Slalom bruises

[scrit9mm]

I have been skiing for approx 3 years, this last weekend I finally got up on one ski. I played around Saturday for 4 hours or so and I woke up Sunday with my right shin all bruised up. I attempted slalom sunday and the water spray when going to the right would pound my shin. Does this happen to everyone or am I doing something wrong? Also is there anything to remedy this or will I just get used to it?

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Slalom bruises

Happens to a lot of people. It depends on the ski a lot, and you may have too much weight on your front foot as well. You'll need to experiment with it a bit. They make neoprene gaurds that some wear on their shin to protect you from it if your form isn't the issue.

 

[skibrain]

Re: Slalom bruises

I get a bruise on the side of my rear leg about 8-9 inches above the ankle bone, where water cuts across my leg on toe-side/off side turns. It hurts quite a bit until 4-5 days into the season and then toughens up and doesn't bother for the rest of the season. I have a couple of buddies who always wear a noeprene spray legging. It seems worse for people that stand a bit bow-legged.

 

[scrit9mm]

Re: Slalom bruises

I will attempt to "toughen" it up. Wife will not allow any more boat "add-ons" until her kitchen is done. Perhaps next year if it still bothers me.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Slalom bruises

Happens to me a lot when I switch from my fat ski to the skinny ski. Have to ride the skinny one a lot further back. A neoprene sleeve is a good idea and shouldn't cost you more than $10 at the local pharmacy

 

[skibrain]

Re: Slalom bruises

...$10 at the local pharmacy

Are you saying that all the cool kids are gearing up at Walgreens with flesh-colored accessories?

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Slalom bruises

All the cool kids around here are wakeboarding. Only us old geezers ski.

 

[skibrain]

Re: Slalom bruises

...and we're long gone by the time the kids decide it's time to get out of bed and go wakeboarding.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Slalom bruises

Are you saying that all the cool kids are gearing up at Walgreens with flesh-colored accessories?

The ones I'm thinking of are blue or black They've got a lot of neoprene sport braces at the local pharmacy.

Stuff like this
http://www.amazon.com/Pro-Tec-Neoprene-Calf-Sleeve-Medium/dp/B003XX1W3U

 

[scrit9mm]

Re: Slalom bruises

Are you saying that all the cool kids are gearing up at Walgreens with flesh-colored accessories?

hahahaahahah!

 

[coopdo]

Re: Slalom bruises

Happens to me. I bought the sleeve sold by Overton's for 10 bucks. I hate waiting for my leg to "toughen up". The sleeve feels better.

 

[sierrawaterman]

Re: Slalom bruises

Ditto, buy the sleeve. I can't ever seem to get past the bruising. Notice it more when on the slalom ski compared to our fat ski. Like the feel of the slalom ski more but not the aftermath the next day.

 

[JimMH]

Re: Slalom bruises

buy the sleeve i usually go through one every couple of years. I never noticed it when I was in my 20's but now approaching 50 the last 10 years have been tough on the joints but still slalom skiing!

 

[chiroken]

Re: Slalom bruises

I am new to skiing and found the same problem last year when I finally dropped a ski. Bruised up like a son-of-a-gun! Posts in this thread have eluded to technique...any more details on this? What am I most likely doing and what can I try as far as weight distribution? Does boat speed make any difference? I was wondering if I was too slow, too deep in the water with the ski?

I ski on the basic pair of skis, some contour on the bottom I think, probably your typical beginner's pair. I do like the neoprene idea. I've just hit 40 and am long past really caring what I look like out there!

 

[scrit9mm]

Re: Slalom bruises

chiroken, this past weekend I played with speed and I feel the difference is slim. I have yet to get the sleeve waiting to "toughen" up, I dont think it's going to happen. Still hurts like hell.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Slalom bruises

Unless you are slalom skiing unusually slow (like below 30mph), I don't think an increase in speed will help much. Most of the problem usually lies in the ski design and on body posture, only one of which is easy to adjust. If you go out, try and shift your weight a little bit when carving turns to see if the spray on your calf changes any. You might also try a different slolam ski, preferrably one size up to avoid riding low in the water causing more spray. Just some suggestions, otherwise get the neoprene sleeve.

 

[jimh1626]

Re: Slalom bruises

Just step out of that slalom and barefoot, you will have a whole new set of problems and forget about that shin.

 

[scrit9mm]

Re: Slalom bruises

thought about attempting that this weekend...

like I said "thought" about it.

 

[skibrain]

Re: Slalom bruises

I was doing long-line deep water BF starts on Saturday. Starts went great. First footing of the year and my feet were pretty bruised. Thought about neoprene socks but I think they would shred.

 

[scrit9mm]

Re: Slalom bruises

i assume you start with legs up? what speed does the boat need to go before you stand up?