Advice & Stuff

[stevelaw]

I just went out my 4th time this year, about 3-4 hours at a time. I've pretty much conquered the bunny hills (I know...nothing to brag about), and can carve on a dime on those. I've also have been riding some green trails, and doing fine. I only fell once in 4 hours.

...but I feel like one side is stronger than the other. I'm right handed, and am much better at carving to the left (with my right foot on the outside). I feel like my left foot is retarded sometimes, because I just can't get it on edge as easily....and even when I am going straight, it feels like that ankle/skiboard is all floppy, and about to lose control more so than the other.

I was thinking it may be my ski boots at first. I kept tightening them as the day went on, but that didn't really seem to help. One thing I did notice, is that my ski boots are not super tight around my calves, and less tight on the left leg. And unfortunately I cannot tighten them anymore. Would that matter? I wasn't sure how tight my boots should be in the first place when using skiboards. Should I keep them less tight?

Anyone else get that feeling? Any ideas?

Thanks.

[Spyder53]

Sounds to me like you need some boots that fit. Boots are everything!

[ysb33r]

...but I feel like one side is stronger than the other. I'm right handed, and am much better at carving to the left (with my right foot on the outside). I feel like my left foot is retarded sometimes, because I just can't get it on edge as easily....and even when I am going straight, it feels like that ankle/skiboard is all floppy, and about to lose control more so than the other.

I know the feeling. I did fiddle with boot settings at the beginning to see if it would help. It definitely helps to have your ankle and heel tight fitting. I also had to make a slight adjustment to the canting on the one boot.

But moreover I found that it was a case of pro-actively developing the muscle memory on the weaker leg. I just worked on trying to do more aggressive turning and stopping on the weaker leg. Just keep on working on using your knees for turning and not your hips.

[shortydude]

Most ski socks are very thin. You might try some really thick socks. If your only going out for 3 or 4 hours at a time moisture will probably be manageable.

[stevelaw]

It definitely helps to have your ankle and heel tight fitting. I also had to make a slight adjustment to the canting on the one boot.

I did feel like the heel on the left foot wasn't quite all the way back in the boot. I have read before that when you put the ski boots on, you should kick the boots on the ground to make sure the heel is as far back as possible. That may have been the issue, because when I would try to turn, I didn't feel like I could quite use my foot as easily because it would move around too much. I think it may have been moving more so near the heel too. Then I would tighten the bottom latches in the boot, and felt like that almost made it worse. Probably because that strapped my foot so tight with my heel forward, making them feel really unstable.

I'll try practice putting the boots on today.

But moreover I found that it was a case of pro-actively developing the muscle memory on the weaker leg. I just worked on trying to do more aggressive turning and stopping on the weaker leg. Just keep on working on using your knees for turning and not your hips.

Good to know. When you say use your knees, do you mean just leaning them left or right, and then placing weight on one leg?

Thanks!

[stevelaw]

Most ski socks are very thin. You might try some really thick socks. If your only going out for 3 or 4 hours at a time moisture will probably be manageable.

The ones I have are really thin, and do I feel like my boot is slightly larger than it should be...not bad, but slightly. I'll try to find thicker socks. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[kirk]

Proper fitting boots will make a big difference. Any "boot slop" that you have if your foot moves inside the boot means that less of your effort is going to be transferred into your boards during a carve. Thicker socks might be able to help a little bit if it isn't too bad.

That aside, it is common to have a dominant turning direction on the beginning. Just keep working on turning both ways, and it will eventually balance out.

[slow]

Some of us find that we have had to spend more time "tuning" boots than skiboards. Each of my feet are different enough in length and volume that until I went to rear entry boots which have a wide range of adjustment features, I had to use either heat molded liners or boot foam from tognar to get rid of the slop. Check out the tognar website and search for boot fitting aids to buy the boot foam. This is the lowest cost option.

[stevelaw]

Some of us find that we have had to spend more time "tuning" boots than skiboards. Each of my feet are different enough in length and volume that until I went to rear entry boots which have a wide range of adjustment features, I had to use either heat molded liners or boot foam from tognar to get rid of the slop. Check out the tognar website and search for boot fitting aids to buy the boot foam. This is the lowest cost option.

Really good advice. Thank you. I'll check that out.

On a side note, I had a ton of people make comments last night about the Spruce 120's. Nothing negative...mostly just asking what they were, how they are fat ski's, etc. One kid stopped and said that he had 'skiblades' too, but they are a lot shorter...haha. The funniest was when one guy working in the lift line asked what they were, and mentioned he's never seen anything like them before.

[mahatma]

stevelaw,

I will suggest a technique that I learned from a skier at the very beginning of the season that has essentially done away with my side preference when I have the good sense to use it. By the way, I think we all naturally favor one side or the other. Of course, this is more pronounced in some.

So, say you want to turn to the right. The technique is to push straight down the side of your downhill leg with your hand. Do this in a deliberate, muscles tensed manner. Exactly as if you were doing an isometric exercise. Then, continue in this fashion pushing your hand out towards the tip of your ski. There is no need to turn the board. Keep it going straight. Your change in posture and weight distribution will produce the turn. You can do this when going fast or slow. It is the consistent, deliberate action that produces the consistent, deliberate result.

The guy that taught me was a gentle, old skier who noticed from being behind me on the slope that I produced a stronger, more appropriate right hand turn than left. I am left handed. While everyone might not need this technique, it has produced absolutely fabulous results for me and has made me a more confident, more competent rider

[ysb33r]

Good to know. When you say use your knees, do you mean just leaning them left or right, and then placing weight on one leg?

Pretty much. What mahatma said applies very well too.