Back seat Driver??

[SnowBall]

Hi! I'm actually a new member here but I've been reading / researching about skis on this site for awhile Seems like there are so many amazing skiers here! So I have a question

I just came back from Park City, Utah last night. We had good amount of new snow for Saturday and Sunday then we got 15" of snow yesterday morning!! So I got to experience my first deep powder skiing (But this is another story...). I'm an intermediate skier, I haven't skiied for 15 years (went to a snowboarding period which I didn't enjoy as much) then I decided to start again this season. I went to Mammoth and Tahoe for weekends before this Utah trip. It was like riding a bike, I didn't have to start over from snow plow (thank god...). First two trips I borrowed my girl friend's equipment (same height, same weight). I seemed to do fine with her stuff then I decided to at least get my own boots, so after trying so many different pairs with a professional fitter, I bought Nordica Beast 12 for women. Then I demoed K2 One Luv 153 this weekend. With new boots and new skis I was enjoying the fresh snow but I realized that I was having hard time staying forward....I couldn't help but to be a back-seat driver and it burned my thighs so bad! For three days I had to stop in the middle of slope to rest my thighs. I was upset because I wanted to ski more aggressively yet my body was giving up on me....I didn't have the problem with my friend's ski and boots so I was wondering if it's me or the equipments?? Any idea??

BTW, I'm 5'7", 130lb....

 

[Jilly]

I think your skis are too short. I'm 5'4 and ski 154. You should be on 160cm. Also since its been awhile since you skied, did you try a lesson?? Some coaching, especially on the new shaped skis might make a difference.

 

[Robyn]

Good catch Jilly! I'm 5'5" and ski a 162. And, yes, lessons would help as well. Also, are your boots tight enough?

 

[SnowBall]

I didn't take a lesson...I barely caught the end of the season so I'm hoping to get one next seaon!! Yes, I was skiing with the straight skis back in a day....Good point, thank you!!

I think my boots are tight enough though it did pack out after a day. They are not as tight as when I was walking in them at home...

People I talked told me different things about the correct height of skis, some says I need short (153) and some says 160 is good....I'm confused... I tried 160 yesterday but since it was all powder (different condition from the day before) it's hard to compare with 153, which I know beats the purpose of demoing different lengths...duh!

 

[pinto]

I didn't take a lesson...I barely caught the end of the season so I'm hoping to get one next seaon!! Yes, I was skiing with the straight skis back in a day....Good point, thank you!!

I think my boots are tight enough though it did pack out after a day. They are not as tight as when I was walking in them at home...

People I talked told me different things about the correct height of skis, some says I need short (153) and some says 160 is good....I'm confused... I tried 160 yesterday but since it was all powder (different condition from the day before) it's hard to compare with 153, which I know beats the purpose of demoing different lengths...duh!

Skiing powder is much easier with longer skis, because you don't have to be so careful about keeping your tips from diving. I'm 5'9" and went to a 177 for my powder skis ... my other skis are in the low to mid 160s, and it makes a huge difference. I skied on some 156s on a powder day a couple of years ago ... it wasn't awful, but on the runouts I had to lean way back!

 

[Shellski]

The Beast 12 is an advanced/expert boot. Can you flex them?

I'm a little surprised that a bootfitter put you in those if you described yourself as an intermediate skier who hasn't skied for 15 years.

 

[SnowBall]

So it may be the boots....I think I have hard time pressing my shin towards the pad, I feel like I get pushed back. As a matter of fact I have a bruise on the back of my right calf....

 

[Robyn]

Actually that sounds like you might need to tighten the buckles on your cuff more. If you can move around in there (causing the bruise) they should be tighter.

 

[SnowBall]

Ahh, I see! I thought I tightened them too tight, lol! But I'm kind of bummed that my new boots may be too much for me to handle.... :(

 

[Shellski]

SnowBall, a lesson would help a lot. A good instructor can help diagnose problems with boots if this is what the problem is, and at the least can help you with some drills to get you centred over the skis.

Most boots are adjustable, don't be afraid to go back to your bootfitter and talk about any issues.

 

[CMCM]

Hi! I'm actually a new member here but I've been reading / researching about skis on this site for awhile Seems like there are so many amazing skiers here! So I have a question

I just came back from Park City, Utah last night. We had good amount of new snow for Saturday and Sunday then we got 15" of snow yesterday morning!! So I got to experience my first deep powder skiing (But this is another story...). I'm an intermediate skier, I haven't skiied for 15 years (went to a snowboarding period which I didn't enjoy as much) then I decided to start again this season. I went to Mammoth and Tahoe for weekends before this Utah trip. It was like riding a bike, I didn't have to start over from snow plow (thank god...). First two trips I borrowed my girl friend's equipment (same height, same weight). I seemed to do fine with her stuff then I decided to at least get my own boots, so after trying so many different pairs with a professional fitter, I bought Nordica Beast 12 for women. Then I demoed K2 One Luv 153 this weekend. With new boots and new skis I was enjoying the fresh snow but I realized that I was having hard time staying forward....I couldn't help but to be a back-seat driver and it burned my thighs so bad! For three days I had to stop in the middle of slope to rest my thighs. I was upset because I wanted to ski more aggressively yet my body was giving up on me....I didn't have the problem with my friend's ski and boots so I was wondering if it's me or the equipments?? Any idea??

BTW, I'm 5'7", 130lb....

I had the Nordica Beast 12's....very stiff boot, and they always hurt my feet so I just moved into something different which I like soooo much better. Basically, the Nordica's just didn't fit my foot right (this was probably an individual thing).

ALSO.....I skied on 150 skis for 2 years, and a couple of weeks ago I demoed a ski in a 162....it was like night and day difference...in a GREAT way. I now realize I was skiing too short (I'm 5'7", 145 lbs). So I just bought the longer skis and like them so much better, and I'm skiing better as a result of the better length.

 

[SnowBall]

I have wide feet and Beast 12 fit me like gloves. My feet didn't hurt after skiing all day without stopping for lunch. But they are very stiff and maybe I'm not strong enough to push...And I can't wait to try 160 skis!! I think most of male sales person told me I need them short. I rather listen to you guys, hehe!! I'm so sad that the season is almost over....

 

[Christy]

So it may be the boots....I think I have hard time pressing my shin towards the pad, I feel like I get pushed back. As a matter of fact I have a bruise on the back of my right calf....

I agree that you should at least call the fitter. Did he make sure not only that the boots fit right, but that you were balanced in your boots? I bought my boots from one shop that did a great job making sure my boots fit, but I went to see a bootfitter, a guy that doesn't sell boots at all but just made sure I was balanced/canted/fit correctly, to do other adjustments. My boots fit perfectly but didn't position me correctly over my skis, so he corrected that by putting in heel lifts, which made a HUGE difference.

It would be interesting to see how you liked your skis and boots under different conditions. Hopefully you'll get out again before your season ends!

 

[SnowBall]

Wow...yeah, I will go see the fitter again. I hope he still works since it's off season... Christy, did your thighs burn too before putting the heel lifts? It would be soooo nice if I can ski without being hurt constantly Guys thank you soooo much for your advice!!

 

[volklgirl]

My boots fit perfectly but didn't position me correctly over my skis, so he corrected that by putting in heel lifts, which made a HUGE difference.

Heel lifts will also bring your ankle up closer to the flex point of your boots, making them feel and act softer (it effectively makes you leg longer giving you more leverage over the cuff of the boot). See below for more info on balancing (click on pic to go to source, then click "Full Size" in lower right corner to read the info):

 

[Christy]

Christy, did your thighs burn too before putting the heel lifts?

That's not what sent me in, though ironically it's a problem that has since developed. I initially went to the fitter because my favorite instructor told me I should--I have wonky legs (who doesn't). So the fitter made sure I was balanced in my boots before sending me out to the slopes to do some experiments to see if I needed other adjustments. The heel lifts corrected a problem I didn't even know a bootfitter could fix: on harder or bumpier slopes I'd get thrown into the back seat (and often crash), but with the lifts, voila--I just don't get thrown back there anymore. I could not believe how well I skied--it was like I'd just taken 10 lessons.

But, my quads burned like they hadn't before. Apparently I am balanced in my boots but am too far forward on my skis, so am sitting back to compensate. I am continuing to work with the fitter to figure this out, which might mean getting my bindings flattened (mine are higher in the heel), or the burning might disappear if I was properly canted in my boots (that involves grinding them out--not sure if I want to do that yet). Anyway, even though it's a process and I'm a little afraid that one adjustment leads to another problem, I am still convinced that working with a fitter is a great thing to do. In any case since you already have been to one it's worth seeing what they say.

 

[SnowBall]

Volklgirl, Christy, thank you so much!! I'm going to stop by to see my fitter this weekend to see if he can help me with my boots!! Christy, I wish you best luck to find a way to correct the problems for wonderful skiing experience!!!

 

[volklgirl]

Christy,

If you're going to a reputable fitter, grinding the sole is no huge deal. They may need to give you a "gas pedal" (a small lifter just under the toe) to compensate for the Zeppa added by your binding.

 

[Christy]

I was told over at Epicski and also by my instructor that my fitter is the best in Seattle. The big deal about it is this: He won't do any grinding until I get custom footbeds (which I probably should get anyway--as I've gotten older the soles of my feet get sore in my hiking boots, my regular boots, and worst of all, my ski boots). That's $185. The grinding is $50 per boot. I don't know how much flattening the binding costs but it will cost something. And how can I really know all that is worth it? I'm not racing--I'm not trying to gain that extra tenth of a second. And for god's sake, I saw a one-legged guy skiing a few weeks ago. If he can do that why I do need so many special fixes? And what if those fixes don't address the quad burning? So that's why I'm undecided. But then I think about the huge difference after he put in the lifts...I'll probably get the footbeds before next season, and see how I feel then.

 

[Pequenita]

And for god's sake, I saw a one-legged guy skiing a few weeks ago. If he can do that why I do need so many special fixes?

For all you know, he has had all those special fixes.....just on one boot. Just sayin'.