Features

Some of the products and treatments on offer at this year's Metro Ski Snow could change the way you ski. Sean Newsom reports.

What the £$&*@%?!

You might well ask...But actually what's going here is a good thing. Dr Craig McLean of Putney Chiropractic is working on freestyle skier Mike Wakefield in the immediate aftermath of his performance on the Metro Ski Show's 50ft kicker.

And boy, did Wakefield need some work. Three years ago, he broke his neck. Four years ago he broke his collar bone (twice). Five years ago he fractured his lower back. Inevitably these traumas have left his muscles tensing in unusual ways - especially as he still carries a metal plate in his neck. What's more, each time he performs in the terrain park or on indoor kickers like the one in the show, his body gets even tighter, and more misaligned. As McLean pointed out after a quick analysis on his treatment table, one of Wakefield's legs was actually shorter than the other as a result of his performance.

Dr Craig lays on his magic hands.

It took about ten minutes for him to crack and squeeze Wakefield back into shape. He released the tension in his neck and lower pack, got his joints moving smoothly again, and by working on his hips and bum brought his legs back into alignment. If he can do that, then I've got big hopes for my left hip and knee. My only concern is how you maintain the good work McLean does once you leave his consulting room. But I'll be finding out shortly when I go for a consultation...