The decompression time of the ski season winding down may be welcome for some, but for others, it's loss of the adventure zone that has kept our sanity levels under wraps all winter. Take that away and we may find ourselves crazed out; edgy, impatient but most of all? Bored. Some lose their ticket to ride prematurely though injury and trust me - rehab on exercycles, water running or resistance with rubber bands for us adrenaline junkies just doesn't cut it. Yet before picking a fight with someone for your own personal entertainment‚ here's what to do when you find yourself not even forty, and realize you; A.) are a skier, yet can't lift your arms above your head to rock climb because your back is restricted, B.) are a climber and can't mountain bike because the position on the bike aggravates your old whip lash, C.) are a mountain biker who can't trail run as your quads are too big in proportion to your calves, so your ankles are weak, D.) are a trail runner who can't run on the valley trail because it hurts your knees from your three surgeries.

The drift is, by the time you've been kicking around this town for a few years you likely have some skeletons in the closet of old injuries. Ten years ago you rocked to the theory you were here for a good time, not a long time - but now, as you weigh up your restricted recreational lifestyle, that decade went by fast. It has been said that Whistler is one of the best places to rehabilitate in the world. I have no doubt this is true. We are motivated to overcome injury obstacles through help from the best medical pros, come-back mentors, and inner drive to get back and live it up. Who can blame us - I mean look where we live.

Maintaining adventure when you are restricted calls upon a little planning and inner drive. The planning aspect is knowing you are in a high risk sport, thus preparing for the down times of injury through developing interests outside of your domain. Painting loud obnoxious pieces of art with your favorite tunes cranked, using the down time to network/get your folio updated if you are a pro - athlete, getting your car ready to go on a road trip for when you get better. Find outdoor things you can do - for example, time out from trail running may still allow you to enjoy Frisbee golf. Take your rehab seriously and don't go back hardcore - work your way gradually and be smart.

Keeping in shape when your activity levels change can be dictated greatly by your eating patterns. As enticing as it may be to get addicted to Oprah, nachos and the lazy boy armchair‚ keep a stash of snowboarding/skate/ski videos around the house to keep the visual encouragement there. The stars of those videos have likely gone through worse than what you're going through right now. Don't get fat. Eat less than usual, I can't stress that enough. Supplement properly and work out. There will always be something you can do - think back to the amazing athletes of the Para-Olympics - get a training program from your physiotherapist/trainer as your guide. Use injury time as motivation to get you back stronger than ever and don't sweat it if you are not the cross trainer of your youth. Think of all those wicked days you've had and will have in the future in the sport you love, and are not restricted in pursuing, and see this decompression time as a small price to pay for living this way.

Cat Smiley is a freeskier/personal trainer, sponsored by Helly Hansen and Don Joy. Special local training rates are in effect, to help revamp your workouts. (604)488-7466
www.catsmiley.com