Ouch, ski boot leg pain!

[LakeFlyPie]

Booked our 1st family ski holiday for Easter and after years of pre DC snowboarding DH and I have decided to ski with DC (7+5) as it's their 1st holiday.

DH and I went for a refresher (not skied for 20+ years) for 2 hours at snow dome yesterday and are now reliving the world of bruised lower leg pain caused by the boots compared to the relative comfort of boarding boots.

Couldn't contemplate putting boots back on today so need to find some solutions before hitting the slopes!

Please help!

[lampygirl]

If you are going to be skiing for the next couple of years, get some properly fitted if your own. My ski boots cause me no pain, just a solid gold with no foot movement in the boot, so there's nothing to bang.

[madwomanbackintheattic]

Where is the leg pain? Get them properly adjusted and make sure your weight is forward so your shin is resting on the front of the boot, not leaning back and having the rest of the cuff digging in round your muscles. Check if they have walk/ ski settings and use them.
And if you are going to be skiing often, yes, just get mboots with custom liners.
Are you using 20 year old boots? (I had a pair of lovely rear entry jobs that lasted forever) but in all honesty boots have a lot more padding these days.
If all else fails, most resorts have a boot doctor that can help you - punch out etc if there are specific areas not working (I have one ankle that is persistently painful if squashed...>
There is something to be said for gritting your teeth and carrying on though

[dontcallmethatyoucunt]

I ski and mine are like boarding boots in terms of comfort. Super padded and comfy. Switch boots if they cause you pain, it's really not necessary.

[Gattabianca]

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but why cant you board because the kids are skiing?
It's our first holiday where our son will be skiing this year too and I prefer skiing anyway but DH is not a great skier, so will be boarding as usual. I can't think why this could cause a problem. Am I missing something obvious?
In answer to your question, the equipment at our local snow centre is really crap. The equipment you get in resort will be much better and they will spend more time fitting you to make sure it's right.
But as pp say, if possible get your own custom fit boots.

[madwomanbackintheattic]

If it is the first time with little kids skiing, you generally spend a deal of time with them in between your legs in the snow plough... or saying 'look honey, a big piece of pizza! Bigger pizza! Bigger pizza! Like THIS!' Although these kids are older, so if you are just chucking them in ski school it's no big deal. Easier to help skiing kids on/ off lifts in skis too. Once they can ski, board is fine. But boards and skis with little inexperienced people can end up in a big ungainly tangle on the floor on the exit ramp of the chairlift/ impossible T-bar management etc etc.
Lots of my friends skied when their kids were learning and then went back to boards.

[dontcallmethatyoucunt]

I would warn against skiing between legs.. I know 3 people that have had quite bad accidents (broken bones & crush injuries) doing exactly that.

Gatta my husband has always boarded and was pretty good, but after the first year of skiing with the kids he switched to skiing. The reasons were: freedom of movement, stopping to pick them up, getting off the ski lift, pulling them on flat patches (too light to get enough momentum), demonstrating, following you on sections steeper than they are confident on, stops them wanting to board immediately (nothing against boarding, but conditions often favour skiers), you can take them on drag lifts if you need to. Life was just a lot easier.

He's now a better skier than me and the kids love following him off piste and doing little jumps and stuff. Certain things, like moguls, are very different on a board.

[LIZS]

You need better fitted boots and smooth long socks. Taking all the pressure on your shin is not good and unnecessary if the rest of the boot is properly adjusted.

[madwomanbackintheattic]

You have to know what you are doing call me - and easier if you use a wedgie for tinies that don't have control over their skis - or reins. It's pretty standard here for beginners in our adaptive program as well. In 25 years skiing I don't know anyone who has injured themselves or kids like that (I guess Poisson distribution cluster in your case?! Unlucky but statistically explainable)

I def wouldn't advise it for parents who don't have many years of ski experience!

Different risk assessments too - I know a ton who have skied with their babies in a carrier, which I wouldn't do. It terrifies me, but here it is entirely normal, and I don't know anyone who has had an accident, despite the fact I can barely watch in anxiety!!

[bamboobeanbags]

Possibly stating the obvious but did you have just your socks in your boots or did you have thermals tucked in there too? Having anything other than just socks in there can cause bruising. Make sure the boots are not too big. You can buy gel pads I believe which sit against your shin but I'm not sure if that would help or make things worse.

If all else fails then ibuprofen/paracetamol helped me hugely when I had the same problem a few years back.

[dontcallmethatyoucunt]

That's really interesting mad. I never did it, but was def concerned not to because of friends (& friend of friend) that had accidents. I think though it was more a spontaneous, get down a steep slope, than controlled tutoring (one was actually on the flat). I think if you can keep the kids skis togetger and not flap about, that's the key.

That whole baby in a Cartier has always horrified me. I rarely fall, but if I did with a child carrier on .

[dontcallmethatyoucunt]

*carrier!

[christmashope]

So I had the same problem
1st ski holiday and I only managed to ski 3 days for a max of 3hrs per day
The pain in the back of my legs/calf muscles was unbelievable
Everyone else managed ok but even when i wasn't skiing and was just standing in my ski boots my legs were really sore
Family loved it so I'm going to go and get fitted for my own boots and I'm hoping that will help...

[rookiemere]

Depends where the pain is - if its the back of your legs - the calves, then it's your skiing that's the problem - you need to push yourself forward. Also there are a couple of DVDs for ski fitness you can buy may be worth getting and using one of those and/or do lots and lots of squats and wall sit ups

If it's the front then better socks and boots should help. You can also get expert ski boot shin protection gel pads from amazon for 30 quid.

If skiing with young children you won't get to do it for long - unless they're in all day ski school.

[Gattabianca]

Thanks madwoman and call me that does make sense. I think if I'm skiing, it should be ok for DH to board. We avoid drags anyway because DH falls off them doesn't like them.

[Archfarchnad]

Proper ski socks with padding in the right places made a huge difference for me.

[AllChangeLife]

Good ski socks, your own boots, you can buy shin padding cushions which do help.

[dontcallmethatyoucunt]

My friend stuff a couple of sanitary towels down the front of her boots comfort first.

[LakeFlyPie]

Thank you for so many replies and words of wisdom.

Basically, yes my pain is down to the rookie error of thermal long johns (with seams) stuffed down boots over socks for 2 hours = bruised legs. There's number 1 lesson learnt! They're still very tender now 4 days later

My boarding skills aren't good enough to confidently exit the chair lifts without taking out my ski virgin DC in the process hence the plan to ski this holiday!

However, if they get the bug will probably plan to return to the board in future years and already have boarding boots so am loathe to shell out for ski boots too.
I wonder if I can upgrade the level / comfort of boot I can hire in resort?

The gel pads sound good so will look into those, especially for DH and his razor sharp shin bones and I think I'll be investing in some high quality ski socks, any recommendations would be gratefully received.

Will also be stocking up on painkillers and filling the hip flask to the brim for medicinal purposes!

I think taking the approach of an enjoyable easy going family holiday is going to be the vibe for this trip as opposed to the cramming every possible minute of daylight slope time + serious apres ski activities which we did pre DC.

Thanks again for some great tips

[Tuiles]

This is giving me the collywobbles because we are off on Thursday on first family snow holiday. DH and I have just tuned up our boards (after 10 years!!), kids will be first timers on skis. It's going to be a disaster isn't it .

I did contemplate returning to skis, but I was never any good at them and would probably need lessons. I just know how incompatible boards and skis are though. I have a total mental block about how we might manage chair lifts - avoid them with the kids I suspect!

[NisekoWhistler]

Try putting press on towels/sanitary towels on your shins over opaque tights/ski socks. I've advised many people to do this in the past during my days as a ski concierge and they've all said how helpful it is.
Of going to consider purchasing own boots only do in resort as at least when on holiday you can go back and have parts blown out or adjusted in between days on the mountain. Good luck and have a great holiday.

[SleepyForest]

I found these really helpful. Just to take the pressure off.

[massistar]

Nothing in the world would induce me to give up my snowboard boots for uncomfy ski boots! It was a bit of a pain when we first went but as DH is a very good boarder he was able to take them up draglifts etc. Getting off chairlifts can be a bit hairy but I just make sure I'm at the end seat and I point them down first and then head to the side myself. The 7 yo will probably be fine so it's just the 5 yo to worry about? Can you make DH stick to skis and you board in case?