Poster: A snowHead
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I get terrible burning pain in my thighs when skiing. Anybody else experience this and what can I do about it?
Thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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jb1970, Get fit, stop leaning back, get well fitted boots, warm up before skiing, read the Naked Ape.
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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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Take up snowboarding!
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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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jb1970, do you take lessons? Improving your technique would probably make the biggest difference. That's what I've found, over the years.
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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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Stop skiing and find a bar
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Stretch those quads thoroughl after skiing as well as before. I used to suffer really badly, fitness had/has something to do with it, but poor technique is an even bigger factor.
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Get fit certainly. Then booking some lessons with easiski may help. Under her guidance, bringing my weight forward helped my quads a lot.
And no, mods, I am not on commission from easiski
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Buy an exercise bike and actually use it: too many of them end up as clothes-horses!
Last edited by After all it is free on Thu 18-05-06 15:01; edited 1 time in total
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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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If you have the money to spend and if you want aerobic fitness, development of specific muscles and improvement in technique (the most important factor, IMO), buy a Skier's Edge machine.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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That looks a nifty bit of kit. How much is it ??
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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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Sparkygirl, there are a range of models and accessories. Prices range from about £1,000 to £3,000 from memory. Here's the web site with more details. Mine is the mid-range "Big Mountain" model, with a computer (which measures number of turns, percentage of max travel on each turn, calories burned, etc) a balance bar which replaces the poles and a "slope simulator", which sort of forces you to adopt a correct posture or fall off (that function can be disabed)! Actually, you soon notice how tired you get if your weight isn't properly centred. Anyway, my version came in at almost exactly £2k (in January).
I can thoroughly recommend it, and my instructor friends are impressed too!
Graham Bell is the UK distributor.
It's very solidly engineered, and also fun to assemble, if you like that sort of thing.
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laundryman, is it a noisy to use? I have a cross-trainer in my study (which is upstairs) and it's quiet enough to be used without disturbing anyone else in the house. Is the Skier's Edge quiet? Could it be used upstairs without shaking the whole house, or does it need a solid floor to base it on?
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You know it makes sense.
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rob@rar.org.uk, that's difficult for me to say; it does make some noise, but I'm not very conscious of it, because it's in a detached garage and I know I'm not disturbing anyone. In addition, I'm soon in that 'zen' state that the endorphins induce! When I'm looking at other people using it, I'm generally talking about technique and such like, so it's not as though I'm trying to concentrate on anything else.
It's on a solid concrete floor, so again no worries there; I think it would be borderline on floorboards in an upstairs room.
Sorry I can't be more specific.
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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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laundryman, rob@rar.org.uk, yes it's a little bit noisy - but not excessively so. If you really go for it it can move about too - even on a 'sticky' surface. When I'm in the gym and there's a music programme on the tv, I can still listen without turning the volume up too high. Ours is on a judo mat on floorboards insulated from a concrete floor, in a virtually soundproofed basement, so I can't say how sound would carry if it were in a room elsewhere in the house.
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Poster: A snowHead
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PG wrote: |
If you really go for it it can move about too - even on a 'sticky' surface. |
Yes, that's true.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I do have some reservations about the skiers edge, in terms of advanced skiing technique refinement.
It's a great machine for conditioning, patterning certain movements, trains extension & retraction etc.
But for me, it's missing the element that most aspiring skiers miss, that is the foot/leg rotation or pivoting movement. Crucial in finishing those turns off.
Also the ability to move the outside ski/leg through the completion of the turn, ie; fore-aft movement patterning.
Don't get me wrong it's a great machine, and has it's place. It's just that I've had to fix so *many* people that have just got used to pushing their feet/skis out laterally.
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Thu 18-05-06 17:20; edited 1 time in total
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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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veeeight, I agree - it would be great if the foot plates had that extra degree of freedom - especially if, like the "slope" tilt, it could be constrained within adjustable limits.
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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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jb1970, Coming in a little late on this one - could be a number of things - most mentioned by other people earlier. With me it is over-tight hamstrings - essentially a stretching issue. I get it regardless of whether I'm skiing well or backseat driving - although being in the backseat is a killer.
The point with this one is it is not something that instructors tend to notice when you are skiing - largely because you have ski pants on. It was first spotted with me on a skier's edge machine - more than one use for the things. Maybe worth thinking about when you've eliminated the obvious.
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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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With me it is over-tight hamstrings
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The normal symptom for tight hamstrings is a lower back pain/ache, in skiing.
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not something that instructors tend to notice when you are skiing
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Trust me, I do! Or rather the ones with knowledge in biomechanics do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Spent a couple of hours at a lecture by the resident osteopath and biomechanics expert at my daughter's school this afternoon. A real eye opener. Makes you wonder just how much pain and injury can be avoided by correct posture, safe stretching, balanced poise. And so many so-called stretching exercises we do just put massive and dangerous pressure on parts of the spine for example, rather than achieving the goal of extra flexibility.
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If I get this - and I do - it is a mistake in my technique: too much leaning to the back. Stand up better and have the weight in the middle, not in the back. That gives you tons more strength in a few seconds. The more your weight is in the back, the more you'll burn your thighs, the more you make mistakes and lean back probably and just get into a vicious circle of suffering! Trust me, I know from experience!
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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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I get this, but much less now - Euan did me some good (oops...who I met er..somewhere..but not at any SH event near the end of the season or anything...)
It was a case of bend a bit more at the knees, hips forward, so not leaning back as much - you end up holding yourself with your quads otherwise.
Still get it when I'm tired and the technique goes out the window though.
Squats & lunges with weights are good too, get in a body pump class down the gym.
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Nick Zotov, you sure you're not on commission? I need another lesson.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Helen Beaumont, yup. And do have one - or book a session. Some of the most effective instruction I've ever had. Plain-speaking style - but I am sure you'd cope. Oh - and Lutins bar in the evening alert.
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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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And so many so-called stretching exercises we do just put massive and dangerous pressure on parts
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Couldn't agree more. And please - no stretching cold muscles.
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It was a case of bend a bit more at the knees
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Do you mean ankles?
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You know it makes sense.
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jb1970, there's only one reason for thigh pain when skiing - your weight is too far back. No other reason at all. I don't remember this being an issue in LDA, but you've skiied a couple of weeks since - was it? I'm sure you didn't mention it! Anyway, there are lots of positioning exercises you can do which will put it right on their own (providing you actually do them). PM me if you're thinking of skiing before the PSB (you said you might come this year).
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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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I get bad thigh burn as well, I did not think it was my fitness as I am a very active runner/gym user.
This thread now makes it clear that is my technique. As I am hoping to go the PSB. easiski, I may just give you a PM later in the year when I can confirm my attendance, plus you could teach me how to ski down nursery slopes without face planting
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Poster: A snowHead
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easiski My weight probably is too far back. This wasn't an issue for me in LDA (at least not all the time!). When I took some private lessons in Selva in February, the instructor told me to be more "forward". Obviously, I just to have to try and maintain this as it is too easy to get into the habit of leaning too far back thus putting too much weight on the thighs. Would lunges and squatting exercises help to strengthen my thighs?
Don't know if I am coming to LDA this year, but hope to go to the EOSB.
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I'l PM you tomorrow with a couple of things you can do between skiing trips.
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easiski, could you post them in this thread? A lot of us could probably benefit.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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pam w, No - this is a secret exercise!!!!! I'll PM you if you like, but you don't have this issue do you???
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Similar posts were aired upon in the SCGB forum last November and I will make the same statement now as I did then. The quadriceps muscle group play a small part in the sport of downhill skiing. They are certainly not the main muscle group used in skiing. This misconception seems to be shared not only by a great percentage of skiers but also by many ski fitness instructors. I've lost count in the amount of skiers that have said to me that no matter how much they work on their quads & Hams before going skiing, they still suffer from burning thighs whilst skiing and their legs are knackered at the end of a skiing day. I'm not surprised... This misconception not only leads to bad skiing posture, but also potential irreparable knee injuries. Anyway, here are a few eye openers
The Muscles of the Upper Leg consists of 4 large muscle groups. When you are taking part in a skiing activity all these 4 muscle groups come into play at one time or another. In the front of your leg you have your Quadriceps. The quadriceps are crucial for optimum performance from a skier when engaged in negotiating bumps (moguls). These are the muscles that straighten and flex the thigh & knee joint when in dynamic action. Virtually acting as pistons when in full motion. But other than that, the quadriceps play no part in the actual sport of downhill skiing.
At the back of your leg you have your hamstrings, they act as antagonists to your quads. In other words they are opposing muscles to the quads, and like their counterparts, they play an important part in keeping your knee caps stabilised whilst in full motion. If you have weak hamstrings and strong quads, or visa versa, their is a very high potential of knee injury.
The large muscle group that makes up the inside of your leg (groin) are the Adductors. This muscle group acts as the prime movers for downhill skiing. This is the muscle group that performs the mechanics of skiing. The adduction, flexion and rotation of thigh, hip, knees and tibia are executed in one smooth and concerted movement. The adductors come into full play when you are steering your skis, when you are parallel skiing, carving, edging, slip sliding, skidding, herringboning, edging uphill sideways and emergency stops. The large muscle group on the outside of your leg are the abductors, they act as antagonists to the adductors.
So for next season, i strongly advise all those who suffer from burning thighs and leg fatigue and minor knee problems to make your adductors as your priority when employing ski fitness conditioning exercises.
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Stephen Neal, I've been using the open and close machines in the gym... although as a bloke they can be damned awkward getting on and off them hehehe
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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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Scarpa, I use to call them the "woman’s machines" for the obvious reasons but I have start to use them now.
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Nick_C, I do use the
in the gym but Stephen Neal, what sort of weights and what amount of repitition should I be doing
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