BACK ON SKIS AFTER SERIOUS INJURY
11th January 2020 | Clare Meaney, Ischgl
Last modified on May 16th, 2021
PlanetSKI reporter, Clare Meaney, had a serious injury 5 years ago after being skied into. She has pretty much been unable to ski, until now.
It’s been 5 years since my terrible accident in Val d’Isere and 4 years since I had a brain haemorrhage.
I am, as they say, ‘lucky to be alive’.
Very lucky.
An out of control man skied into the back of me, departed the scene pronto and I was helped by passing strangers.
Clare’s Story: An unfortunate series of events
Down and almost out
The accident was followed by a long recuperation and then to cap it all off I had a brain haemorrhage.
I have tried to ski a couple of times but with my on going medical problems I decided I should give it a miss – permanently.
I had lost one of the greatest loves of my life, but I was still alive
You may have seen elsewhere on PlanetSKI that I am in Ischgl in the Tirol in Austria.
Just because I can’t ski doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a ski resort.
“Relax if You Can” – Dinner at the Designhotel Madlein, Ischgl
But my friends had other plans for me, and with some persuasion I took the plunge, not into a swimming pool, but on to the ski slopes.
I threw caution to the wind.
I have never been so nervous in my life.
I was actually shaking with fear.
But something inside made me want to ski again.
On this beautiful January day in the Austrian Tirol I managed to go up on the magic carpet, and I managed to ski back down to it again safely.
It may not sound much to do one run off a magic carpet, but for me it was the equivalent of climbing Everest.
Clare lapping the magic carpet again in Ischgl, Tirol. Image © PlanetSKI.
I decided to give it another go.
And another one.
I think I must have lapped Ischgl’s magic carpet again and again and set some sort of record… it seemed like a thousand times.
I was back skiing.
Clare Alpine skiing in Ischgl. Image © PlanetSKI.
Alpine ski lesson with Frances and Clare. Image © PlanetSKI.
Now, feeling a little more confident, I decided to combine it with a lesson in Nordic skiing after I had headed over to the neighbouring resort of Galtuer.
The sun was shining, the snow conditions were fabulous, I was back in the mountains AND on skis.
Aline and Nordic.
I could not have asked for more.
Nordic ski lesson with Hans and Clare in Galtuer. Image © PlanetSKI.
Clare Nordic skiing in Galtuer. Image © PlanetSKI.
Clare Nordic skiing in Galtuer. Image © PlanetSKI.
Clare Meaney is back on skis.
I had well and truly got my ski mojo back.
‘Thank you’ to everyone who has helped me do it – you have no idea how much it means to me.
UPDATE:
And it seems our readers have enjoyed Clare’s tale judging by some of the reaction on Facebook:
Facebook reaction
Facebook reaction
INFO
More on Ischgl at ischgl.com and Galtür on galtuer.com.
Inghams is the main UK tour operator to feature Ischgl and Galtür and, for example, is offering a seven-night ski holiday on half-board basis at the 4-star Hotel Madlein in Ischgl from £1,339 per person based on two sharing, including return flights from Gatwick to Innsbruck and airport transfers. The package is valid for travel departing in March 2020.
To book, visit www.inghams.co.uk/ski-holidays or call 01483 938 047.
