Blake is Back! | Injuries, Reflections, and New Perspectives on Kiteboarding

[@a.lame.username.]

Rehabilitation is training. Training makes us better humans. Good humans make the world a better place!

[@blakeolsen9762]

Cheers to that Bradley! Training and rehab are the best teachers. Stay good man!

[@FRv4S]

even after so many injuries you seem in great spirit...Well done Blake...You rock!

[@blakeolsen9762]

Every injury teaches you a new lesson, couldn't be in better spirits. Life is good, thank you!

[@AdrianKerr]

Awesome mate

[@blakeolsen9762]

Cheers buddy, let's catch up soon!

[@esurfrider7687]

Blake, my friend, i wish you a full recovery.

[@blakeolsen9762]

Esurfrider, thank you so much. I'm feeling great and adapting well with a new style of riding. Hope you are well and having a great new year!

[@brycedq]

"Getting Really Good at Napping" LOL, look forward to seeing you on the water amigo!

[@blakeolsen9762]

Haha sure have, one of the best things I learned from that injury. Look forward to it as well!

[@kiteboardingmaineusa]

Great attitude Blake!! Thank you for your awesome kite videos!! Hope your kiting when your 120yrs old🤙

[@blakeolsen9762]

Thanks Matthew, appreciate the support and will keep the videos coming! Me too, that would be the greatest thing of all.

[@LCSRacing]

Heal up Blake, gratitude is a powerful thing.

[@blakeolsen9762]

Nothing teaches grattitude better than taking it all away. Grateful for the experience and ready for 2022! Cheers Lucky C 😄

[@kiteandpizza]

Great you are back. I was wondering already.

[@blakeolsen9762]

Sure is great. I kind of went off the radar for a while, it was quite refreshing. Cheers man, hope to catch a session with you one day!

[@hophmanbg]

Take care man you are a good person and this 🌎 needs good people especially in this times!

[@blakeolsen9762]

Thank you so much, I try to be a good person everyday. This world needs all the good energy it can get!

[@ralf-thorstenhenn1258]

Hey Blake, honestly, I have already missed your videos. Now that I know what made you take a break, I can only say, I am very happy that you are back, recovering, and that fortunately after all you did not get permanently disabled by you accident. Your passionate contribution to professional kiteboarding and the joy of this great sport is second to none and with your positive attitude you are a role model not only for good vibes but also for continuous development despite severe setbacks. All the best for your recovery and lots of fun back on the water!

[@blakeolsen9762]

Hey Ralf, thank you so much for the kind words. Makes me happy to hear that you enjoy the videos so much. Life sure has it's twists and turns and it just re-emphasizes the fact we need to have fun and live it up. Kiteboarding brings so much joy and excitement to people's lives, it's an honor and pleasure to be able to share it with the world. Never in my wildest dreams would I imagine as I learned to kite that it would be my career. I wish you well my friend and hope to ride with you one day!

[@kst157]

So great to see you back and on the road to full recovery. Constantly improving is the game and fun part but yes, in measured and controlled steps to minimise injury is wise. Love your videos and vibes, keep them flowing! 🪂👍

[@blakeolsen9762]

Hey KST, thank you! Happy to be back at it, definitely a lot to learn in this life. Appreciate it and hope to ride with you someday!

[@d.z.2550]

I'm a bit late to the party but I'm really glad you are doing ok. I only started this year with kiteboarding and I really enjoy your videos. Stay save!

[@MACkiteboarding]

Thank you for your kind words! 🤙🏽 I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying Blake's videos, and it's never too late to join the party. Good winds to you, my friend. -Aaron

[@tyclark3619]

Thanks for sharing Blake! Just recovered from an injury myself and definitely agree to remember not to push yourself too hard and instead aim to have the most fun!

[@blakeolsen9762]

Having the most fun is most important! Sorry to hear you had an injury. Hope you are healed up and back out on the water!

[@pierlomascolo8390]

good to see you back. You've been an inspiring presence man! Keep strong and healthy!

[@MACkiteboarding]

Thank you, Pier. 🤙🏽 Blake is a true sharer of the stoke! -Aaron

[@blakeolsen9762]

Hey Pier, thanks buddy. Aprreciate your kind words and will keep it coming. See you on the beach somewhere!

[@daellina]

Never give up, Blake, stay tuned with high and good energy!🤩

[@blakeolsen9762]

Thank you Daellina, will keep it coming and the energy is high!

[@joakimho4048]

Great u r back! I broke my neck 2.5 years ago too, have learnt to appreciate the little things (even just to pump a kite up!) - watching your videos, then, got me into kiting....

[@blakeolsen9762]

Hey Joakim, it's great to be back! Oh man, I'm sorry to hear that. How are healing up? That is so amazing, glad to hear the videos got you into kiting. That is what this channel is all about!!! :)

[@michanjose]

Welcome back to the stoke! And thanks for sharing your experience.

[@blakeolsen9762]

Thank you for watching and it's amazing to be back! Cheers Michianjose 🤘🏼

[@gustywinds3696]

Setbacks happen. Glad you're recovering well Blake.

[@blakeolsen9762]

They sure do, all we can do is continue on and be grateful. Thank you!

[@nvillajuan]

Hey bud I took a lesson from you awhile back in Tawas - it was a ton of fun and I still remember it. Sorry to hear about the injuries. Sending you vibes for a full recovery!!!

[@MACkiteboarding]

Thank you for sharing the stoke with us, Noel. 🤙🏽 I’ll be sure to pass the vibes along to Blake. -Aaron

[@blakeolsen9762]

Hey Noel, that must have been a while back! Hope to ride with you again sometime. Where are you at these days? Feeling good and ready for this year!

[@timletchford7053]

All the best from Australia Blake. Love your videos.

[@blakeolsen9762]

Cheers mate! Can't wait to make it to the land down under someday!!!

[@wingsurfcamp8240]

Dude! Brutal!! Glad you're back :)

[@blakeolsen9762]

It was brutal but a great learning experience. Happy to be back. See you on the water kiting and winging!

[@dragonfist]

Dude, take care! Wish you all the best!

[@blakeolsen9762]

Working on it! There's always risk involved but planning on staying injury free. Cheers man!

[@rafacroce]

Welcome back, stay strong!

[@blakeolsen9762]

Cheers Rafa, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger! 🤘🏼

[@4hoolie]

Glad you’re on the mend take it slow and steady 🤙

[@blakeolsen9762]

Slow and steady wins the race! Cheers hoolie

[@bigwaveholly142]

So glad your back!

[@blakeolsen9762]

Thanks so much!

[@lindseywmercer]

Great job on the vid and I'm happy to see that you are doing better. Be well.

[@blakeolsen9762]

Thanks Lindsey, you are an inspiration. Love watching you throw down those massive loops. Keep it up and hope to ride with you this year!

[@westfinger8630]

Glad to hear you are doing well and on the mend. I love your new outlook on life!

[@blakeolsen9762]

Feeling grateful and refreshed. Sometimes it's the hardest things in life that teach us the greatest lessons!

[@danzbeard]

It’s crazy how things work out. The cervical injury is crazy because it was merely throwing a trick. Goes to show how fragile we can be. Good news is that you didn’t have to get a fusion . Count your blessings🙏 cheers brother

[@blakeolsen9762]

Sure is crazy how quickly things can change. Sometimes we feel invincible and then we learn the hard way. Super happy not to have had to get a fusion! Cheers buddy, appreciate your support

[@Peachez54]

Glad you back. Great video 💯

[@blakeolsen9762]

Great to be back, thank you Peachez!

[@freeupminds]

All the best !!! 🙏🏼

[@blakeolsen9762]

Same to you, keep it up!

[@KiteboardingInUruguay]

Good to have you back and well. Whats next for you now?

[@blakeolsen9762]

Thank you, feeling inspired. Traveling the world one country at a time. REally want to make it to Uruguay someday! Do you have e-foiling there?

[@KiteboardingInUruguay]

@@blakeolsen9762 dude, I don't think e-foliing is a thing just yet... or at least I haven't seen it. But, who needs a motor on your foil when we've got beaches everywhere and decent wind in the summer (now)! Uruguay should not be a destination in terms of a kite trip, but its certainly a great place to stop off if you're traveling through South America!

[@JW-pq4pl]

Missed your vids. Tore my distal bicep tendon wakefoiling recently so can totally relate to what you say. See you on the water to age 100 Blake.

[@blakeolsen9762]

JW, sorry to hear that man. Sounds like a rough injury. Hope the healing is going well and look forward to a life of riding!

[@macdodds]

Appreciate you and this video. Great message!

[@blakeolsen9762]

Thank you Mac, appreciate your support!

[@vikingh3008]

Crazy year, good to see your back 🤙

[@blakeolsen9762]

Sure was and it's great to have a fresh start. Thanks man!

[@vikingh3008]

@@blakeolsen9762 just come back after a big surgery myself, was so nice to be back out

[@RafCenterMyself]

Glad to see that you're well again! I was wondering, if you had left MACKite. Your videos are amazing, I've seen them all 😄 So stay healthy and keep them coming! - And I will be careful not to turn my head so hard, while learning the front roll next 😅

[@blakeolsen9762]

Hey Raffael, I took a little sabatical and enjoyed some downtime for the first in a while. Never plan to leave MACkite! Thanks for watching them all, there are some funny ones in there 😂 Goodluck with the front roll, you got this!

[@jonathanmargalioth2736]

Happy to hear that the recovery is going well, It seems like you have mild Bell's palsy. Maybe get that checked out

[@blakeolsen9762]

Thank you! I definitely have a crooked jaw, will look into that next time I'm at the doctor ✌🏽

[@justindavis8026]

Hey Bro!! Always enjoy watching and learning from your videos! I feel exactly the same in regards to the longevity of the sport! Let's learn all we can so we can shred as long as possible. Also if you ever make your way out to the Northern Mariana Islands, I'm in Saipan. Hit me up bro! We ride!

[@blakeolsen9762]

Hey Justin! No doubt, shred til we dead and hopefully that's not for a long time 😂 I just looked up Mariana Islands...WOW! You must get some incredible wind and waves out there. Would love to visit someday and ride with you!

[@DadGoesKitesurfing]

Oh ! So sorry to hear what happened to you and glad you’re feeling better. Impressive that you ended up breaking your neck by yourself without a shock ! What I enjoy on your tutorials is that it look smooth and you always present progressive steps…so was not realizing you had so many crashes to swallow. Looking fwd for your next cool rides, inspiring story, thanks for sharing.

[@blakeolsen9762]

Hey man! All good, it was a blessing in disguise to help me slow down and smell the roses. The smoothness comes from thousands and thousands of crashes and injuries. Now I can take the lessons I've learned of what not to do and help others learn the safe and easier way.

[@spencerting3300]

Hi Blake, would you share your thought of what cause the neck injury? It seems that it was a normal rotation with not much force to the neck. Why did you get injured? Was it fractured from a prior injury? is neck in general able to snap just with rotations? what would you recommend to avoid injury of similar fashion? What would you do differently? appreciate your input. hope you feel better and back to your incredible tricks.

[@blakeolsen9762]

Hey Spencer, I have had a lot of whiplash over the years and my neck is not perfect. It's got an opposite curve to it which makes it more fragile.I would highly recommend stretching before each session and staying hydrated. Also exercises that strengthen then neck as well as yoga to help prevent anything like this. I would have learned the proper way in the past rather than getting injured so much over the years. That's what these videos are all about, helping people learn safely rather than end up like me. Thanks buddy, see you out there!

[@spencerting3300]

@@blakeolsen9762 thanks Blake for your reply. I really enjoy ur videos. big fan. hope you feel better and keep doing ur videos. big hug, stay salty🤙

[@freeupminds]

DAMN bless u

[@blakeolsen9762]

Thank you 😊

[@adrirzruiz]

👏👏

[@blakeolsen9762]

Cheers!

[@petrsson]

Just be prepared that all those injuries will comeback to you when you will turn 40years old...People think that they healed completely,but actually those are just scars,which will open again later on with aging of your body...more than less around 40 years of age...that's how human body actually works...unfortunally... So,at the end less injuries you will get in your young age less damage and pain you will have later on in your life...😎

[@JGrogann]

I've had a few injuries, broken bones etc. that never caused any recurring problems or pain.

[@petrsson]

@@JGrogann Then you are lucky or it will come later...

[@JGrogann]

@@petrsson I'll be dead later so no worries.

[@blakeolsen9762]

No doubt about that, hoping to have some serious medical advances in the future to help keep the body rolling. Have had my fair share of injuries but am happy to be alive! Cheers

[@blakeolsen9762]

@@JGrogann That is reassuring and like your mentality!

[@smsailfast]

Glad you are recovering. Now you can really appreciate one of my favorite movie scenes, comparing scars from Jaws: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mn3Nf62terp_fZo

[@blakeolsen9762]

Hahaha, love that clip. Thanks for sharing! I've got a lot of scars to show for it. Will have to make a funny video like this someday. Cheers !

[@JamesLamb]

Glad you're still walking! I know people in Florida don't believe in COVID, so karma had to find another way to slow you down?! That was a rough stop. Take care.

[@blakeolsen9762]

Hey James, sure is the wild south down here. It definitely slowed me down and put things into perspective !