On this episode I sit down with my client Ryan Carlson, a backcountry skier and lawyer based in San Diego who came to me last August after his second L5-S1 disc surgery in 10 years. He had one big goal — get back on skis and summit Mount Yotei in Hokkaido, Japan, 5,000 vertical feet straight up the face of a volcano. We talk about how he went from a re-herniated disc and a season cut short to skiing big lines in Japan without his legs blowing up on the descent.

We talk about: 

✅ Why a back injury is rarely just a back problem 

✅ The difference between training for fitness vs. training to perform on skis 

✅ Eccentric training and why it changes everything on the descent 

✅ How to prep for big backcountry objectives like a Japanese volcano 

If you've had a back injury, an ACL, or any setback that's made you question whether your best ski days are behind you — Ryan's story is proof they're not. With the right plan, the right training, and a clear goal, you can come back stronger and ski further than you thought possible.

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