THROWN
Pismo Beach, California
A big swell was incoming, I wanted to take advantage of the Central California slammers. When it peaks the ledges are beautiful with plunging 10 footers. The barrels are insane. It’s ‘Perfect Pismo’. I was hungry to practice before the Blowsion Surf Slam arrived.
I did all my normal tricks, back flips, and combos. As the story always go, I was heading into my last flip of the day. This was a biggie smacking in at 8 foot high, I wanted to ledge off it’s lip. I held my ski wide open and went for a super big leap. Lifeguards were watching from shore. Later people viewing from shore said this last jump of mine was nearing thirty feet of clear air.
Feeling like I was hitting 20 feet off the water, it was a big launch. Pretty big air, reminded me of last winter. I was a bit hesitant of landing flat from this height. I bailed off but did not clear away from the ski. I go ahead of the ski, and landed on top of the hood coming down waterside. I knew my arm was broken. It felt like it had extended backwards. I hit my head and I’m still burning a fat bump from the impact on my chin.
Another wave was coming. I had enough time to swim to the ski, hurt, I climbed back into the tray. Pulling that trigger throttle was the worst. I had to move fast. Controlling the ski with my broken arm, I lost most of my steerage on that side. Riding back to shore in limp mode I finally made it. An old guy who was watching from his car came up to me. He said he was impressed with my riding. I told him I had just broke my arm. ‘Do you need me to call an ambulance’ he says. I declined, saying I’d do the honors.
The lifeguards drove towards me, I waved to them They iced and splinted my arm and I was off to the hospital. Once in SLO the first Xray showed only one broken bone, no surgery. The following week at the orthopedic, a second Xray revealed I had two fractures and a separation. Clean breaks which should heal up in 4-6 weeks.
It didn’t hurt as much as the disappointment of missing the Surf Slam event.
Liquid Militia Team Rider Stanton High didn’t get a repeat performance at the BSS in Oregon. He had some new tricks he wanted to reveal to ramp up the style at the contest. Always next year!
Stan’s last comments were ‘Pismo Rager’. Enough said, see you there!