Phuket

Dodger · #1 25-07-2006, 12:35

Day of the walking dead!!
Well we decided to go back and try wake boarding again this is only my second time although Nicke slipped a little practise session in a few weeks ago and it showed cos he was easily the best this week. I set myself two goals, 1. To be able to stand up on the wake board and 2. Manage more than two corners on the water skis, I know this is not a huge target but I am one that likes to set myself goals but ones that are attainable so I can feel a sense of achievement if I manage to do them.

We had a good group come down there, Nicke Ead and Nats, Jiri and his gf, Duncs, Gee and myself and Dojo, Lightemup popped in for few minutes in between his shooting practise for moral support. Nicke spent the first little while videoing and taking pictures of our pathetic attempts, so I hope he posts some pics etc here as we were fairly useless as always. Dunc once again decided not to participate, didn’t understand why but heck each to their own. Dojo had more determination than most and was that keen that when he fell over he would run back to start again ignoring the guy with the motorbike that goes out to pick you up. He also had a few problems with some French birds that kept getting in his way and I think that if she had blown that whistle one more he may well have fed it to her for breakfast. I am sure both Nicke and DD will be feeling the effects of the day as it tends to finds muscles to ache on you the next day that you never really knew you had however two of us received a little more than we anticipated.

Jiri had water skied a lot as a lad and was able to get straight up on his first attempt at the wake board, however as a lad he had dislocated his should on several occasions and his shoulder had been weakened as a result, he forgot this until he made his first corner when the cable shoots off extra fast at which point so did his arm and he had to retire with a dislocated shoulder, however after about 30 minutes he decided that he was better and tried again only to dislocate it twice before he even got to the first corner, bet that was sore the following day.

I started as I had previously finished making about 20 feet before falling off the board however on attempt 3 I got up and made half a length of the first side before plunging into the water, this was evidently because I had my wake board sideways on. A couple of more goes and I got up again, brilliant made nearly the full length of the first side, board at the right angle, 1st target achieved, decided to have a go with the water skis next and see if I could manage more than 2 corners.1st corner whoosh, straight round, total control, position nicely for the second one. Whoosh, straight round, this is getting easy, this is where being Dodger is not a good thing as once I have managed the first two corners I start to get cocky and add a few extra bits in, just to make it more exciting – stupid!!!. Entering the third corner for some reason I decided to take it with the skis at a sharp angle and on their side to get so me extra spray up against the side of the lake, yep I know what you are thinking, why? I am also thinking exactly the same but can only put it down to being me, this is also the reason I gave up sky diving because I always have to add stuff of my own invention and with sky diving that’s not so clever. Anyway hit the corner got the spurge of extra pull as the cable shoots off and one leg decides to go in a different direction than the other, wow let go of the cable, oh no hang in there with my leg now a good 45 degree angle to the direction intended and pop, out went my knee, over I go and hit the water really hard, it felt like someone had just walked up and kicked me between the legs and guys you all know what that feels like. So winded, family jewels giving me incredible pain and my knee throbbing I limped to the edge of the lake, the thai guy picked me up on his bike and just said ‘you hurt mutt’ then laughed his head off all the way back to the start place as I was trying to explain the pain you feel when smacked between the legs by 10 ton of water. Injury sustained, torn ligaments in knee, been given (whoops not given had to buy ) a leg brace from the hospital which I have to wear for the next 4 weeks, so no golf, no sex and a hobbling gait that makes me look about 75, okay 75 years older than I am.

Well after war and peace here are the points of this thread, firstly beware of Bangkok Phuket hospital as they love to lob in any extra at cost they can and secondly need opinions from others who have torn ligaments. I have previously torn ligaments in my ankle and therefore diagnosed my own injury and sort of knew you cannot cure them, you just have to rest and they will fix themselves, I believe you should not strap them up as they will not then heal strongly. But even if I thought I knew this I popped into Bangkok Phuket hospital to get a docs opinion, he did an x-ray, why? It was ligaments and they do not show on the x ray, I had obviously not broken any bones, x ray 330 bahts – cheap, he prescribed a load of drugs, 3 out of the 4 are for reducing swelling – did I really need 3 anti swellers? – 1,650 bahts and put a leg brace on my knee, it was new and now I’ve got my own one for the next time but it cost – 3,300 bahts, I reckon a bandage for a couple of days would have done the trick fine – cost 20 bahts, so 5,880 bahts for consultation and pills and leg brace, my opinion is that it is a great hospital but run on a very commercial basis, bit like a timeshare sales operation but dealing with health I do not think is particularly very moral. Secondly with a ligament damage am I right when thinking the quicker you get the support off the quicker and stronger you ligaments grow back or whatever they do? Also no sex, no golf for 4 weeks – right as if I’m going to take notice of that advice, Doc must have been queer……………no golf whatever next!!!!!!!!!

easyrider_au · #2 25-07-2006, 16:02

Dodger, this is a good read & a funny post.....Even some seriousness there too.

There's a couple of positives to your woes.....
Just think of all the symapathy you'll get from the bg's, when they see ya hobbling....

Also the doc said nothing about stopping the beer intake

BTW...have you hung up your board & skis for good, or temporarily?

steve w · #3 25-07-2006, 18:11

i heard this tends to stop some parts swelling up as well

Also the doc said nothing about stopping the beer intake

Dojoden · #4 25-07-2006, 22:31

Hey Dodger,

you forgot to mention that I was able to do the full lap but that I was the only one to be able to do the jumps.... Sorry to hear about the knee. I showed you my battle wounds. When you hurt the knee they always do x rays BTW, just to make sure. I never took anti Inflams. I hate drugs. Just ice and elevate it up. Is the ligament completely torn or just a partial? If its an orthoscopic job its no problem. After my last reconstructoion I was training after 2 months. Its really easy now compared to my first 15 years ago. Just rest it, Ice it and elevate till you get the work done. That was a great day. Hope to do it again. BTW I do hurt all over my body. Tried getting massages to help but just hurt more. I would still go back skiing again today with no worries though. Twas a blast.

Mustang · #5 26-07-2006, 06:14

Excellent read Dodger.

Just when I thought victory was at hand ,a cruel twist of fate(and limb) robbed you of your rightful place as "The man who was able to stand up on a wakeboard and manage more than two corners...... without trashing his body"

But you did achieve your two goals so kudos to you.

Seriously,I hope you heal up ok.
BTW, with three anti-swelling drugs,this doctor is really determined to put your sex life on hold.

marc26 · #6 26-07-2006, 21:19

well dogder, i told Ao about your adventures because her and I had gone by there once and she was really worried about your heart! she says you old man, maybe your heart no good for play in the water. i assured her you were fit as a fiddle. well except for the brace on your knee!

Dodger · #7 27-07-2006, 00:13

Thanks guys for all the sympathy

EAu yes I am more determined now to get back on that there ol board and ride off into the sunset and no the leg brace is not a good sympathy getter, tg's just look at me as a kind of hop-a-long with an incurable and highly infectious leg disease!!!

Steve & Mustang maybe I mis-read the bottle ( anti- sM not sW)as I have not had those side effects but seem to be taking an awful lot of showers now, the good side is though I have started to develope webbed feet which I think will add grip on the wake board

Paul, thank Ao very much for thinking of me and reminding me once again of my age................ its just a number....................... and you know what they say......................... 'there is many a good ride left in an old wake board'

And the good news is............I just swung a pretend golf club (which to a golfer is similar to a rock fan playing the air guitar) and the leg didn't feel too bad, so with any luck hopefully the All Aussie vs England MTB World Championship Challenge game could be on............ so come on Oskin and Nels

seafox · #8 27-07-2006, 00:26

Hi Dodger,

Good luck with the leg. I would seriously stick to golf for a while and make sure your leg is 100% before you get back on the board.

You know, having only 2 hobbies, drinking and golf, is not all that bad and definitely safer, well at least golf is.

Maybe I can show you and Duncan how to scuba dive on my next tour out there. Definitely easier on your body than wakeboarding.

Hope all is well out there.

Chris

smartecosse · #9 29-07-2006, 17:51

where did u guys go to do this?

faultytowers · #10 29-07-2006, 18:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by smartecosse

where did u guys go to do this?

Here's the link.

http://phuketcableski.com/

Nicke · #11 29-07-2006, 18:34

Great fun again and I am happy I this time, for the first time, could manage laps without any problems.

I dont have any photos of Dodger or Dojo but video clips, I will transfer it to the computer. It was great fun see them trying and failing time after time, but Dojo tried hard and finally managed to get around. Good work buddy. Same for Dodger on the water ski.

Dojoden · #12 29-07-2006, 22:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicke

Great fun again and I am happy I this time, for the first time, could manage laps without any problems.

I dont have any photos of Dodger or Dojo but video clips, I will transfer it to the computer. It was great fun see them trying and failing time after time, but Dojo tried hard and finally managed to get around. Good work buddy. Same for Dodger on the water ski.

Thanks Nicke I had it by the end of the session just too damn tired, I did mange the jumps though.... I only did it cos you said you were going to do them... What happened? 55555555555555 Good job too Nicke.

Oh almost forgot, good job to Dodger as well he kept trying and tryiing after a little jabbing from me. Dont know why Duncs did not want to play...

cheers,
DD

wakeboycam · #13 31-07-2006, 20:41

Wish i could have joined you guys. As it looks now i will be back in september 2007. I probably end up in Phuket and hopefully the cableski still excists then so we can go again all together. I probably start over here http://www.air-time.net/ to wakeboard for a week. Its near pataya.