 Poster: A snowHead
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Not sure if this is the right forum for this but here goes. I always feels as though my feet are at the wrong angle relative to the rest of my legs. If I stand so my legs are parallel, my feet end up at about 10 to 2. If I stand with my feet parallel it puts pressure on my knees and if I get into a skiing position with knees bent I end up knocked kneed. This can't be right for a good skiing technique. In desparation I've even thought about getting my bindings fixed on the skis at the appropriate angle to compensate. Fortunately I don't need to snowplough any more as I always found it very difficult as my legs/knees wouldn't bend in the right direction. Anyone else with the same problem/recomendations? 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Marvel, get yourself to a good bootfitter, who will be able to do work on your boots and get them to compensate for problems like that.
(oh, and Welcome to snowheads!)
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Marvel, you know the answer already mate - snowboard, duck stance 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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That was quick.
I did wonder whether there could be some boot adjustment that would compensate. Is that what the ankle cant adjustment is for? Or are there other adjustments that can be made?
I can't imagine taking up snowboarding just yet as I'm just starting to master skiing after 6 years trying.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Marvel wrote: |
That was quick.
I did wonder whether there could be some boot adjustment that would compensate. Is that what the ankle cant adjustment is for? Or are there other adjustments that can be made?
I can't imagine taking up snowboarding just yet as I'm just starting to master skiing after 6 years trying. |
The cant adjuster adjusts the lateral angle of the cuff relative to the sole of the boot, not really what you're looking for. Standing with feet pointed outwards is I think a symptom of over pronation which expert fitting will almost certainly help with, at this point I'm outside my area of expertise, a certain expert in animal husbandry of reduced stature may be along shortly if you're lucky with some professsional advice.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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If stand with my feet flat on the floor (at 10 to 2) my hips knees and ankles are in line. If I stand with feet at 12 o'clock and hips knees and ankles in line my instep tends to lift. I figured that the cant adjuster would correct this. If it doesn't what is it for?
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Marvel, Get yourself to a good bootfitter. They will work magic. Search this site for Profeet threads, and treat yourself to a day in London. Your feet deserve it. 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thanks for the warm welcome and the interesting links. Just to answer a couple of the questions in the more recent posts. We're skiing in Valmeinier in 2 weeks and Val Cenis in Feb maybe another late season if I can justify it. The general consensus seems to be to see a boot fitter which probably means I will need new boots too as mine are about 4 years old but supremely comfortable. Reading the Profeet site suggests I will end up with some inserts for my boots. Are they transferable between boots or is it another set each time? How specialised is boot fitting, is the local Ski Centre going to be able to do the same job?
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Marvel, in England there are only a handful of bootfitters worth talking to. Profeet are one, there's another at Leamington Spa (can't remember the name), but I'd be surprised if your local ski centre would have a good fitter.
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Wear The Fox Hat, The Leamington Spa bootfitter would be Lockwoods I expect. Marvel, the inserts that Profeet mention, are footbeds which will balance your foot within the boot and ensure that you can use the boot effectively. When I flex my knees they come together, but footbeds can counter this.
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You know it makes sense.
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there are a myriad of bootfitters with as many opinions concerning alignment. i have been to various practitioners here in colorado and have decided that EVENTUALLY works needs to be done on snow.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Marvel, All the advice given so far is valid.
However you issue sounds to me by the description so far like you have internally rotated femurs. Although not extremely common, is a resonably well documented issue.
A bootfitter, may only cure the symptom, whilst a good Sports Physio will ascertain the root cause.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Quick advert for the EpicSki Academy (where the pic above came from)
At the Academy we have a bootfitter (Bud Heismann) who comes out and skis with every skier, goes through a series of tasks on slope, and sometimes tries temporary shims/lifts on the slopes. All this is videoed. At the end of the day, if you want, he can make the necessary changes to your boots.
The analysis is included in the price of the Academy, and he tends to make the boot mods at greatly discounted prices.
Having a boot tech ski with you is, in my opinion, the best way for someone to see how you ski, and make adjustments to your equipment to help your skiing.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Marvel,
I have a similar problem but only on one foot. If I stand normally my right foot points to 2, when I flex my right knee "dives" towards my left (which flexes forward normally). For years, I have corrected for this when skiiing by rotating my knee and hip in to keep my ski pointing forward. It's awkward but manageable. Recently I think I may have had a breakthrough - someone suggested that a wedge/shim that lifted the inside of my right foot up might help. I've tried taping some strips of cereal packet to the inside/underside of my conformable foot beds and guess what, it works - when I flex my right knee goes forward straight and my foot does not rotate out. I also need to adjust the cuff (called canting but its not really, its about aligning the cuff to your lower leg) but this is a secondary issue.
Now that I think I'm onto something I'm going to invest in some proper boot-fitting.
My suggestion would be
a) get some professional boot fitting
b) if you want to convince yourself that its worthwhile, have a play as I did first but don't regard a DIY job as enough
Cheers,
J
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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More confirmation that I need to see a boot fitter. I'm still wondering whether to wait till I get new boots, which probably wont be till next year as my daughter needs skis this year, or get fitted now and hope they can be transfered to the new boots. I like the sound of diy boot fitting, what cereal packet did you use Jedster, Alpen?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Marvel, If you're happy with your old boots stick with them and get your feet sorted. If, later you get new boots, then worry about that. Boots should last you many, many years - I expect at least 90 weeks from each pair (3 years for me).
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Marvel,
If I were you I would first go to a podiatrist, and get a professional opinion. If necessary they may fit you with orthotics, which could help to alleviate the problem. Then once you understand a bit more about what the problem is, go to a reccommended bootfitter. You should be able to tell quickly if they understand your problem and know what they're talking about.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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easiski,
Guess you must have been unlucky! 
Technically my feet roll in, but the alignment person who watched me ski said I naturally compensate for it so no point messing about with things.
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| Wear The Fox Hat wrote: |
Quick advert for the EpicSki Academy (where the pic above came from)
At the Academy we have a bootfitter (Bud Heismann) who comes out and skis with every skier, goes through a series of tasks on slope, and sometimes tries temporary shims/lifts on the slopes. All this is videoed. At the end of the day, if you want, he can make the necessary changes to your boots.
The analysis is included in the price of the Academy, and he tends to make the boot mods at greatly discounted prices.
Having a boot tech ski with you is, in my opinion, the best way for someone to see how you ski, and make adjustments to your equipment to help your skiing. |
it's heishman
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Rusty Guy, thanks! (well, I got most of his name correct) 
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beanie1, Maybe, but I'm not at all convinced by major alignment changes anyway. In consultation with top biomechanists and physiologists and the University of Bath, they supported my view that if your body is already used to compensating (as you say for yourself), then it's a bad idea to change anything as this will load muscles and joints that are not used to it.
What mine did was over-correct a pronation so that I was thrown onto the outside of my feet. This resulted in Bursas which then developed blisters on top (not unlike Chammy Allcott last year). Spending 8+ hours a day in boots is not conducive to happy feet, but the only problem I'd had previously (and the reason for the consultation) was pain under the balls of my feet. I've since discovered (by myself, through trial an error), that this is due to overheating and pressure, an only occurs in warm weather. Therefore, she didn't help with the problem that I had and has half crippled me.
Putting up with the odd knee tweak is definitely less aggravating!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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cD5, excellent links
easiski, which system/guru was she a practitioner of?
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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slikedges, She was a regular podiatrist with additonal modules/training in sport biomechanics!
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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Marvel, you can at least take consolation that you have excellent feet for latin american dancing
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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easiski,
i think you're right there - the people I know who've had successful treatment with orthotics have all been children - thus their skeleton still growing.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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beanie1, This is precisely what my biomechanist mates say - once you're an adult it does more harm than good.
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FAQ
Seriously a nuicence. 
