Andy's Season Over (Wednesday 26 March 2003)

Andy's rehabilitation following the ankle injury sustained on 9th March was much slower than hoped and the initial estimate of seven days off the slopes began looking less and less realistic. After almost two weeks off the slopes, Andy tried returning on 22nd March but by the time he'd got off the bus he realised he wasn't going to be able to ride.

He returned to the physio to get further diagnosis and was told that there was damage to a membrane between the tibia and fibula. The ankle was strapped up tightly and Andy arranged daily visits to the physio to speed recovery, finally gaining approval from the physio for a return to the slopes on 26th March.

Fully strapped up, Andy took his first lift up since the original accident and saw, for the first time, the amount of snow that had arrived since his injury. Over 2m of snow has fallen, covering most of the exposed rocks and changing the landscape beyond recognition.

Setting off from the Roundhouse, Andy rode down towards Emerald Express and everything seemed to be OK. A minor fall didn't cause any undue pain but as Andy tried standing up he felt the ankle give way and knew that his season was over.

Andy is obviously devastated, having already missed half the season due to a string of injuries. Although he had heard about the recent conditions from those returning to the Palace, seeing it for the first time brought home what he was missing, making it all much worse.

Andy is now planning for an early return to the UK, following a CT scan down in Vancouver and then the Riders' party on April 5th.