# @theskierguy on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/C0CjH1CRQsF
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/76615114-theskierguy-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/9544a351fa.jpg
- **Posted:** 2023-11-24T19:05:53.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Austin Becker | Skier | Podcaster | Creative Director (@theskierguy) — https://gondola.cc/theskierguy

## Caption

Here’s the wild story 👇👇…

In 2016 I had a ski accident that completely changed my life. I broke several vertebrae in my neck and back and had to relearn how to do everything (walk, exercise, ski). That day in 2016 was also the first time I had ever been prescribed Oxycontin, which also changed my life forever. I spent years addicted to painkillers, street drugs, and alcohol. Desperately trying to make a comeback to skiing, my life, and photography but kept failing. In April of 2018 I turned my life around, got clean, and especially got back to doing what I love... skiing and photography. I spend my days skiing, playing in the mountains of Colorado, working with awesome companies and showcasing their brands, and trying to help the community at large get clean from this worldwide opiate epidemic. I took a lot of inspiration from other skiers that struggled similarly, @aschlopy in particular, you’re a legend Alex!

I can’t thank all you guys enough for the support over the years! 

#mentalhealthawareness #substanceusedisorder #substanceabuseawareness #sud #suds #skiing #photography #colorado #thanksgiving #grateful

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 1,150
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 35

## Credits

No public credits are recorded here. This does not identify who made the post.

## Tags

skiing, colorado, suds, photography, substanceabuseawareness, substanceusedisorder, grateful, sud, thanksgiving, mentalhealthawareness

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