FAST FIVE WITH CHARLIE STEINBACHER

Hey Charlie, we're spewing your season has been cut short with a spell in hospital. Tell us what happened?

Yeah it wasn't a great way to end the season. I was riding up at Northstar, which is where I've been for most of the season. I was just cruising too 'cause I snapped my board on the second run of the day, but I didn't really want to go home 'cause it was such a nice day. I think it was about 1 o'clock when I decided to call it quits and make my way home... so of course, on the last run, and on the last rail in park I had a silly little fall and when I hit the ground my left elbow went straight into my guts. At first I thought it just knocked the wind out of me, so I got up, rode down to the village and caught the bus home.

When I got home, I took some painkillers and sat on the couch hoping that the discomfort would fade, but I just got more short of breath, and the pain just got worse.. so like a true GEN-Y I googled my symptoms to make sure it wasn't anything serious, and it didn't take long before I found a diagnosis. It sounded like a ruptured spleen, so I wasted no time calling the ambulance... And after about 9 hours in ICU I was heading into the operation room to get my spleen removed for good!.

That's so hectic, where are you at now? How long will your recovery be?

I'm just chilling in San Francisco at the moment until I'm fit to fly back home, then I have about 6 weeks of doing pretty much nothing until I'm all healed up.. So recovery isn't too bad, my guidelines were pretty much not to lift more than 30 pounds for 6 weeks. so nothing too crazy. Then hopefully I'll be able to start getting back in the GYM and getting fit for winter back in AUS...

Up until then you had been having a good season though right? Getting some shots?

Yeah my season was going really well, I had a week in Jackson hole which was amazing. We timed it perfectly and got the first good storm of the season so the conditions were epic the whole time, we scored pow everyday. From there I went straight to Tahoe to do some shooting and ride some park, I was just about to finish up with all the photo shoots and knuckle down on my riding too before I hurt myself...

What was the best part of your winter? Tahoe was pretty dry this year but always has the backup of the Northstar park?

Jackson was definitely a highlight, actually I'd have to say that was the best part of my winter. It was always on my list of places I wanted to ride so getting to go there and having such awesome conditions was sweet, I was super stoked... And yeah Tahoe was pretty low tide in terms of the snow which was lame, it was also my first time there so there was a lot of stuff I didn't get to do but luckily the parks were always fun at Northstar so we always had that.

I know it's early days in your recovery but do you already have an eye on a return date for the Aussie season?

I haven't really got any plans as of yet, I live in Jindabyne so I'll no doubt be riding and competing this Aussie season, I'd like to do well with those comps, we'll see how it all goes. I'm not too sure about NZ, like I said I don't have any plans yet, I don't think I'll be hitting South America but thats another place on my list. I have family there too so I'm definitely keen to head out there for some riding in the not-too distant future...

Cheers mate, good luck with the recovery, hope you can milk it with a business class flight home!

Haha same here mate thanks!

The boys helping out with the morphine shot in Truckee Hospital

Scoring the pow and the opening shot of our Japan story last year. Photo: Rich Hegarty

Big BS180 in Japan last year. Photo: Rich Hegarty

Here's an edit from the highlight of Charlie's winter, our magazine trip to Jackson Hole. Be sure to check the mags this season for the full story and photos!