Ski bindings have not substantially changed in decades. But skis and ski boot soles have, and therein lies the danger. Many bindings no longer work with all ski boots, and there is a growing mismatch between binding design and ski performance.

Arthritis used to end people’s skiing lives. No longer. Current non-operative therapies, as well as operative repairs, now have people on the slopes into their 90s. Here's tips on how:

“Go big or go home” is a command that many of us grew up with. But “Go small and get great” is the mantra of the wizened athlete. Which path do you follow? Your choice will determine your health.

Ski boots haven’t changed much in twenty years. Stiff and stiffer cuffs, rounded Italian-molded toe shapes, heavy polyurethane plastics with cold, hard buckles pretty much describes most of the downhill boots on the market. This is about to radically change.

Surely you have heard the usual advice: Get strong, stay flexible, don’t take the last run, and ski with a helmet. All fine and good—until you notice that the top skiers on ski teams, along with super fit backcountry skiers, all get hurt too. So let’s think about some of the less common ski tips and see if they keep you safe this year.

Top skier breaks her leg. Doctor fixes it, gives her narcotics, and sends her home. She’s told to come back in two weeks for a checkup and have the rod taken out in a year. Doctor moves on to the next patient. What is wrong with this picture?

Dual head-to-head racing is the most exciting thing you can watch in competitive skiing. It began in the 1960's with Henri Moreault in Aspen, was expanded into a pro racing tour by the late Bob Beattie in the 1970's, continued by Ed Rogers then fizzled out in the 1990's.
It is now back, under the guidance of Ed Rogers—and it rocks.

Mikaela Shiffrin has brought ski racing to an entirely new level. Her extreme focus and total life commitment dwarf those of all other competitors. Is this what it takes to win?

Most ski bindings have not changed in thirty years. When bindings comply with international safety standards, they do a brilliant job of reducing tibia fractures. However, these fractures account for only 3% of all skiing injuries, while ACL injuries have risen to 20% of skiing injuries. Surprisingly, bindings are not designed to protect the ACL while skiing. Over time, skis have changed in both shape and length—so what is the problem with designing bindings in relation to the ACL?

Lube it up! We lube our bike chains. We lube our chainsaws. We lube our cars— more often as they get older. So why not lube our joints?

“There are only so many moguls in any given knee,” said Warren Miller, the famous ski videographer. I use his observation for many patients who love skiing but have arthritic knees. Skiing is actually pretty kind to the knee joints as long as you don’t fall and if you don’t ski hard bumps all day long.

Stay vertical this holiday season...Keep your tips up

Some thoughts and tips about maximizing your enjoyment while minimizing possible injuries, from former US Ski Team and Pro Tour orthopedic surgeon Kevin R. Stone.

There are more than 20,000 knee injuries sustained each year by skiers in the U.S. alone, most of which involved the ACL. The question is why, and what can you do about it?

The care and feeding of the aging ski knee is all about empowering people to enjoy the freedom of movement. It starts with desire and ends in ski heaven.