J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by nitty

Thanks Tony, and everyone else.

The canting was checked when the boots were fitted, so I hope that's right. The cuffs definitely have plenty of room, and I still have length on the buckles to widen them further if necessary. I wore them round the house again last night and there doesn't seem to be any pressure points anywhere, and I'm always careful not to have any clothing creases or seams in my boots.

I'm now leaning more towards the other advice that I know I can follow to improve things, like proper exercise and stretching before skiing, being better hydrated (I was conscious of being thirsty the other day when we went to the Castleford slope), and hubby says he'll watch me skiing to help me try to improve my skiing posture.

Thankfully my ski-school lessons start a bit later this year so it won't be such a mad rush to get myself and two small children kitted up and out on the slopes first thing in the morning! I'll have a bit of time to make sure I'm properly prepared before setting off, for once!!
I also found that wearing compression socks overnight afterwards was a great help.

Feeling a bit more optimistic now.

By the way, we're going to Selva Val Gardena, so if anyone knows where to go if I still have problems, that would be great to know.

Nitty

I have previously used Direct-Travel for our ski insurance as my hubby is able to ski off-piste and they seem to have pretty decent cover. However I've just looked at their policy and they have new underwriters - someone called Chartis. Does anyone have any experience with this company, or can anyone recommend any other insurance policies which aren't too costly to cover a family?

Nitty

Thanks for those replies. I live close to the Snow & Rock where I bought them, so I'll pop along and see what they say. I don't mind paying if it sorts the problem, and if it doesn't, then I guess my skiing style needs a look. I'm not an experienced skier and I know my posture is very different to my hubby's, who practically grew up on skis. He gets raw shins, he's so far forward!

I've just booked a last minute trip, and am panicking after a couple of hours at Sno!zone left me hobbling around, so I must get something sorted pronto!

Thanks, Alistair.

The boots were from Snow & Rock. The liners were heated and then I wore the boots straight away. Is that different from the way your wife's were done? Perhaps I should take them to the shop and see what they can do. It's good to hear there may be a solution to the problem and that I might not have to suffer anymore.

Nitty :-)

I have a pair of Tecnica ski boots which were fitted for me last year. I'm happy with the general fit and after trying other boots they definitely are right for my feet.

My problem is that I get a nasty ache in my right calf when wearing them - the sort of deep ache you get just before cramp sets in. The pain eases when I actually ski, but returns as soon as I stop, so standing in lift queues and waiting for other skiers (I still have ski school sessions) can be quite agonising.

Unfortunately I am one of those ladies who have proportionately large calfs which do not get much narrower above my ankles (not freakishly huge, though!!). The boots have plenty room for flexibility in fastening the top buckles. Loosening the upper fastenings doesn't seem to help and only results in less control.

Is this a problem that other people get?
Are there any exercises I can do to try and prevent this?
Is there something that should be done with the boot?
Should I try and get some different legs?!!

Any advice would be EXTREMELY gratefully received :?

Like Salski, I'm also more anxious about breaking a leg, especially with two young children to walk to school everyday, but they will mend in time. A serious head injury can have far further reaching consequences.

I was reluctant to get a helmet as I thought it would make me look as if I thought I was a better skier than I am (only a relative novice really), but perhaps that is even more reason for me to get one, as I acknowledge my lack of skill in getting out of tricky situations. I started considering head protection when my husband - with 30 years skiing experience - finally bought one himself.

What finally changed my mind, though, was not an accident or a near miss - it was getting on a chair lift during terrible weather and having my hat knocked off when reaching up for the safety bar. By the time I got to the top the wind chill was at least -20celcius and we were in the middle of a blizzard. Luckily I had a polar buff which I was able to make into a hat until I got down, but it was a pretty miserable experience.

Aside from the safety debate, which I'm not sure will ever be resolved, woolly hats slip around on longer hair leaving you with a big matted tat on your head, and you get all sweaty underneath them. At least a properly fitting helmet doesn't slip around, keeps your goggles in place, can have better ventilation than a hat, and won't fall off on the chair-lift!!

Result: A lovely new helmet for Christmas this year. Just need to book the holiday now!!

Thanks for the replies. Have already booked with Direct Travel but it's nice to see others recommend it.

Currently wondering whether we'll get there at all due to the weather. Need to get from Sheffield to Gatwick at the weekend, and am stuck at home with the kids on their second day of school closure! Had another 2" of snow on top of 6" already on ground. After waiting for lovely snowy weather for ages I can't believe I'm praying for it to get washed away with rain!!

Not too worried about hubby going off-piste, he's pretty uptight about safety and won't go far from main areas. Also off to buy helmets, too, but that's a whole other topic for debate!!

Nitty

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. Seems like quite a common issue. It's a pain having to consider that insurers will try every excuse they can not to pay out. A friend of mine broke her tibia and fibula last year on an area just off-piste so the danger is always in the back of my mind. Thankfully my hubby is pretty risk averse and didn't venture off-piste because he recognised it was the wrong type of snow at the time, but I know he'd love to do something a bit more adventurous if he gets the chance. Will look into the mountaineering club stuff as he also now partakes in the bonkers mountain marathons, so it might be worth his while joining up, if they include that sort of thing.

Nitty