As the 2021-22 season approaches, one question remains unanswered: will 32-year-old Tommy Ford, from Bend, Oregon, be back for his 13th season with the US Ski Team. ? Last January, Ford crashed just three gates from the finish line in the giant slalom in Adelboden, Switzerland, suffering from a concussion and torn ligaments in his right knee and left hand. . After the end-of-season accident, the American skier was airlifted to a nearby hospital and set out on the long road to recovery.
This isn’t the first time Ford has had to take a long break due to injury. In December 2013, Ford suffered his first late-season fall with a fractured right femur while free-skiing in La Clusaz, France. The accident resulted in a two-year hiatus from the sport and the opportunity to compete in the 2013 World Championships and the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Work on a return
Ford is not sure when to return to the World Cup. “I’ve never torn ligaments like this. So, it’s really hard to say. I broke my leg years ago and it took me two years to get over it. So it could be a month, two months or three months, I’m just listening to my body.
While Ford is certain he will miss the season opener in Soelden, Austria on October 24, he is optimistic about his recovery.
“I feel great, my knees are starting to feel better,” he said. “I’m getting some strength back, a greater range of motion and I feel pretty normal. Daily physical therapy is the most important thing, and slowly getting back to more strength training has been the key. ”
To quickly build strength and endurance, Ford incorporated road cycling and dynamic workouts such as sprints and plyometrics into its training program. He will be traveling to Park City over the next few weeks to make contact with the team and meet with the coaches, especially the strength coaches.
“More power work will come a bit later,†he concluded. Ford also takes inspiration from his longtime girlfriend and former American teammate Laurenne Ross. “I definitely see her as a good example of a work ethic. She is really motivated and meticulous with her arid land. She also suffered a lot of knee injuries, so I ask a lot of questions. It was really helpful.
Ford remains hopeful that it will be able to fully recover before the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games in February. The veteran of the United States team has already made two Olympic appearances, first at the Vancouver Games in 2010 and then again in Pyeong-Chang in 2018. Although he does not generally change his training approach over the course of the year. ‘an Olympic year, this year is a little different.
“This year, because I’m injured, it’s going to be different in general. My whole strategy will be to make sure my knee is working properly, â€said Ford. “Beyond that, I want to be as prepared as possible for each race. That’s how I approach races in general, no matter what the event.
As the season approaches in a COVID-19 year
Reflecting on the challenges of COVID-19, Ford was indifferent. “The hardest part for me [during the previous season] was just the logistics and additional testing, which led to high stress levels throughout the year. [But] in the end, it wasn’t that bad. I think our reactions will just be more accustomed, the actual protocols may not be that different. Hopefully the stress level will drop a bit as athletes get used to having to navigate it. ”
Gaining the Confidence of Beaver Creek
The 2019-20 season has been Ford’s career best with four top-four finishes. This included his giant slalom victory in December 2019 by a 0.8 second margin in the Birds of Prey race at Beaver Creek. At the time, his victory ended a two-season drought for the men’s alpine ski team in the podium race.
If his return to competition is possible during the 2021-22 season, Ford intends to focus on the giant slalom. As for the super G, he says, “if I feel confident in my giant slalom, then yes, although I don’t see the first half of the season doing a lot of Super-G. It’s hard to say. I would like to see my giant slalom come back to a high level sooner.
When asked if he derives confidence from those previous successes, Ford said: “The more experience I have on a hill definitely leads to some confidence, but on race day I really stay. focused and present, and I don’t allow my attention to be focused on much outside of the present. But above all, Ford just wants to get back to the tracks. “It will be nice to blow some snow in the air and get back on the skis at some point.”
