ASPEN, Colo. - Being at the Winter X Games and seeing the perfectly polished halfpipe off in the distance has snowboarder Kaitlyn Farrington itching to try out some of her newest tricks.Like that backside 1080 — featuring three full rotations — that shes been mastering.Those days are now behind Farrington. No more twisting. No more spinning. No more of anything that involves her board leaving the snow.The gold medallist at the Sochi Olympics was forced to retire from competitions last week after doctors discovered a degenerative spine condition.Olympic champ done at 25 — its still something shes trying to wrap her mind around.She has a condition known as stenosis, which is a narrowing of the spinal cord and something shes had since birth. It was only detected after a crash three months ago in Austria that left her momentarily without feeling all the way to her toes.Shes thankful to have caught it before something more serious happened. And thankful the timing was such that she had a chance to win a gold medal in the halfpipe last February. Because that, they can never take away from her.This has been the craziest year of my life, said Farrington, who will be a spectator for the womens halfpipe final Saturday after finishing third last year. Win the gold medal and then find out that I have this condition and I cant ride halfpipe ever again?Its been wild, especially processing all of this.She showed up in Aspen to be a part of the social scene, and squeeze in some riding. No big air, of course.Im a grounded snowboarder as of now, she said. Its really hard, too.For so much of her life, she was Kaitlyn the Snowboarder. The sport was part of her identity, and her career reached an entirely new level on a magical night in Russia last winter when she edged a pair of former Olympic champions, Torah Bright and Kelly Clark.Farrington surprised everyone. Including herself.I dont think I knew I was going to come here and get a gold medal. I still dont really believe it, she said a few hours after her win.Now, shes trying to figure out the next act. Could be commentary work. Or maybe mentoring an up-and-comer (just not now, because shes not ready to coach yet).Hopefully, Ill still be Kaitlyn the Snowboarder or Kaitlyn the Celebrity, said Farrington, who was raised in Idaho and whose family sold livestock from their ranch to finance her career. I had some more things I wanted to do in the pipe. Its cut short now.But I feel like coming here (to Winter X) is about not letting snowboarding get fully taken away from me.Never has Farrington really had any sort of issues with her back. Only an accident alerted her to a potentially serious condition.At a photo shoot for a sponsor last October in Austria, Farrington was trying to land a jump when she fell backward and onto her upper back. She lost feeling all over her body. For nearly two minutes, she said she felt nothing, before sensation began to return. She convinced everyone she didnt need to go to the hospital, though, and even went snowboarding the next day, despite a burning feeling in her shoulders.Following a visit to her physical therapist back in the U.S., she decided to get her back checked out.Soon after, doctors were saying her career was over.They were like, With what youve chosen to do, youre so lucky you havent had another incident like this, Farrington said. Now that Ive had an episode, its more likely to come up again.Appearing at Winter X this week was a chance to explain to everyone what exactly happened to her. Farrington showed up at the Dew Tour a month ago and wasnt quite ready to share the bad news. She just told everyone shed be back in time for Winter X.And she is, too, she just cant compete.Its very bittersweet being here right now. I cried probably about 10 times from athletes hugging me, Farrington said. Now that everyone knows, people have sent me text messages saying, It was so great knowing you. Im like, Im not dead. Im still here.People think Im disappearing. Youre not going to get rid of me.___Follow Pat Graham on Twitter: http://twitter.com/pgraham34Greg Olsen Panthers Jersey . The team said Saturday that the 36-year-old Robidas is expected to miss four to six months, jeopardizing his return this season. He was injured when he slid hard into the boards in the second period of a 2-1 shootout loss to Chicago on Friday. Luke Kuechly Panthers Jersey . Costa injured his right thigh muscle against Barcelona last Saturday and had sought treatment in Belgrade from a doctor specializing in using fluid derived from horse placenta to repair damaged cells. http://www.shoppanthersonline.us/panthers-donte-jackson-blue-jersey/ . Hargreaves began his career in 2008 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has played with the Edmonton Eskimos and last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Christian McCaffrey Youth Jersey . Sizemore, who turned 29 on Jan. 4, has been limited to six games over the past two seasons because of an injured left knee that twice required surgery. He originally got hurt on Feb. 25, 2012, during a fielding drill in Oaklands first full-squad spring training workout and had surgery that March 21 to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Sam Mills Jersey .ca presents its latest weekly power rankings for the 2013-14 Barclays Premier League season.As the memorable 2013 season — albeit, for less than desirable reasons — draws to a close, fans of the 3-13 Winnipeg Blue Bombers are going to be seeing changes for 2014 beyond the players on the field, coaches on the sideline, or brass in the front office. The football club recently announced an increase in season ticket prices in five of the seven categories at Investors Group Field for 2014. While most increases are in the two to three per cent range, the clubs most affordable season tickets will jump from $199 to $250 — a 26 per cent leap. But while fans in the stands may not be enthused by current trends, things have been looking up as head coach Tim Burke continues his late-season mantra of improvement, growth, and development for his team headed into next season. The offence has begun to click as of late under mid-season offensive coordinator appointee Marcel Bellefeuille, with rookie quarterback Max Hall passing for a career-best 385 yards while leading his team to season-highs of 466 yards of offence and 25 first downs this week at home against the Argonauts. Halls 385 through the air is the second-highest total put up by a Bombers passer over the last four seasons. With Winnipeg in the Big Smoke for a rematch at Rogers Centre on Thursday night, the Blue and Gold hope to see similar production out of some starters who are trying to make a name for themselves. Running back Will Ford, who started the season aas the No.dddddddddddd 2 on the depth chart, continues his push to be the undisputed No. 1 headed into the offseason. His 324 rushing yards over the last three games ranks third league-wide, while he remains a dangerous threat as the deep man on kick and punt returns. Former NFL-standout Mike Sims-Walker made his first career CFL start last week, and while he has been ruled out this week with a sore and swollen knee, he definitely left an impression. His 8 receptions for 137 yards while in for Aaron Kelly on Saturday included four for first downs and 52 yards after the catch. The soon to be 29-year-old remains under contract next season. Notes: Young Canadian offensive lineman Patrick Neufeld will not dress for his first game in Blue and Gold this week after coming over from Saskatchewan in the Alex Hall trade... Wide receiver Aaron Kelly returns to his starting role with Sims-Walker out... Wallace Miles is slated to make his first start of the season in place of Terrence Edwards at slotback... Running back Mario Fannin is slated to dress for his first game after being signed to the practice roster on October 1... The defence will look relatively the same for their rematch with the Boatmen, as starting nickelback Desia Dunn moves back in for Jeremy McGee who suffered a hamstring pull against Toronto, and backup defensive lineman Michael McAdoo will dress for J.D. Griggs who has been placed on the one-game injured list. ' ' '