EPISODE 733 | Turning a Major Setback into a Major Improvement in Your Life

·12 min·1 clip

Ben Nilsen was knocked unconscious for five minutes after being hit by a skier going 40 mph.

Host George Thomas interviews Ben Nilsen, a ski instructor who experienced a major injury while teaching at Arapahoe Basin in Colorado. Nilsen was standing still on the hill when he was struck by another skier traveling about 40 mph, knocking him unconscious for five minutes. He sustained fractured ribs, a severe ankle injury requiring surgeries including a total in-bone replacement, and a traumatic brain injury affecting his cognitive function, balance, hearing, and eye tracking. Nilsen was non-ambulatory for eight months but has since skied about 40 days last spring. He discovered his balance was inherent only when in motion on skis, not when stationary. Emotionally, he felt confident returning to skiing, starting with easy backcountry skiing near his home in Kremling. Nilsen applied the Piaget model of three stages of learning—cognitive, associative, and autonomous—from his PSIA training to his physical therapy, helping him reteach himself basic functions. His recovery involved unconventional brain treatment through an organization called Plasticity, outside typical insurance. Nilsen, who turned 70 in September, focuses on fitness and a diet plan that has improved his health markers. He aims to return to teaching next year if his cognitive and communication skills progress. He has signed up for two PSIA clinics: one in Nordic skiing in early December and another at Beaver Creek. Nilsen reflects on the support from Arapahoe Basin's culture and leadership, despite potential insurance complications. He views the injury not as a tragedy but as an opportunity for improvement, gaining a new perspective on living in the present.

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