Tail press

Exercise your legs more=no pain.

same issue dont think it has anything to do with boots a soft boot i would say its easier with stiff boots more responsive unlike the soft boots

I've had the same problem lately, but for me, I know that it's because I have shin splints and the pressure from the back of my boot to my calf is causing me shin splint pain. Not sure about the knee though. Do you run a lot?

I run like 2-3 times a week cause I play rugby. I tore my acl twice a few years ago. It's always gonna bother me so I'm not too concerned about that. I'm more concerned with the fact that I suck at presses and wanna get better haha. Someone recommended to pop into my tails rather than just lean into it but idk

what kind of skis do you have? also what kind of boots do you have? The pain is most likely because of your boots if they're 4 years old, I would be surprised if the liners weren't super packed out(the padding is worn down and thin) and that is what a lot of pain can come from. I used to hate going skiing because my legs would hurt so much because of my boots, but now with new(good) boots my legs feel great. If you have stiff skis, then that would be why you can't press very high. also just to clarify you are talking about this kind of tail press

K2 empress's and I have Rossi boots. Idk what specific boot they are tho haha. That's the kind of press I've been trying to do but I don't expect to get that high up. Not yet at least haha I just wanna be able to get my tips 2i-3sh feet off the ground haha when I'm just standing still I can pop into my tails and my skis flex a lot but it's hard to get them to flex with just leaning into it...If that makes any sense lolol

You need to sort of pop into it. Then when your skis start to fight you out of the press, you need to fight it. It's like a wheelie on a bike, you have to continue leaning back even though the bike wants the front wheel to go down

More flex in skis make it easier. Stiffer skis are doable but harder in my opinion

If you only slide your feet forward you won't generate enough force to put yourself into a tail press. You need to throw backwards hard if you want to get a good press.

Pop as if you were going to backflip. Just lean back with an explosive force. And it is going to hurt your legs, ski boots aren't designed for tail presses

If I'm trying to do forward presses down the trail (like a wheelie or manual), I go fairly fast, prep an ollie like I need to get over a fence or something, but at the point were I'd pop the tails up and level out I don't level out but I sit back and push the tails back into the ground. Once you're ready to go back forward, pop off the tails again and this time level out. So I'd say to do these, just work on getting your ollies really good.

If I'm trying to butter press (like spin with the press, even it's just to get sideways and then go back to forward), I go slower on a flat section of a trail (or a roller) and sit back, the key is to not sit back too far or nothing will happen, you have to almost pull up with your feet. You need to find the hinge point on your skis and sit into that point...this one is all about body position. It's easier to learn them switch and spin (try going REALLY slow and doing a switch tail butter...it'll help you find the right body position).

Either way you're trying to do it, it shouldn't really hurt...it might if you're doing them all the time (if it's that, just take a break from them for a few runs then go back to them).