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Real serious problem im facing

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Kimble87
Posts: 6 - Karma: 10
Hey everyone, Im Kimble and i just found this site; looks sweet! I've been improving at free skiing real good the last couple of years but my god have i got a bad situation on my hands. Long story short, last year my skiing got alot more aggressive; i got the feel of skiing really aggressive, with forward lean which gave me the feeling that i was really blasting through crud and powder by pushing down into the snow harder with my edges as i went faster and deeper. It almost felt as if my feet were directly pushing into the ground and could feel the pressure change uniformly all around as i carved left and round through my edges. I also felt really stable at high speeds and deep powder. Right when i figure this out and start to improve, i find out the ski boots i bought the year before me were too big and that they've packed out on me. My feet start sliding inside, and i always get thrown into the backseat and i lose all stability. My shins would be so banged up that even walking up a staircase would kill. I skiied with these boots for about 9 more days before the season ended. So this year i bought new ski boots and they're tight all around and i got them fitted right. But when i went on the hill today (Whistler had powdery conditions; i was on groomers, steeps and glades) even though i tried to lean forward like last year when i was improving i found myself getting thrown into the back seat and even when i did lean forward with my shins against the tongue of the boot i still just couldnt feel the pressure of my feet pushing down onto the edges uniformly; it felt really unstable. Im sure my technique has gone all funky because of the pain in my shins which prevented me from leaning forward once my boots packed in last year and because of the loss of muscle memory. Has this happened to anyone else? Can you guys give me any advice on what i can do to fix my form? Man this is frustrating. When i try to bend my knees with my new boots the flex stops them from bending down too much, and now i try to bend my knees down until my shins push up against the tongue, with pressure on the balls of my feet. Thanks, Kimble
Dec 17 2010 2:36AM
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Twinjibber77
Posts: 6239 - Karma: 2,356
Keep that athletic stance (knees bent) and flexing that boot as much as possible. First couple times this season and getting used to new boots could be the culprit. Just keep trying and get a feel for it. It sounds dumb but just take a lesson man, lessons higher up in the levels help immensely even when you've been sking for years! New ideas and things to practice come about all the time.
good luck!
Dec 17 2010 2:46AM
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Kimble87
Posts: 6 - Karma: 10
Yo Twinjibber thanks for the advice man; appreciate it! Do you know any other reasons why i might have lost the feeling of my foot pushing down into the snow to get stability and why my ski seems to lose contact with the snow? Thanks again guys
Dec 17 2010 3:17AM
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bd2510
Posts: 1 - Karma: 10
try to drive your knee toward the tip of your ski while simultaneously putting as much pressure on your toes as possible. get your hands in front and lower. also, you might want to adjust the cant on your boots for a higher edge angle (sharp edges too).
Dec 17 2010 3:30AM
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ESB
Posts: 9273 - Karma: 10,647
Hi Kimble. It definitely takes a little time to break in a new boot and get used to its characteristics, so the more you ski them, the more you'll get used to them.

That said, there might be a difference between the flex, and perhaps the forward lean, of your new boots versus the old ones. These factors can definitely affect your ability to get forward on your skis and feel those edges. With some boots you can adjust the forward lean. If the flex is the problem, then you just need stronger legs. ;)

Also, when you say you got the boots fitted - did you get a custom insole? A good insole can make all the difference in the world in facilitating control of your skis. Even a $40 Dr. Scholls thing from the store can make a big difference if you're currently riding on the insole that came with your boots.
Dec 17 2010 2:36PM
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Peach.
Posts: 3879 - Karma: 933

For future reference when posting images the last [IMG] tag should look like this [/IMG]

Don't be to concerned until you get used to the new boots. It can take a while. If you still feel like this in a couple weeks then come back.

Dec 17 2010 3:24PM
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
Do you have footbeds? Footbeds really help to lock your foot in I find.
Dec 17 2010 3:27PM
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Kimble87
Posts: 6 - Karma: 10
Thanks so much for your help guys; il adjust the cant, keep skiing and break these pups in. Yup i use a non-custom footbed.
Dec 17 2010 5:11PM
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
Booster straps are also a good add-on for any boot.
Dec 17 2010 5:22PM
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hoodratz47
Posts: 11992 - Karma: 9,211
yeah.. ski boots are the most important part of a setup in my opinion,     custom footbeds will change your world..   but attack your turns more and remember where your hands are at all times.  no pocket skiing.. and also check the angle of your hips as well. .  a lesson never hurts. your never to old to learn something new
Dec 17 2010 5:31PM
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Forkstealer
Posts: 508 - Karma: 16
You also want to make sure that when you turn, youre putting your skis on edge instead of just skidding around because when you try to skid you go backseat. Ski with the knees, not the hips.
Dec 17 2010 6:45PM
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hoodratz47
Posts: 11992 - Karma: 9,211
yeah.. very true.. but be able to ski good while skiing bad as well.
Dec 17 2010 6:47PM
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Kimble87
Posts: 6 - Karma: 10
Il keep all these in mind when i hit up the mountains again next week! Hey Hoodratz how should the angle of my hips be?
Dec 17 2010 9:11PM
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Kimble87
Posts: 6 - Karma: 10
Hey everyone; Ive been up here in snowy Whistler for the past 5 days enjoyin the powder and trying to break in the boots. So far its been the same; my feet shift back when i ski even the groomers when i try to bend my knees and ankles forward and i just cant feel those edges. I went to the local bootfitters here and they told me that i have an incredibly thin ankle base and put ive had to go in about twice now; once to put in padding and once to get a small foam padding on the bottom of the boot to push me back. But this just created some pressure points and i can still feel my feet sliding back and forth and i cant flex the boot properly.

My last boots were Salmon X-Wave 8.0 2007-8 and my new boots are the Rossignol Synergy Zenith 100 flex 2010-11. I weigh 175, 5"11.

Im going back to the bootfitter to get an eliminator tongue put in; if this doesnt work do you guys think i should invest in perhaps a booster strap?

This has seriously been driving me crazy; i cant even go down a groomer without losing control in the back seat


Dec 26 2010 12:55AM
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ski-racer
Posts: 60 - Karma: 11
If you want to get forward, next time you buy boots get good racing boots like nordic dobermans, technicas, etc. Read stuff about racing.  A key in racing is getting forward so us racers have it figured out.  Also when you put on your boots kick your heel into the back of your boot and then crank the top three buckles really tight.  I find thi shelps with sliding.  Hopefully you can get your problem fixed. good luck and good skiing.
Dec 26 2010 1:24AM
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Thenowhereman42
Posts: 5682 - Karma: 65
Whats form? I wouldn't worry about that I think its just something people used to do in the 80s.

Dec 26 2010 1:37AM
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Kimble87
Posts: 6 - Karma: 10
yea about the racing boots; the bootfitter said i gotta get rossis or lange as well because my feet are extremely narrow and that these two brands make em narrow. i do kick my heel back and tighten the top.
Dec 26 2010 2:22AM
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