Ski season is here – and with it comes a spike in ACL injuries.
In this episode of the Razor Performance Podcast, I’m joined by James Phillips, an ACL rehabilitation specialist and former colleague of mine from Pure Sports Medicine.
James now runs the Complete ACL Rehab Course and has spent years helping people return to skiing, sport, and high-level activity after ACL injuries.
In this conversation we break down:
– Why ACL injuries are so common when skiing
– The most common mechanisms of ACL injury on the slopes
– How fit, confident skiers still get injured
– What you should be doing before a ski trip to reduce risk
– What actually matters while you’re on the mountain
– What to do immediately if an ACL injury happens abroad
– Surgical vs non-surgical options
– Why ACL rehab is no longer time-based
– How modern rehab is driven by objective criteria, not guesswork
– The biggest mistakes people make during ACL rehab
– Why people fall apart when they start running again
– What it really takes to get back to skiing with confidence
This episode is especially relevant if you:
– Ski once or twice a year
– Train regularly but don’t feel “ski-fit”
– Are in your 30s, 40s or 50s
– Want to avoid a long, frustrating rehab cycle
– Or are currently dealing with an ACL injury
My work is built around The Razor Rebuild – helping men break out of cycles of niggles and injuries, rebuild real strength, and regain confidence in their body so they can train hard and do the things they care about without constantly breaking down.
If you ski, train, or want your body to last, this episode is well worth your time.
🎧 Listen to the full episode
📍 Links to James, his clinic, and the Complete ACL Rehab Course are below
https://optimal-strength.com/
https://www.completeaclrehabcourse.com/
What is The Razor Performance Podcast?
Hosted by Andy Reay, former professional rugby player and strength and conditioning coach, this show gets straight into what really matters for long-term performance: staying injury-free, building serious strength, and competing at any age. You’ll hear the methods, principles, and beliefs behind Razor Performance, shaped by years of coaching driven, time-poor and often injury prone men, back to their best. If you want to know how to rebuild confidence in your body, stay injury free and strong, and know what actually works, this is your new weekly listen.