Chris Talbot

I tore my ACL three years ago when I missed the landing of a pretty large cliff drop while snowboarding in the back country. I went to a local orthopedic surgeon, who told me he could probably fix it, but since I was 42 years old, I would never snowboard at the level which I had before I tore it and I should just do physical therapy so I could still live a pretty normal life. I told him that was not even an option that snowboarding was my life and I needed to be able to ride again. I went home and told my wife who works in an ER and she told me to go to the HSS, which is where I met Dr. DiFelice. I walked into his office and he told me not only would he have me riding again but i would be riding at the same level as before. He told that me since I tore my ACL clean off the bone, he had a new surgery he was doing that would repair the ACL instead of replace it. After the surgery I was out of physical therapy and back in the gym and cycling in 4 months. In 9 months I was back snowboarding and it was great year for east coast riding. I rode as hard if not harder then ever, I put my knee through such a beating that year and it felt like I never even hurt it. I waited three years to write this because I didn't want to write how great the surgery was then have it fail a year or two later. Well I just finished my 3rd year of riding and it feels better then ever. I can't thank Dr. DiFelice enough. I included a picture from this year from a heli trip in the back country of British Columbia.