My left ankle....

[Pequenita]

I just needed to whine a bit:

My left ankle is unhappy being flexed forward in my boot. I mean, really, truly, muscle spasmy, wants-to-be-stretched-out-on-tip-toe unhappy. Same old boots. Maybe buckling down the cuff one notch more than last year to compensate for some packing out is creating the angle that I'm just not adapting to... or something. The right ankle - which is doing just fine - is clearly the superstar here, if that's the case!

Interestingly, last weekend, I was ice skating, an found myself flexing the ankles forward, too. They were, predictably, sore afterwards.

 

[num]

I don't know anything useful (bootswise), but I hope it gets better soon! Have you been having ankle issues when with running or yoga?

 

[Marigee]

Did you buy your boots at The Ski Center? If you did, I'm sure they can help you adjust the fit.

 

[Pequenita]

Yeah, that's the thing - it's definitely a boot thing b/c I'm fine doing everything else. I didn't buy them locally, unfortunately. :(

 

[Lilgeorg]

Ok, I don't really like to "advise" on matters like this but I will share what my bootfitter told me. He said start closing your boots from the top pulling the power strip as tightly as possible. Then do the top buckle and then the next. He says when you get the shin tight in the boot, the ankle takes care of itself. He was written up in Ski maazine as one of the best kept secrets in the East. It worked for me.

 

[ski diva]

I use the same bootfitter as Lilgeorg, and when I was suffering from shin bang, he told me the same thing. However, he also told me to fasten the power strap UNDER the plastic thing it usually goes over. I tried it and it really helped.

 

[Pequenita]

However, he also told me to fasten the power strap UNDER the plastic thing it usually goes over. I tried it and it really helped.

Under. I'll try that next time. What happens when the power strap is loose after you've got the top two buckles done? Readjust, I assume? I had been going top down and then power strap because it seemed to me that the power strap would have to readjusted no matter what....

 

[ski diva]

Haven't had that problem. I pull the strap pretty tight.

 

[Pequenita]

Maybe I'm just a weakling when it come to pulling power straps.

 

[volklgirl]

Try buckling in this order:

• Lower cuff buckle first
• Upper cuff buckle next
• Flex hard repeatedly until you feel your heel slide back firmly into the heel pocket
• Re-tighten cuff buckles if necessary
• Power Strap
• Both lower boot buckles

 

[Pequenita]

Okay - I've now got a list of "things to try" when next booting up. Thanks!

 

[volklgirl]

I know that most people buckle from the toes up, but that just secures the foot in the lower boot without allowing it to seat firmly in the heel pocket first. This sequence allows heel lift and puts the ankle joint in a position that's not in tune with the hinge point of the boot. Hopefully, this will help with your problem.

Good Luck!!