MTB Beta

Three weeks ago I broke 2 ribs on Goat Skull. It was day two of riding and I wanted to give GS a good push. Having ridden it the day before a couple of times I felt had most of the lines sketched in and needed to speed it up a little to get them dialed. We stopped on the upper drop and Eric (oh yeah so I was ridding with Eric and Bobby) worked out the line and did the drop for the first time. We moved on and as I push to clear the new double at the wood line, I wasn't sure I was going to clear it. I slowed to squish so not to get bucked and was able to maintain a good amount of speed. Coming into this section staying on the left is a fast line, I was gaining speed and pumping the whoops. As the trail narrows and turns to the left I lost the rhythm, the bike was bucking. I was barley able to keep from going over, luckily the trail flattened and I was able to regain control. As I did I was realizing I was going way to fast to make the slight left turn. I grabbed hard on to both brakes, sinking all my weight into the bike for traction. It was futile as the bike skipped across the roots and rocks. I pulled hard again and pushed into the ground for traction, as I did my front wheel fell into a small hole and into a large root. To my left was a small tree, I had missed the turn. Directly in front of me was a large tree, this was what I was attempting to avoid. At the point that my front wheel hit the root the bike was rebounding and I was flying. Flying straight into that large tree. I used my right arm as best I could to deflect my head away from the impact. This twisted me to the left and as my arm absorbed the impact my left side smashed into the tree. I was flung around the tree and slammed to the ground. I was hurt. I couldn't breath, my arm, leg and my back and side were screaming in pain.

Two completely broken ribs felt like I had gotten off easy. For all the pain, the loss of riding and all that goes along with being broken, it was worth it. All that riding gives me will always be paid in a pound of flesh. This holds true for everyone.