New boots or more lessons?

A snowHead

Hi all. Been stalking the site for a couple of years and thought it was time to let rip with my first question. 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.

A snowHead

Gaz C, see a good bootfitter first, preferably one who is a podiatrist. He, She, it or Pie Monster will look at your bio-mechanics as well as your boot. It could just be a misalignment of pivot axes (sp?... plural of axis?) boot and foot that a simple (well relatively simple) lump of foam will fix.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

New boots are going to help more with the discomfort which is unlikely to be fixed by a change in technique, assuming the pain is due to your physiology. However if you can stretch to lessons as well it's all good.

I've had x-waves for a few years and the liners do wear out.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

I'd see a boot fitter and see what they can do with your current boots to reduce the problem, and then spend the remainder on lessons to see what they can do with your technique to reduce the problem.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Gaz C, could well be boots, I had something similiar (but not as bad as yours sounds), boot fitter said it was due to the points Masque, points out!

You'll need to Register first of course.

Gaz C, I think there's a simple answer. Mr D had the same problem as you - has his own boots, same leg shape, same sore shins, ending in blistering and broken skin. He invested in these gel pads http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ski-Boot-Shin-Protection-Pads/dp/B0016IMB8O?tag=amz07b-21 which solved the problem completely for him. They're worth a try.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Thanks for the response, folks. I was ready to toddle off to a local boot fitter (heard loads of good stuff about Graham at Rivington Alpine), when DIPPYDOODOGG posted the link to the 'Ski Angels'. Being something of a tightwad, half of me was thinking 'RESULT!' But also being a bit of a cynical so-and-so, the other half was thinking 'snake oil.' I hit a few more keys on the keyboard and came across this link:http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=44512 in which I found all sorts of suggestions including a certain Dr White's snake oil Laughing

There were lots of useful suggestions too: shaving the area has got to be worth a try, as does some sort of neoprene insert and stretching exercises for the achilles tendon. Checking out the user reviews for the Ski Angels, it seems that users either love them or hate them. I might give them a go. I'm kicking myself for posting this when my season is over (shaving my legs and wearing my X-Waves down the pub is going to raise a few eyebrows), but I'm definitely going to crack on with some AT exercises throughout the year. So I guess it's a case of 'Watch this space.' Thanks again for the advice, peeps. I'll keep you informed

After all it is free

Gaz C, IMHO those gel things aren't fixing the root cause of the problem, they are simply making it bearable. I would still visit a reputable boot fitter & explain the problem.

Help!!

New boots or more lessons?

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