Sore quads while skiing

dyyylan

dyyylan

Member
I'm having a problem when I ski with quad pain, pretty much halfway down the first run. Just feels like I've been doing squats for 4 straight hours and I get jello legs, like 30 seconds after I'm off the lift.

I've only tried two setups - the first when I took lessons 2 years ago, I skied 10 days in whatever basic Lange/Rossi rental gear. No problems.

This past season I bought my first setup, full tilt classics (they fit my feet the best) and some atomic panics. Jello legs the whole day, I can only ski about 2 hours at the most before I feel like my legs were going to fall off. I skied about 40 days over two months, so it definitely wasn't just "getting ski legs again" or whatever.

I did some quick research, looks like forward lean might have something to do with it.. being too far forward and making me want to lean back to compensate, or something.

My boots have cuff spoilers and the little plastic clips at the bottom of the cuff, both to adjust forward lean. I took them both out but can't really feel a difference just standing in my boots, obviously I'll have to ski a bit and see if it makes a difference.

Any other ideas or things to try? Figured I'd ask now, in case I should look at different gear before the season starts, so I can get some deals.
 
Maybe what I said about "having to lean back" was misleading... I'm not skiing backseat, but maybe the lean of the boots is making me try to get my weight farther back than it should be. I don't really know, I was just wondering if anyone else had experience with this.
 
13472698:dyyylan said:
Maybe what I said about "having to lean back" was misleading... I'm not skiing backseat, but maybe the lean of the boots is making me try to get my weight farther back than it should be. I don't really know, I was just wondering if anyone else had experience with this.
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You are skiing backseat. It's cool, every beginner does.
 
13472704:californiagrown said:
You are skiing backseat. It's cool, every beginner does.
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I don't mean to be difficult, but i am 95% certain I am not backseat. But in any case, could you explain how to get my weight more forward, then? My shins are pressed forward into the fronts of my boots and I'm leaning forward - my knees are over my toes (it's impossible stand any other way). I don't really think I can lean forward any more.

that's why I was just wondering if it's a gear issue, since I had no problems skiing the season before in floppy ass rental gear. my boots are much stiff and much more forward-leaning, which is why I thought of this.
 
Get someone to take a photo on their phone as you ski past (front and side on). It might show you something instantly that you haven't heard before, especially if the friends you ski with haven't been that analytical when you've asked
 
13472522:californiagrown said:
you suck at skiing and are in the backseat constantly.

100% it is how you ski, not your equipment.
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13472526:Miomo said:
Stop skiing backseat
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13472704:californiagrown said:
You are skiing backseat. It's cool, every beginner does.
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These responses are all wrong. When your quads burn it means that your form is right. If you were backseat your calves would burn/hurt. You just need to build up your leg strength
 
13472821:ski-hippie said:
These responses are all wrong. When your quads burn it means that your form is right. If you were backseat your calves would burn/hurt. You just need to build up your leg strength
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Hahaha and you justed outed yourself as not knowing how to ski.
 
13472844:californiagrown said:
Hahaha and you justed outed yourself as not knowing how to ski.
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Dude, I race. I know how to ski. If your quads burn your form is right because you flexing your boots at the ankle and basically squatting, but forward
 
13472953:ski-hippie said:
Dude, I race. I know how to ski. If your quads burn your form is right because you flexing your boots at the ankle and basically squatting, but forward
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Haha and if you're backseat you are essentially doing a bodyweight leg extension to keep from falling backwards... Wcich is a quad exercise.

Seriously, try and ride in a tail butter and tell me what muscle you're feeling.
 
13472953:ski-hippie said:
Dude, I race. I know how to ski. If your quads burn your form is right because you flexing your boots at the ankle and basically squatting, but forward
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Haha and if you're backseat you are essentially doing a bodyweight leg extension to keep from falling backwards... Wcich is a quad exercise.

Seriously, try and ride in a tail butter and tell me what muscle you're feeling.
 
13473010:californiagrown said:
Haha and if you're backseat you are essentially doing a bodyweight leg extension to keep from falling backwards... Wcich is a quad exercise.

Seriously, try and ride in a tail butter and tell me what muscle you're feeling.
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My quads are sore from this triple post.
 
13472716:dyyylan said:
I don't mean to be difficult, but i am 95% certain I am not backseat. But in any case, could you explain how to get my weight more forward, then? My shins are pressed forward into the fronts of my boots and I'm leaning forward - my knees are over my toes (it's impossible stand any other way). I don't really think I can lean forward any more.

that's why I was just wondering if it's a gear issue, since I had no problems skiing the season before in floppy ass rental gear. my boots are much stiff and much more forward-leaning, which is why I thought of this.
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I bet you look like an S when you ski. Probably way forward in the lower legs, way forward in the upper body, but your thighs will be almost horizontal and you most likely look like you're taking a shit in the bush. This will be why your quads are getting destroyed so fast. Try getting your hips forward more. But it sounds like you're pretty new to skiing, and there is this horrible phase you tend to go through around the point you're at (if you don't get heaps of lessons) where you tend to destroy your quads until you learn to get properly forward.
 
13473026:rozboon said:
I bet you look like an S when you ski. Probably way forward in the lower legs, way forward in the upper body, but your thighs will be almost horizontal and you most likely look like you're taking a shit in the bush. This will be why your quads are getting destroyed so fast. Try getting your hips forward more. But it sounds like you're pretty new to skiing, and there is this horrible phase you tend to go through around the point you're at (if you don't get heaps of lessons) where you tend to destroy your quads until you learn to get properly forward.
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Maybe. Here's the only real pictures I have of myself, maybe you can tell something from these

z6hXWXM.jpg


F9GlUAu.jpg
 
Yeah, you're way too cranked into the tongues of your boots. In the first picture your left thigh is basically horizontal and it's completely unjustified by the slope angle and how hard you're turning. In the second pic you're so far into the front of your boots it looks like you're telemarking (particularly the right leg), you basically need to stand up more.

Get your hips forward and your lower leg more neutral in the boot. When skiing along normally you should be able to feel both the front and back of the cuff.
 
13473103:dyyylan said:
Really? I feel like it's not even possible to get farther forward
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Your lower legs are forward but your butt is hanging off the back.

Stand up straighter and use you whole body to flex the boot when initiating the turn.

Think about almost falling over the front and pivoting your turns around your tips.
 
Personally, I don't think you're that 'back seat' its more that you have too much weight on the up hill ski rather than your downhill ski.
 
Try adjusting the forward lean in your boots. Full tilts have a large amount of forward lean which does put you in quite a forward position. When I was testing the descendent I found exactly what you describe as I was not used to being so bent at the ankle. I straighten te cuff as much as I coul and that helped but full tilt will be harder work on the legs at first then an overlap boot due to the difference in te way they flex. It can take time but you will adapt. You may find going to a stiffer tounge helps as that will stop you over flexing so easily.
 
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