Phase IX: weekend warrior, snow, congress

I have been working on my doctoral thesis for over 6 months now, which is forever in the medical world. I hope to get it published soon, so I'm allowed to carry a Dr. med./MD title with pride.
My research has brought me to a lot of lovely places, like Davos, Paris, Bologna and just recently, Copenhagen, which is always rainy when I visit, but amazing nevertheless!

I had a wonderful time in february in Davos, where I spent a few days at a congress and where I went riding again in the park, really riding the park for the first time since my injury. I started from scratch, with butter boxes and 3m kickers and got my confidence back for the big stuff!

The next few weekends I spent on P60. It's always so much fun to see what they're up to and how they change the setup every couple of days! Many props to Snowpark Laax. Also, the new halfpipe is quite a masterpiece. I don't feel quite ready yet to go big but I'm looking forward to next season for that.

Last weekend, the famous Jib Days by Gaia were on again. I had to pass last year because of my roadtrip through Jamaica but this year I was so motivated. Sadly, the weather killed that motivation a bit but we had such fun times on and off the snow anyways. Best weekend of the season so far!

As always, big compliments also go out to my sister for getting better and better and even developing some seriously good style! :-)

Rehab Phase VIII: doctoring, family injury curse

I'm officially a doctor now! Whoop whoop. I've already been working at the University Hospital of Zurich for a couple of months now and I like it a lot. I'm doing research on a rare lung disease called pulmonary hypertension. My department is awesome, they're sending me to congresses in Paris and Bologna.

I had one day to myself in Paris and spent it cycling around, hiking up the Eiffel Tower, shopping, eating Foie Gras and drinking good wine. 

Of course, I haven't forgotten about my plans to go snowboarding at Christmas, which is still a very ambitious goal. Besides some ups and downs here and then my rehab is going pretty well and I still have enough capacity to work out every two days because my job is not (yet!) very time consuming. 

By the way, my dear sister is injured once again, too (fibula fracture, incl. osteosynthesis, which means screws and stuff). It's a little ironic, since we haven't managed to be not-injured together for about 3 years now. 
For example, I remember Feb 29th 2012, which happened to be my first day of shredding that season (ankle injury at the beginning of the season...) and my sister's last one (ACL and meniscus rupture that day). However, her current injury is not a season-ender, so we are all keeping our fingers crossed for us to have awesome shredding days together in February 15! Keep strong, sista!

I really hope my next post will include a photo of me with white background (as in fresh snow!).

Rehab phase VII: pumping, squatting, proteins

I have been walking without crutches for almost a month now. I'm going to the gym pretty much every day in between studying sessions and my physical therapist sometimes is the only person I talk to all day. My life is awesome! 
Seriously, working out is going well, although it's incredible how fast you lose muscle mass after surgery and how much time and effort it takes to regain it. In order to support my muscles I try to eat as healthily as I can. You know, proteins and stuff. Plus, I have completely passed on alcohol for now, which is very helpful to the process, I can really tell.
Since I hate selfies, especially work-out-selfies, this post is a little minimalistic, sorry. If you want to see me, call me in september. Until then, I'm gonna be in my comfortable studying-working-out-eating-sleeping-bubble.

REHAB Phase VI: Surgery! Finally!

After 6 months of ups and downs, of working out, physical therapy, finally being able to ride again, but also of disappointments: instability of the knee, pain and swelling and worsening symptoms resulting from my meniscal tear, I decided to get my knee fixed for the third time.
Right now, I'm home after 5 painful but still relaxing days in the hospital (my former employer Spital Uster), resting and only going out for physical therapy twice a week, or maybe for some lectures at University.

(Yes, the black band-aid is a tattoo, which ironically, I had done about 3 months prior to the accident. It was supposed to protect my knee from exactly that to happen again. Damn you, superstition!)

I don't regret not having surgery right away, I had a couple of really awesome weeks on my snowboard that otherwise would never have happened (Snowpark Laax). Plus, all my travels wouldn't have been possible. In my opinion, I chose exactly the right time to have surgery: Final exams are coming up in August and not being able to go out and party, to go swimming and tanning at Zürich's beautiful beaches is probably best for me at this moment.

Next season, I'll hopefully be ready to shred again! Gonna be mucho fun!

If you're interested, this is a video of the surgery that was performed on me (in German: Vordere Kreuzbandplastik (Patellarsehne) und mediale Meniskusnaht). To me, this is beautiful work!

REHAB Phase V: YOLOing

Not many words needed. Check out the video.


ACL Rehab 2014 from Gina Somaini on Vimeo.

Also, I have been travelling to Texas and Louisiana, have dyed my hair blue and become a hipster. Plus, powder!

REHAB Phase IV: Curnius all day. CT in Feb.

My knee feels really good right now. I've been riding the "P60" aka Curnius park in Laax (=lots of rails and creative obstacles) and haven't had pain or swelling in my knee at all. Although I'm still not giving a 100%, I can have so much fun with just safe jibbing!

Today, I had a doctor's appointment. Turns out I have to go get a CT first (an image of my knee that's similar to the MRI I had in september but is more accurate to analyse the bone structures). If the "hole" in my bone from my last operation turns out to be too big, it has to be filled again, which means that after a kind of bone-filling operation I would have to wait another 6 months for my actual operation, meaning the ACL-re-transplantation, which also has a recovery time of 6-9 months. It would really be a never-ending story so please keep your fingers crossed that the bone-filling operation wont be necessary and they can use the old drill canal for the new ACL!

No matter how the CT turns out, I will finish my season in Laax and have a good time just cruising around! Of course, physio and working out still is almost as important as snowboarding itself.

Last week, I had my last day of work so now I'm only snowboarding, studying and traveling. Off to Houston, Texas next week!

Happy times!

PS: I feel bad for Lindsey for having to give up on her ACL-less season. I wish her all the best for her next surgery and hope my experience will turn out better.

REHAB Phase III: hitting the slopes, Lindsey Vonn

I can´t even believe it myself: I´m back in the snow! As my rehab is going really well and I haven´t felt any pain or instability in weeks I thought I would give it a try and hit  the slopes. It felt really good, almost natural and I´m loving the new Never Summer Onyx board!
I will have to take this into consideration when talk about surgery with my doctor soon. I still have to undergo surgery, otherwise I should just about register for a knee prothesis in five years. However, finishing the season first, or at least a part of it, has become my plan A at the moment.
Also, I have some other stuff planned, like trips to the USA, Jamaica and Istanbul. I´m sure this will help me not to get overexcited about snowboarding (and maybe go for it too hard) and also enjoy other things in life. This summer, I will have a lot of studying to do since my final (yes, final final) exams are coming up and if all goes well, I can call myself a doctor in about 9 months!

This might sound weird, but there´s one athlete who has had a huge impact on me this last 3 months. Lindsey Vonn, one of the best alpine skiers at the moment also re-ruptured her ACL and is now finishing her season without an ACL with the humble goal of winning the olympics. I admit, there are only tiny parallels between her and me but she´s still a huge inspiration and I really believe that I can still hit a few rails on P60 this season! Thanks Lindsey. And thanks Don Joy!