New boots, more lessons or both?

Hi all. I came across this site a few years ago while checking the snow forecast for a resort we were about to visit, (was it St. Anton or Serre Chevalier? I forget.) Time to 'fess up' to being an intermittent stalker before I hit you with my first question. I must also 'fess up' to posting the same question on the 'Snowheads forum. I'm too lazy to re-write it so here goes with a little cut and paste job.

I own a pair of Salomon X-Wave9 ski boots which, performance-wise, I can not fault, but while they are very comfortable on my feet, they don't half give my shin bones some 'gyp'.

A little bit of background here. I am a 179cm/90kg aggressive intermediate skier with about 15 trips under my belt and while I have the ability and confidence to get down most things (eg le Tunnel, ADH and la Balma, Monte Rosa), I'm the first to admit that it ain't always pretty! I also like to ski fast, when conditions allow it. About 25 years ago I broke my right tib & fib (not skiing). The break has healed perfectly, save for a raised callus on the shin bone which is hardly visible but is very noticeable to the touch. Another thing I ought to mention is my conformation. My calf muscles, while being reasonably well-developed, are quite short, leaving me with quite a length of little more than skin and bone along the bottom third of my lower legs.

What seems to happen, is that as the week progresses the skin on the front of my right lower leg becomes increasingly tender, (it has blistered and broken in the past) then the skin over my left (not nobbly) shin bone comes out in sympathy. I wonder if this is because I am compensating for my, by now, painful right shin or if it has nothing to do with my compensating and it simply manifests first on my right shin because that's the nobbly one?

I returned from the Dolomites 3 weeks ago where, while still a bit painful at times, it was less of a problem than it had been in previous years. I was wondering if this was due to the beautifully groomed pistes, my improving technique, or a bit of both? Just thought I'd run this by you guys to see if I need to be spending my money on new boots, (would rather not unless I really had to) more lessons, (not averse to that) or both.

Thanks in anticipation, Gaz.

Interesting one.
I wouldn't suggest new boots, but I would suggest taking them into a boot expert and discussing the problem.
Maybe worth also considering the type of socks you wear?
Lessons may correct a position if you have a particularly bad one, but I doubt that.
You may end up here with boot liners, depending on what the boot fitter says.
Don;t throw money at the problem YET, take advice first.
I wouldn't know where to recommend, other than CEM who sometimes posts on here and has a shop in Bicester.

Gaz C wrote:Another thing I ought to mention is my conformation. My calf muscles, while being reasonably well-developed, are quite short, leaving me with quite a length of little more than skin and bone along the bottom third of my lower legs.

Do you think your "short" muscles resulted from the leg break way back? May well be that the root of your issue goes back to then.

I'd be inclined to start with a specialist (ski/sports) physio to assess your legs (muscles, bones, flex, etc.), work out exactly what the problem is and go from there. You might end up with a programme of gym exercises and stretches that go a long way to fixing things.

A boot fitter should be able to find a way to cushion your shin while making space for your callus, but it does sound as if there's something more fundamental going on with your legs.

HTH... but you now have the summer to find a solution. 8)

You need to go and see a boot fitter. Take your old boots, see if they can be saved and if not get some new ones. It really is worth going to specialist shop, unlike skis which get better every year boots show very little evolution. Better to spend 25-50% more than off shelf price as they will last you 5-10 years and makes huge difference to your enjoyment of skiing. Sounds to me like current boots are too big and you compensate by cranking them. Unfortunately this will never compensate for having foot and heel locked correctly in place hence blisters and irritation.

Tony_H wrote:Interesting one.

My thoughts exactly. I didn't know how to answer but i don't think new boots or lessons are the solution....
Perhaps somehow learning to deal with and make the best of what you have. But i agree a decent boot fitter would be my first port of call.

Thanks for the prompt replies y'all. Some interesting suggestions there.

Tony: I'm with you on the advice versus money front. Bicester is a bit of a schlepp from sunny Warrington but I hear lots of good things about Graham at Rivington Alpine, so I shall be paying him a visit sometime soon. You made a good observation about socks; I hadn't given them much thought before. I have a pretty mixed bag (Thorlos and Nordica), but oddly enough, the socks I seem to get along best with are the anatomic ski socks from Lidl (you know, the ones that are re-packaged as motor-cycle socks at the end of the ski season :evil: ). I don't think my position is particularly bad; I guess my biggest fault is a tendency to (still) over-rotate my upper body. I'm working on it. I do sometimes lack finesse and subtlety, preferring to 'let 'em run' and just blasting through the crud and over the ripples. As I said in my first post, 'It ain't always pretty'. Seems to work for me most of the time though :twisted: . I do wonder if this 'caveman' approach places too much pressure on the contact point between the tongue of the boots and the shin bones?

Admin: I have always thought about your suggestion the other way round, ie did the leg break occur as a result of my short calf muscles? I was 24 years old at the time and it was just an awkward, heavy landing on the squash court. If I had gone over the other way I reckon I would have got away with a sprained or twisted ankle. Unfortunately, my 'Guardian Angel' was on her tea-break: result=compound fracture :cry: . I can't help wondering if the leg would have gone 'snap' if there had been a little more meat on the bone. The break healed really well, I had loads of physio but the Achilles tendon is slightly shorter, resulting in marginally less mobility. Exercises and stretches have got to be worth a try.

Ranchero: I'm pretty certain that my boots are the correct (foot) size. I'm never conscious of any heel movement while skiing in them. I do agree that it's worth paying whatever it costs for a custom fit. It's what I shall do next time (next year if necessary). This issue aside, they have been
great boots and I just want to spend a little more time investigating the possibility of a 'cheap fix.'

So, that's about the state of play. Other suggestions have included shaving the prone area, neoprene or gel inserts (Snow Angels look interesting) and, bizarrely enough, pantie-liners :shock: (in my boots not in my panties!!!) I'm kicking myself for asking the question when my season is over; wearing my X-waves with shaven legs down the pub might result in a few raised eyebrows :lol: , but on the other hand, at least I have the rest of the year to crack on with the exercises. Much food for thought. Watch this space.

Gaz C wrote: from sunny Warrington

Another Northern Monkey :thumbup:

We are as good as neighbours with me in Bolton ;)

Have you thought about skiing with boots quite loose? If you are centred over the skis you shouldn't need boots done up tight (or so they teach at Warren Smith). You could try a days instruction with them as they look at the mechanics of your legs and style as part of the course. They teach at the indoor slopes. I know they do courses at Hemel Hempstead but they probably go to one nearer you as well. It certainly helped me.

And its an excuse to go skiing out of season :mrgreen: