Sweet 16 For Alise–Stronger Every Day

On July 24 of this year, BMX News reported that Factory Redline Elite Women ace, Alise Post would be sidelined for the balance of the 2011 season, due to an injury suffered during training for the UCI World Championships. One week later, Alise was in Vail, CO for knee surgery, and that would be the starting point by which her recovery would be measured.

Fast forward 16 weeks. Alise is well past the wheelchair, cleared the crutches, and is ambulating on her own two feet. She does a great job of keeping the fans up to date on her progress, and sent News the following update last night:

Today marks 16-weeks, post-op for my knee surgery. I am EXTREMELY excited about this, because 16 weeks is a very important point in the rehab process.

With a normal knee injury, say an ACL, or even if I had just torn my LCL, the rehab process would’ve progressed a lot more aggressively. However, due to my torn hamstring tendon having to be reattached on top of the LCL reconstruction graft, my rehab plan needed to be more conservative than others.

The combination of injuries is what made my case so rare to many of the people working with me. The fact that your hamstrings are so strong poses a problem in healing, once re-attached, because it is easy to rip-apart the work that was done in the surgery if a re-attached hamstring is engaged too soon. Needless to say, my therapists and I have had to be very creative on how to go about strengthening my leg and ligament without engaging too much of my hamstring. Today, this all changes!

16-weeks is a big corner to turn, in that now I can use my hamstring freely and starting lateral work on my ligament. These are key to my rehab process, because they allow me to actually start sport-specific rehab and put strength and agility back into my knee, which are obviously big stepping-stones back into regular training.

I am off to see the doctor in Vail again next week, the day before Thanksgiving. This will be the last visit, and hopefully I’ll get the “all clear” on everything I am writing about. My therapists and I have no doubts that Dr. LaPrade will be impressed with the stability and progression of my knee. Well, at least I sure hope so! It has been a long process, but we have all been on top of our game and doing absolutely everything possible to get me back healthy! I can’t thank everyone enough, because I truly believe I am exactly where I should be, if not ahead.

I also feel ready to start sharing a bit of more of my story. I know I haven’t been the best about video blogging or keeping everyone fully in the loop on my progress. The truth is, I needed to take some time for myself to be sure I was where I wanted to be. Now that I am happy with where I am at though, I feel I am ready to share some more of my internal thoughts and details about the process I have been going through. I will be doing this on my Redline Blog pretty regularly leading up to Grands next week. I have tickets, and will be there to support my friends, family, and Redline Squad for the “Greatest Race on Earth!!” Follow me on Twitter for daily updates @alisepost11

Thanks for reading and for your continued support. I cannot put into words how much it helps to know there are so many people backing me, through thick and thin. I hope you enjoy the blog updates…See ya’ll in Tulsa!

-Alise

A big BMX News congrats to Alise for making it swiftly and safely to this milestone. More with #11 from the fenceline at the 2011 ABA Grands next week.

Alise Post Redline Blog

Podcast: Pro Summit

Via BMX News sister site, BMX Action Online We are pleased to present the first in a series of BMX Action Online “Then and Now” Features. Each month, we will take a feature from the BMX Action Magazine library and re-do it with modern-day stars.

In this, the first installment, we take a feature from the April 1982 issue, entitled “Top Pros Speak Out.”

We brought together three riders and two team managers to address many of the same questions asked in the original article. This will provide a unique opportunity to see contrasts and similarities between these two generations of BMX stars – three decades apart. Since there was no such thing as an Elite Womens class in 1982, we thought it would be fitting to bring a top Female Elite into the mix, and are joined by Alise Post.

Participants:

Connor Fields – Chase BMX/BMX Racing Group
Sam Willoughby – Factory Redline
Alise Post – Factory Redline
Dale Holmes – Team Manager – Free Agent/Rockstar
“Big Daddy” Eric Rupe – Team Manager – GT Bicycles Factory Team

It just so happens that Big Daddy was also one of the seven participants in the 1982 article, and his long-view perspective on present day issues really adds to the discussion.

This month’s feature is a two-part Podcast. Future installments of the series may take the form of Podcasts, or videos…web-based photo content or PDF downloads–it will vary from month to month.

And if you’re interested in seeing that the original article had to say:

Download the original story as a PDF

Part One

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Part Two

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Come on over to VintageBMX.com, where the discussion is underway.

Gate Drops on Alise’s Race to Recovery

Last weekend, BMXNEWS reported that Alise Post had officially withdrawn from the 2011 UCI BMX Worlds, due to an injury suffered during training last week (Read Story in New Window).

One week later, after specialist-consultations and diagnostic imaging, Alise made her way to Vail, CO to undergo surgery performed by world-renowned orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, Dr. Robert Laprade.

Alise sent BMXNEWS the following update last night, after the anesthesia started to wear off.

Hello all,

I am sorry this didn’t get put up earlier. This was a letter I wrote on Tuesday night to go out to friends and fans, but then I just didn’t have time Wednesday to upload the document from my computer to my email…I had no wifi on my computer with the INSANELY busy schedule I ran yesterday as I found out I was getting surgery in Vail, CO today. I am working on an update about the surgery so please check back. I will however, just inform everyone that surgery on my right knee went well, and I couldn’t be happier in my decision to see Dr. LaPrade.

Here were my thoughts, worries, and decisions as of Tuesday night:

Thursday, July 21 seemed to be a good training session heading into the 2011 UCI BMX World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark. I had a great warm up and solid two time trial laps on the Chula Vista SX track. All of my training for the past few months seemed to be paying off, I was seeing results, I was confident coming fresh off five ABA wins, a US National Championships title, and I was completely recovered from my November, 2010 right fibula/ankle injury. I was mentally sound and feeling extremely ready for the Worlds and the next few exciting months ahead with the individual USA Olympic points starting to count in August at the London test event.

However, my third time trial of the training session had a plan of its own.

A quick “OTB” (over the bars) on the second obstacle dashed my opportunity at a 2011 Rainbow Jersey, my chances at some very crucial points in the USA BMX Olympic Power rankings, and likely my chances at an ABA National #1 Women’s Pro title…for the second year in a row.

INJURIES: An MRI Friday, read by at least four qualified people, confirmed that, what appeared a simple knee hyperextension with no swelling was actually much worse: a Grade III tear of my LCL (lateral collateral ligament), a Grade III tear of my outer hamstrings tendon (biceps femoris), a Grade II tear of my ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), a hairline femur fracture, and a whole lot of bone bruising.

>>>
Editor’s Note: WebMD describes these injury “Grades” as follows:

Grade II — A moderate injury in which the ACL is partially torn. The knee can be somewhat unstable and can “give way” periodically when you stand or walk.

Grade III — A severe injury in which the ACL is completely torn through and the knee feels very unstable.
<<<

PROGNOSIS: I am not confirmed on which surgeon I will be working with at this moment. I will confirm that later in the week. As far as injuries go though, my LCL and my Hamstrings Tendon are the major concerns at this point and will be first to be repaired; likely by the end of this week. The surgeon I met with says he would not repair my ACL immediately or within the same surgery due to the fact that that is just too much surgery for the knee to handle at once. My risk for stiffness, swelling, and loss of range of motion would increase significantly. That said, he would take a peek at the ACL while fixing my LCL and tendon to determine if it even needs surgery to heal. If my knee is still unstable after the first surgery, he would go back in around 6 weeks later and repair the ACL separately. At this time, it appears I will be able to use my own tissue to repair my hamstring tendon, but they will need to completely reconstruct my LCL with new tissue. All in all, it could be six-to-eight-months of recovery before I can get back out on an SX track.

“Disappointed” would be an understatement of my situation. I cannot even put into words, all of the things that are going through my head right now. There are so many things at this point that are out of my control. After working so hard at a goal for so long, it’s extremely hard to swallow that I’m not completely in control of my own destiny in these crucial months to come. Athletes sacrifice a lot to convert their dreams to reality. It’s a 365-day-a-year job. Everything you do affects your body and our bodies are our engines, our livelihood and, most importantly, our happiness. So, to have that all taken away for an extended period of time, as a result of a single fall is both emotionally and physically crushing. But I guess it’s a risk us adrenaline junkies take, and must accept when it hits.

I don’t want to ramble on about my emotions and all the gory details in this note…because, frankly, I’m not ready for it yet. This has hit me hard and I am doing everything in my power to keep a smile on my face, because that’s always been my greatest strength. I went through a serious injury very recently and healed up much quicker than expected, I believe, because I kept a good head on my shoulders. I learned a lot about myself throughout that process, became a much stronger individual, and came back riding better than ever. I believe the same will happen with this injury, it is just overwhelming at the moment to accept that this is happening again so soon at such a critical time.

I would like to thank my sponsors (Redline, JBL Audio, Tangent, Oakley, Tioga, Answer) my friends, family, and fans for all of your continued support through both the good and tough times. I cannot stress enough that a strong support system is what gets people through times like this.

Thanks to everyone, especially my sponsors, for believing in me and continuing to support me, both through great sponsorships and just being friends…a shoulder to lean on.

Check back here, on my twitter account (Beasty_11), my Facebook fanpage (Alise Post), and my Redline Video Blog on Redlinebicycles.com for regular updates.

-Alise

As promised, BMXNEWS will keep you updated on Alise’s progress as she makes her way back to the bike.

—Mike Carruth

Injury Sidelines Alise Post For UCI Worlds

UPDATED 8:00PM, EDT, July 24:

Alise Post called this morning to let us know that, due to injuries suffered in a crash at the Olympic Training Center/Chula Vista on Thursday, she would not be making the trip to Copenhagen, Denmark for the UCI BMX World Championships.

Of the Thursday accident, Alise said, in an email to sponsors and select media:

“I thought I had just hyper-extended my (right) knee since I am still pretty mobile, but an MRI revealed something a bit more serious….I will be meeting with an orthopedic surgeon on Monday to discuss options and what needs to be done”

“I was feeling so strong leading into this World Championships and end of the season, and I am devastated to have to bring you this news. I was finally back from my last leg injury and at 100%, winning races and feeling stronger than ever….I am going to keep a positive attitude, and will put all my energy into healing quick, and to coming back stronger than before, just like last time.”

Above, Alise alluded to a similar setback on the eve of the ABA Grands last year, when she was locked in a neck-and-neck title battle with Dom Daniels. The resulting ankle injury took her out of the game for about four months, with the Winternationals in March being her first race back. This time, it appears the recovery will be about six months–putting her return at about Feb 1.

Obviously, all eyes are on the Olympic qualifying calendar for 2012. Pure speculation on our part, as it is so early in the process, but it’s safe to say she is out for the London SX next month and the Chula Vista SX in September. The next UCI World Cup event on the calendar is February 24, 2012 (Location TBA). So that could be a potential re-entry point in the Olympic qualifying hunt. With a short season in 2012 (the Worlds are in Birmingham, England on May 27), the runway is very short before the Team USA selections are finalized in June.

Still, if anyone can do it, she can…and we’ll be bringing you regular updates on her progress.

See the BMX News Story: “2012 USA Olympic Qualifying Criteria Announced”

In a release issued by USA Cycling Sunday Morning, BMX Program Director, Mike King said:

“Obviously this is horrible news but I feel confident that we have three girls who will step up to the challenge,” said USA Cycling BMX Programs Director Mike King of the U.S. team’s chances at the pending world championships. “Alise is a strong competitor and we expect to see her back in the saddle soon.”

Alise was on the funded team roster for the London SX next month. King told News in a Sunday Email exchange that a decision on a replacement for her spot, if any, will be made and announced after the World Championships.

UPDATE:
Reached Sunday afternoon, via email, Chuck Hooper, President of Seattle Bike Supply (who owns the Redline brand) sent the following to News

Our hearts are out for Alise… We spoke on Saturday and, obviously, this is a very tough situation for her. She is a very strong competitor and a dedicated athlete. It was, to say the least, an emotional conversation. We both agreed the best thing is to remain positive and wait till she is thoroughly-checked by a specialist to determine the best course of action.

Mentally and physically, Alise will have a better chance than most to have a good recovery. All of us are “pulling for her.” We all know how hard she worked coming back from her last injury and we are very proud of her, and all her accomplishments and the contributions she makes to our sport. We hope she does equally-well coming back from this setback.

BMX News joins Chuck in his sentiments, and wishes Alise a safe, effective and speedy recovery. Keep on eye on BMX News for more on this story.

Redline Pros Roast Elites in Toasty SLC

The ABA Great Sale Lake Nationals happened this past weekend in Utah, and brought with it a few “return to the stage” moments.

It marked the first race since the ABA Grands for Connor Fields, who made his A-Pro Debut on Saturday, as well as the first official laps in his “new” Chase BMX kit. Also back following seven months of mending was the Machine, Maris Strombergs. On-scene accounts had Maris at 85-90% of his full throttle form, but there is no doubt that he will be at Space Shuttle SRB-type power by the worlds later this month. landed on the Sunday podium, with a third, behind Sam and David Herman.

Also returning to the ABA scene was Joey Bradford, who raced in Korea, and did some low-profile racing in Japan a few months back.

In his first Pro outing, Connor torpedoed the single-A’s, with a podium-topping main event lap on Saturday. BMX News will be bringing you an “in their own words” article from Connor on his SLC trip, late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

Javi Colombo elevated his game in the thin-air of SLC, with twin wins in Vet Pro–besting buddy Matt Pohlkamp, who got second both days.

Junior Men had some heavy action, with Austin Hiatt doing battle with class kingpin, Rusty Nesvig. AJ got Razzleberry in the last turn of Saturday’s main, but Rusty was at full-warp on Sunday and in for the win.

The Junior Women’s class was pwned both days by Brooke Crain and Dani George, who went 1-2, times two. Shelby Stacy and Tyler Schaefer were on the right step on Sat and Sun,.

Redline had a four-elite-win-weekend, with Sam Willoughby and Alise Post acing their classes both days. Sam is steadily stacking up wins (with a Sunday trip to the top of the box in Rockford, now a double), so it’s quite possible we’ll see a points tangle with Willers, come Grands time.

As said, Sam was up top both days, but Saturday saw the first all-Aussie podium, with Brian Kirkham and KY joining Sam for second and third, respectively.

Though the moto count was off a bit over last year (with the bigger race likely in Las Vegas in two weeks), the action was rockin steady. With no GO211 on the scene (due to no Internet access at the track), all of the reports we got were second hand…but fortunately, there were some good on-the-ground reports, and we encourage you to check them out.

“Welcome to Salt Lake” thread on Vintage where Mike Fields gives his first “Man in the Pits” report in a while

Pat Nugent’s ESPN coverage (Story and Photos)

Dale Holmes’ mini podcasts with Sam Willoughby, Tory Nyhaug and Denzel Stein…then with Shannon Gillette of ABA, Alise Post, Javier Colombo and Maris Strombergs

Alise Gates Up for Second “MS Race For a Cure”

On June 4 last year, BMX News reported on a benefit race that Alise Post and her family organized at their home track for Alise’s longtime gymnastics coach, Colleen Stark-Haws. Ms. Stark-Haws is suffering from MS, and has played a profound role in the lives of many young athletes, both on and off the mat.

We all know Alise to be a deeply-caring person, and it is in lock-step with her character to want to do something when a friend faces a challenge.

With June rolling around again, the Post family, and all their friends and volunteers at Pineview Park BMX in St. Cloud, MN are organizing the Second-Annual “Alise Post MS Race for a Cure.”

If you give a quick read to last year’s story, you’ll see that the BMX community (both in Minnesota, and among Alise’s friends in the BMX Elite ranks and industry) dug deep to join her in this fight. They raised almost $5,000 in year one, and year two is on track to top that figure–but only with the help of more friends, fans and supporters.

The full release, with all the details, is better said in Alise’s words than ours, so we’re going to let her have the proverbial microphone to tell you how it’s all coming down on June 11 and 12.

Hello friends and family!

I have been blessed with so many amazing opportunities and experiences in life, and would like to take some time to lend a hand to those who have helped me get to where I am today. On June 12, 2011, I, along with all my friends at Pineview Park BMX, will be hosting the second annual “Alise Post MS Race for a Cure,” and we need your help to make this year’s even even more successful than last year.

In 2010, we raised about $5,000 for the MS Society– in one afternoon–through entry fees, donations, and an awesome silent auction, made possible by all my friends and sponsors! This year, we want to increase that amount, so it’s time to get cracking!

Why MS?
I chose the Multiple Sclerosis Society, based on my former gymnastics coach, Colleen Stark-Haws. Her and her family were strong mentors in my life and were pretty much a second family to me. The Stark-Haws helped coach the “Tech” gymnastics team to four consecutive second- place state finishes, and myself to three-consecutive Vault State Championship titles, along with numerous other state podiums.

Although they obviously taught me great gymnastics skills, that is only a fraction of what I learned from “CJ,” as we call her, and her family. Dedication, courage, teamwork, persistence, toughness of both the mind and body, and just simply being a good person were also all results of training with them. Joel and CJ want every individual to reach their full potential and expect nothing but the best from everyone. People respect this from them and want to rise to these expectations because this family “walks the walk” and leads by example. I have watched CJ go from teaching me gymnastics choreography one year, to living in a wheel chair around a year later.

Over the next four years, I watched her mobility decrease more and more as the disease progressed. However, I can truly say that since her diagnosis in 2006, while being pumped with steroids and going through countless treatments, losing her job as a salary paid coach due to her MS, and while their active family made EXTREME sacrifices to live with this disease, I have never once heard CJ or her family complain. She continued to come into the gym everyday, sit in her wheel chair and coach us just how she always had, never blinking an eye. As an athlete, when your coach goes through a life changing experience and handles it how CJ did, you are inspired to be better. No matter how difficult life may seem that day, or how sore you might be, or how tired you might feel, when you walk into practice and see CJ ready to go, there is no room for complaints. There is only time to “accept the challenge” and take advantage of the opportunity you have to become better that day.

The Stark-Haws family truly lives to give. On top of coaching the high school gymnastics team, Joel and CJ coach a number of developmental gymnastics programs and Joel also coaches the cross-country team and teaches at the Area Learning Center. The entire family was also heavily involved at Pineview Park BMX for numerous years, both as volunteers and as racers. Their son Eli no longer races, however he continues to be extremely active and independent. He is an amazing kid that is growing into a strong individual. But what else would you expect from a Stark-Haws? Colleen and her family are truly inspiring to everyone they meet.

Since becoming more involved with the search for a cure, I have learned of so many other people affected by MS. Another dear friend of mine who many in the BMX world would know, Danny Meadows, was diagnosed with MS last year, just as I was organizing the first MS Race. Danny has been a mechanic and friend to numerous BMX teams, and ran the “Future BMX” track at the Olympic Training Center from its founding, until he could no longer work on the track and keep it up to his level of perfection. When I learned of his condition, it underscored the fact that I chose the right cause to work for.

Did you know: Approximately 200 Americans are diagnosed with MS, each and every week!

In the simplest of terms, MS eats away at your nervous system and muscle control is lost over time. It continues until your brain can no longer tell your lungs to breathe, or your heart to beat. The progression of MS happens at different speeds for everyone, Colleen being afflicted by the most progressive form.

While MS destroys the physical body of the individual suffering from it, it affects entire families for the rest of their lives. For the Stark-Haws sake, for the Meadows’ sake, and for all of those out there affected by this horrible and debilitating disease, let’s come together to help the MS Society raise funds to search for a cure. If a cure is found for MS, a cure is also within reach for a number of other neurological diseases, making MS a great cause to join.

June 11-12, 2011 will be a weekend to remember with funds from an Alise Post clinic Saturday evening June 11 going towards the cause, followed by a day of racing at Pineview Park on Sunday with a silent auction filled with authentic pro gear and awesome prize donations from sponsors and local companies you don’t want to miss!

HOW TO HELP / DONATE
Obviously, the best way to be a part of this special weekend of BMX and giving is to come join us for the weekend’s events. However, if your schedule will not permit, there are still things you can do to be part of the race for a cure.

-Make an online donation of any amount to the “Alise Post Race for a Cure” MS Society fund from the link on the Pineview Park website:
http://www.ihigh.com/pineviewparkbmx

-Be a part of the “Door-to-door pledge competition,” turned in to Pineview Park BMX.
**For every $100 you collect/donate, your name gets entered into a special prize drawing!**

-Mail checks/cash donations (or any supplies/items you think may help on event day) to:
Mark and Cheryl Post
6388 Fallow Rd.
St. Cloud, MN 56301
(make checks payable to MS Society for a tax deduction)

Thank you for your support of this important cause. I hope you will “accept the challenge,” and be a part of this awesome event! Please feel free to contact me or the Pineview crew, via Facebook, if you have any questions.

Please forward the link below to tell all your friends about the event…the more friends we can touch, the better our chances of reaching our 2011 goal!

http://bmxurl.com/alisemsrace2

Thanks again, and we look forward to reporting our (record!) progress, here on BMX News, soon after the event.

-Alise Post and the Pineview Park BMX crew

Alise Post: “I had a terrible, freak accident”

In what was sure to be one of the most contentious battles of the 2010 ABA Grands weekend, fate dealt a punishing blow to Alise Post late Monday afternoon. BMX NEWS brought early details of Alise’s season-ending injury just before lights out Monday night. Still, it was Alise’s idea to address her fans directly by writing the following “In Her Own Words” article on the accident.

We are grateful to hear that Alise was not more seriously hurt, and that prospects are overwhelmingly positive for a full recovery and return to the big hill in 2011.

“A terrible, freak accident.”
By Alise Post, November 22, 2010

After a great season, and a 40-point lead heading into the 2010 ABA Grand National, I had a terrible, freak accident today.

Sam, Wade (Bootes), and myself went over to the Chula Vista ABA track for a little 20-30 minute play session on our bikes, just to have a quick “touch up” and make sure we were feeling good for the race.

Toward the end of the session, I took a slow run at the first double on the second straight to try and get a pull-manual I had been working on. I wanted to make it so bad that I yanked up on my handlebars wayyyy too hard, and almost looped out. To try and save it, I unclipped my right foot and put it down thinking I was going slow enough to run out of it. Unfortunately, I planted my foot just the wrong way (due to many ankle sprains/rolls in both gymnastics and track and field, the ligaments in my ankles are already fairly overstretched and will roll easily, but usually without any consequences).

My weak ankles didn’t help me out in this situation, because when my ankle rolled outwards, the doctors say, my ligaments stretched a little too far and ended up tearing, leaving my fibula bone no support and allowing it to break. There is no official confirmation that any of the ligaments are torn, and I will be getting an MRI shortly to confirm this likely outcome.

X-Rays, however, have confirmed a clear fracture across my entire right Fibula (the smaller outside bone in your lower leg) just above the frequent “high ankle sprains” you hear about in professional hockey, football, etc. I am not in a full cast yet as the swelling is pretty out of hand, and it is likely I will need surgery next week at home in Minnesota if the MRI confirms torn ligaments.

Surgery could entail placement of screws and a plate to hold the Fibula and Tibia bones together (which will later be removed), some ligament repairs, and up to a 3-month, no-weight-bearing recovery, followed by few months of intense rehabilitation. However, this is worst case scenario, so I can only hope things turn out better than they look now, and my youth, health, fitness, support, OTC rehab, and mental toughness get me through a speedy recovery and back to BMX stronger than ever!

Needless to say I will not be racing the Grands this year. I may make an appearance, but I will need to be extremely careful. Doctors warned me that if my leg is bumped at this point, the bone will likely displace further and the injury could become worse. But hey, I gotta support my buddies!

They say that “you’re only one crash away from the end of your career” in BMX. So I guess for Thanksgiving, I will be thankful that I have an injury I can come back from and lots of support from my friends and family. Little did I know that on one of my last runs, 25 minutes into the session, and my last 5 minutes of training before I took off to Tulsa, I would take a wimpy little, slow-paced crash that would end my hopes of winning the ABA National #1 title. It’s crazy…a year’s worth of work and “BAM!,” gone in the blink of an eye.

But, there’s no reason to dwell on this incident. The reason I wrote this update is for everyone to know the full story, so we can all move past this accident and look forward to the bigger and better things that lie in my future.

“Don’t dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward.”
Denis Waitley, best-selling author and motivational speaker

Thanks for the support everyone, and happy holidays!
—Alise Post
Redline #11

Our thanks to Alise for telling her story here on News. We will be keeping you “Posted” on new developments as they unfold, and Alise says she will also be writing about her recovery on her GO211 blog in the coming weeks and months.

Broken Hearts Over Alise’s Broken Leg

At 10:35PM EST this evening, Vintage carried a thread with a rumor that Alise Post broke her leg (“Confirm or Deny,” it said). It seemed like a classic hoax, or maybe just some mistaken intel (no aspersions cast upon “mannequinforce,” the thread creator…but we all get wild rumors that later turn out to be stinkers).

News traded text messages with Alise, and it is with great sadness that we report the rumor is, in fact, true.

Alise was out this afternoon riding the Amateur track at Chula Vista with Sam Willoughby and Wade Bootes, at a recreational pace, when things went wrong over the double coming out of turn one. She hung her toe on the backside of the jump, and the resulting landing broke her right Fibula. In a tragic irony, it was the last lap of the session and they were headed off the track–somewhat of a freak accident.

Alise says that doctors characterize the injury as also possibly involving torn ankle ligaments (an MRI tomorrow will tell for sure) and surgery is likely next week. Recovery time on injuries of this nature is typically 3-6 months depending on the severity, according to BMXNEWS sources.

Going into this week’s ABA Grand National, Alise holds a 40-point lead on the ABA National Number One Pro Women’s title over long-time rival Dominique Daniels.

Alise will be writing an “In Her Own Words” piece for News, which we will post tomorrow. But before the rumor mill spun too far out of control, Alise gave us permission to bring you some early facts on this heartbreaking development.

All of us here at NEWS wish Alise a quick and more-than-full recovery in 2011.

Stay tuned to BMXNEWS.COM for Alise’s story.

Team USA Women Train with US Navy SEALs

Last month, Alise Post’s Facebook profile had a photo album from the Fréjus trip showing her, Amanda Geving, Arielle Martin and Brooke Crain having some pre-race fun on an obstacle course in the French countryside. On one of the photos, we wrote “I can see the headline now: ‘Elite BMX Women the first females accepted in to Légion étrangère’ (the French Foreign Legion).”

Naturally, we were kidding. But when we got word this week that three of them took in a day of training with the US Navy SEALs…well, who knows what may lie ahead. Like the movie “GI Jane,” Oakley gear and all.

In all seriousness, there is no doubt that graduates of the SEALs 24-week “BUD/S” (for Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL) school are among the most capable and respected operators in the history of warfare.

In BMX Racing, we have a deep respect for our top-hand athletes, who live, eat and breathe their craft. When they are not on an airplane to the next “job site,” they are training relentlessly to get ready for the gig. Brooke, Arielle and Alise took that training to a new level this week when they (along with the USA Velodrome team) joined the SEALs at their base in Coronado, CA (near the US Olympic Training Center/ Chula Vista). The fact that these three BMXers could keep up with the elite SEAL recruits for a full day of training shows the level of physical and mental conditioning involved in BMX Racing at the highest level.

News asked Arielle, Brooke and Alise to write a few paragraphs on their experience. We are very proud to bring you their story.

By Arielle Verhaaren
I first heard about “Navy SEAL Training” back in ’08 when the USA Track and Field team went through it. Rumors started flying around the OTC about how brutal it was, how many people dropped out, and how sore they all were when it was over. Even back then, I immediately started asking how I could get in on this gig. As a military wife, with a husband serving in Special Operations, I have a great deal of respect for the Special Forces. It is universally-agreed among all military branches that the Navy SEALs “BUD/S” course is the toughest, roughest and most revered training a soldier can receive. Of course I wanted in!  Two years later, our Sports Psych had it arranged and Alise, Brooke, and myself were off to Coronado to throw down the gauntlet, along side USA Velodrome.
 
I’ll let them tell you how tough it was, how teamwork took us to the top, and how much sand we are still finding in places it doesn’t belong. I have never done anything so physically demanding in my life. Being so far out of the familiar BMX training element forced us to dig deeper than we thought possible–just to survive. I’ve never hated running and push ups more than I did that day. It’s amazing what the human body is capable of, and how much farther it can be pushed once you find that state of mind and turn it on. My body was absolutely trashed when we finished (still is actually) but i’ve been on a mental high ever since. It was a very special experience, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I have been humbled as an athlete, a wife, and an American.

–Arielle Verhaaren

By Brooke Crain
When the OTC Sports Psychologist invited me to do a day of training with the US Navy SEALs, my first thought was “I’m going to die out there.” But of course I wanted to do it.

We started out with a warmup run–up, then down the sand hills on the base. After that, I was already feeling tired. As everyone in the BMX world knows, we are sprinters not long distance…anything. The SEALs training was, by far, the hardest thing I have ever done in my life.

Being the youngest one in the training, I was chosen to be the leader. I was not very thrilled about this because I don’t like yelling at people– especially people I don’t know. Being the leader, I would call out “down” and “ready,” in the drills. Toward the end, when I had to call the push ups, we were all in the “up” position for what seemed like hours. My arms were burning I just wanted to quit. Tears were rolling down my face, but I pushed through it.

Two days later, I am still sore all over my body. Training with the SEALs will make me think differently in life. These guys are incredible, and how they do what they do every day is amazing. I learned how much the body can take, even when you think it can’t handle anymore. I learned that there is a “switch” in your head that tells you that you’re tired, but if you can learn to turn that switch off and keep going you can do so much more than you ever thought possible. I had to dig down deep for this training and I’m very proud of what my teammates and I accomplished.

I learned a lot about my teammates, Alise and Arielle, that day. We have become a lot closer just by going through that pain together. We worked as a true team for the first time, and we were there for each other–rather then it always being a competition between us.  It was an amazing experience, that I will never forget. Training with the Navy Seals made me so thankful for all of those who serve our country and how much hard work they put in just so we can all be free. Those men and women are amazing and I couldn’t thank them enough.

—-Brooke Crain
 
By Alise Post

“Hey ladies, what do you think about training with the Navy SEALs for a day?”

“Oh heck yeah! The track and field people did that and said it was so hard a lot of people had to ‘tap out.’ I wanna see if I’ve got what it takes!”

When I accepted this offer from USOC Sports Psych Wendy Borlabi, it was definitely my competitive side speaking. After hearing about the difficulty of the training, of course I wanted to test my abilities (because that’s what athletes do…they compete–in EVERYTHING!). And honestly, I also wanted to prove to myself that I am just as tough as the big crazy meatheads who yell all the time just to put fear in people; that’s the kind of people I thought Navy SEALs were. However I learned a lot about the approach and reasoning behind their training, and actually gained a lot of respect for what they do, and the kind of person it takes to become a SEAL.

I won’t lie that I went into this pretty nervous, but was still confident that with my history in sport, and Arielle and Brooke right there with me, I would be able to push through just fine. My confidence however, was tested immediately when we got to the base in Coronado and started with a “light” run up and down a giant sand berm over to the classroom. Every one of us was already panting pretty heavily at this point, and sadly I questioned if I would actually be able to make it through the whole day in those first 10 minutes.

When we got into the classroom though, my emotions took another turn. I was completely inspired by their stories, and explanation to why they were so hard on their soldiers, because in all actuality it related a lot to the mentality of sport. They physically break their soldiers down to the point that their bodies can no longer function without using mental toughness. They force them to use the power of the mind, while under pressure, so they can prove they have what it takes under any circumstances to perform their tasks. As if that doesn’t sound familiar enough to an athlete’s mentality, they talked about some of the techniques they use to get through tough times: goal setting, visualization, motivational self-talk, and breathing. It was great to hear these things, then directly apply them to a situation completely out of my comfort zone and see how well I was able to cope.

We started with the giant obstacle course (O-course), which I found myself to get through without too much of a struggle. Having gained some confidence back, I had high hopes for the rest of the day. Then, when we moved into running over sand berms, carrying logs and boats, and being covered from head to toe in 10lbs water weight and 10 lbs sand (that was blinding you with no way to rub it off), all while being timed and with limited hydration, my emotions took yet another turn. It took a ton of mental toughness, not only to get through MY day…but also to support my teammates and help them get through theirs, as they were helping me. Brooke, Arielle, and I suffered a lot of pain together that day, and I believe we created a bond through that which will only help us work together to become the best we can be down the road.

I thank the Navy SEALs for the emotional roller coaster ride of a lifetime and teaching me a lot about my teammates, and myself. I gained a lot of respect for what they, and all military, do day in and day out. I will carry the values they taught me throughout my BMX career and everyday life.

Oh, and I guess I’d also like to thank them for making me the sorest I’ve ever been as well =)

–Alise Post
Redline #1

Photos courtesy of Daniel Walker, via Facebook

Amped Up After Twin Wins, Alise Jets to Twin Cities for First-Annual MS Race

Alise Post had a pretty busy Memorial Day Weekend. Starting in her adoptive home of San Diego, she flew to Albequerque on Friday for the ABA Spring Nationals, captured two impressive Elite wins at Duke City BMX…then beat feet to ABQ airport after the Sunday Main, in order to grab a big bird to MSP, then the 80 mile roll to her home town of St. Cloud. Missed flights or leisurely strolls through the terminal were not an option, as the Redline star had an army of old friends waiting to greet her at a special race the following day. The First Annual “Race for the Cure” was organized by a core group of volunteers at Pineview Park BMX, Alise’s parents, Mark and Cheryl Post chief among them. The race would benefit the MS Society in hopes for an eventual cure for Multiple Sclerosis.

Alise has taken up this cause because it has affected someone very dear to her, namely Colleen Stark-Haws a gymnastics coach who was very influential in her gymnastics career and, as Cheryl Post told BMXNEWS, “helped Alise become the person she is today.”

BMXNEWS asked Alise to write a recap of the day, in her own words. We know all of you would much rather hear from her, than from us

Alise Post’s 1st Annual MS Race For The Cure was a SUCCESS!!!

By Alise Post

After collecting numerous donations and prizes, and accomplishing two big wins in Albequerque, NM, it was great to go back home to Minnesota on a high note to set the tone for yet another great success the next day…The MS Race For The Cure.

I just wanted to thank everyone for all of the support given to my first charity race that took place at my local track, Pineview Park BMX this past Memorial Day in St. Cloud, MN. It was an extremely successful event with over 200 riders attending the local, single points race. In the end, we raised almost $5,000 dollars to donate to the MS Society. Going into the event, we all agreed that if we raised even $1,000 we would consider the event a success. To turn around and earn five-times that amount was unbelievable, and I cannot find words to describe how thankful I am for all of the support in helping me give back.

Lemonade stands, corporate sponsors, individual donations, a huge raffle, and an amazing group of volunteers at Pineview Park BMX made this event possible. The raffle was the centerpiece of our fundraising efforts, which included some signed Redline jerseys I donated to the cause, as well as prizes and BMX memorabilia from all of my sponsors, local businesses, 2008 Olympians, and 2012 Olympic hopefuls. Thanks to the following for making this more successful than I had ever hoped:

Redline Bicycles, JBL/Harman, go211.com, Tangent Products, Oakley, Fly Racing, Lizard Skins, Rehbeins BMX, Mike’s Bikes of MN, Bernicks Pepsi, Cash Wise, Great Clips, Noodles & Co, Applebees, Erick’s Bike Shop, Monster, Swatch Watch, Anderson Trucking,

Pro BMX Memorabilia from:
Sam Willoughby, Maris Strombergs, Donny Robinson,Jason Carnes, Denzel Stein, Masa Sampei, Kyle Bennett, Nic Long, Corben Sharrah, Tyler Brown, Khalen Young, David Herman, Jared Graves, Randy Stumpfhauser

A little background: Joel and Colleen Stark-Haws were two of my gymnastics coaches at Tech High School. They helped my team to 4 consecutive 2nd Place Team finishes, and coached me to 3 consecutive Individual State titles as well.

Not only did they play a role in my gymnastics life, they soon brought their son Eli out to Pineview Park, and became avid racers and dedicated volunteers for many years. They mainly ran concessions, but also positively mentored many new racers just as they had mentored me.

Colleen and Joel continue to lead by example and naturally command respect by the way they live. They walk the walk, expecting you to rise to every challenge before you. Needless to say, they always inspire and challenge you to be the best you can be, not only as an athlete, but more importantly as a person. Less than 100% effort is never an option, and their standards are extremely high.

Colleen never complains about her difficult fight with MS, but she expects you to give your best, without complaint, in return. As EVERYONE who has ever met her and her family would say, “They are genuinely amazing and inspiring people”.
When introducing their story at the event, we were all overcome by emotion. My mom or dad could not make it through more than one line before losing it, and I was fighting back tears throughout my whole speech. These people have been like second parents to me, and with Colleen suffering a very progressive form of MS, the sooner we can find a cure, the better.

Colleen informed me that once a cure is found for MS, a whole slew of neurological diseases would also be cured. In the coming years, I hope to help all of those fighting these terrible diseases, so they do not have to suffer what Colleen did: going from walking and choreographing gymnastics routines, to sitting in a wheelchair, within the span of one year.

This event’s success encouraged me to make this an annual event, so everyone can look to participate in the Second Annual MS Race For The Cure, in 2011. Hopefully, we can blow this year’s total out of the water, and aid in finding a cure for MS and many other neurological diseases!

Thank you to all.

Sincerely,
Alise Post

Some Photos from the first-annual MS Race For The Cure

A big BMXNEWS congratulations to Alise and the rest of the event organizers for a job well done. Also, thanks to Alise for taking time out of her busy schedule to write this recap for us! We look forward to hearing more about the 2011 event!

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