Content Partnership with the advertiser, Hospital for Special Surgery. Daily Voice has no involvement in the writing of the article and the statements and opinions contained in it are solely those of the advertiser.

To learn more about Content Partnerships, click here.

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