Crash Corner: Whistler Bites Back!

26 Feb 2014

By Trey Clay

The first installment of Crash Corner: In the blink of an eye, my world changed. Big summer plans instantly swirled down the drain. Do you have a memorable crash story to share with us? Submit words, photos, and/or a video link to crashes@worldbikeparks.com to get your crash story featured here!

What are the chances that a friend of mine, who is an orthopedic surgeon, would answer his cell phone during office hours? Honestly, I was secretly hoping that he wouldn’t answer…because I knew deep down inside that he would confirm that I needed surgery immediately! As I expected, he said, “Trey, if you ever want to walk normally again, much less mountain bike, you have to have this surgery!”

It was one day after my crash at Whistler Bike Park. I had carried too much speed into the jump and overshot the landing on a trail called Canadian Open. I heard and felt a snap! Endorphins are magical brain chemicals that combined with shock and denial to allow me to ride my bike down the mountain with very little pain. I even tried to get my girlfriend to set the bone in my leg by pulling and twisting it forcefully. Half-jokingly, I asked her to retrieve a rubber mallet from the bike shop to pound the bone back in to place.

Finally, the pain hit me. I just wanted to crawl out of my skin to get away from it. Having given up on the delusion that I was going to get out of this mess without having surgery, I checked myself in to the hospital in Vancouver, BC. If it’s true that orthopedic surgeons are the carpenters of medicine, then I definitely got one of the best. After a metal plate, 9 screws, 24 staples, and 2 months of non-weight bearing on my left leg, I was good as new and ready to shred Whistler Bike Park again! -T

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