Last January, during the Ski Big Air finals at Winter X Games Aspen 2012, Sammy Carlson crashed upon landing and tore the MCL in his right knee, putting an abrupt end to his winter season.
It was a minor tear that didn't require surgery, but it still involved months of physical therapy at the U.S. Ski Team's Center of Excellence in Park City, Utah.
Carlson was back on skis by this summer and hosted the Sammy Carlson Invitational at Mt. Bachelor in May. We spoke to Carlson recently from Mount Hood, Ore., where he's been getting his strength back and dialing in his tricks for this season. He's also been training at the Nike facility in Portland.
"The recovery in general has been really good," Carlson says. "I got lucky. I am so stoked that I didn't have to get surgery. The ski Gods are still on my side."
This winter, he'll be working on video projects with sponsors Nike and Apo Skis and he's looking forward to getting some redemption at Winter X Games.
"I'm back out doing what I love," Carlson says.
