burning thighs after about 30 to 40 mins of skiing

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I agree, it is a stance thing that creates burning thighs. I used to get it but it goes away when you learn to centre yourself correctly and lean forwards. Such a joy to find that it is easier and not so tiring to ski when you finally "get it" about pushing shins against front of boots and steering with big toes!

I still have my moments when I forget and sit back and get the wobbles about a steep slope but I know what I am doing wrong when this happens and it is a mental thing that only I can overcome. More nerve required and go for it :-)

felthorpe wrote:steering with big toes!

That is something i have never understood, my mrs bangs on about it too having been told such by her instructors. I swear she thinks there is a switch under her toes that activate steering.

I steer with my eyes, my head, my whole body. I kinda just look where i need to be and i am there. I guess its a bit like walking down a busy street.....its just natural.
Even in my early days i didn't ever focus on my toes.

I suffered from serious thigh pain for the first couple of holidays but managed to improve my technique thereafter. i would hate to have stayed on that particular lower intermediate plateau.

Managed to ski from 9 to 4.30 every day last week (with, of course, stops for chocolate chaud and the like!)

i think about technique most of the time when skiing. Part of the challenge and fun.....

Will be having proper daily lessons on our next trip in March.

Snapzzz wrote:

felthorpe wrote:steering with big toes!

That is something i have never understood, my mrs bangs on about it too having been told such by her instructors. I swear she thinks there is a switch under her toes that activate steering.

I steer with my eyes, my head, my whole body. I kinda just look where i need to be and i am there. I guess its a bit like walking down a busy street.....its just natural.
Even in my early days i didn't ever focus on my toes.

I think the issue here is to get up on the big toes when turning, I.e. putting all your weight onto the front of your feet, as if standing on tippy-toes. This should force your weight forward and "unweights" the tails of the skis making it easier to turn. It does take a bit of getting used to but I think it does help with position. :wink:

Agree with Wanderer, if you are trying to improve your skiing is excellent idea to have a few reference points. When I am having an off run I always try and revert back to.
1) did you pull downside ski backwards before committing to new turn.
2) Really accentuate the angle of the body to ensure you are keeping weight on downhill ski.
3) Body position, check uphill hand never moves behind your hip and line of sight is never more uphill than tip of downhill ski.

Thigh burn is normal part of skiing hard (am sure any downhill racer will concur). Yes you need to keep body in correct position but fitness is a massive part to enjoying skiing. If you can't enjoy a 30min run around in gym/park then cannot really expect to enjoy 4-5hrs a days on skis.

Ranchero has given great hints.
About those thighs and feelings after skiing.

We have a saying in my part of the world.
The Tuesday heart aches !

Why Tuesday and with heart aches ?

Here is typical scene.
A great ski week is unfolding. +40 cm. of fresh powder. 10 keen skiers who have paid a great deal of money to heli ski.

Monday is a constant pleasure of non-stop powder skiing.

Tuesday morning,,,,,well some "skiers" can not get up stairs, some have problems bending over to pick up trousers ( male and female ).
Some can not get into heli....
The Tuesday heart aches sets in.
No one waits for late comers. No friends in powder is the rule here.

In short learn to ski effectively and those burning thighs will not happen!

Apply those great hints and you will note how pain becomes pleasure,,,even after 5 days of skiing.

It is your choice.

Pa

For experienced skiers, fitness is not generally an issue. They may use a fraction of the calorie uptake of a person who is constantly fighting to keep their weight forwards. In addition, an experienced skier has learned how to carry out relaxed turns, where conditions allow, and even relaxed during a section of some turns.

Hence, there is no lactic acid build up. For top athletes, lactic endurance is part of their training. This is the same for skiers, although, it does not happen within a 6 day break.

During the gondola ride, there is complete recovery.

My Niederau ski day run record stood for 10 years, prior to being beaten by two 17 year old Austrian sh*ts. (Just kidding, I tell them that every year!) Later beaten by two super fit Dutch lads.
To get that record, I did not stop at all during the day. People made space for me in the queues, and I suspect the lifties were cranking up the gondola speed! I suffered nothing in the way of burning thighs. I was however, desperate for a pee!

I agree fitness isn't usually an issue for those of us who are experienced. However I still feel pre season training is benficial as it reduces the likely hood of fatigue, also chances of injury should you have an unplanned fall. Only last season a very experienced friend of my tore his Achilles' tendon within three hours of the start of the holiday. He never managed one squat before he ventured onto the snow!