toes & ankle flex

This is a question about what the toes should be doing when you flex your ankles -

My experience suggests there's complete consensus around the importance of flexing the ankles as the knees bend, but less consensus around what the toes should be doing: some people say flexing the ankles and curling up the toes is basically the same thing, others that the ankles should be flexed but toes should be flat on the ground. I understand the point that curling your toes up seems to tense the foot and somehow feels wrong. But, I also find that to snug my shin against the tongue of the boot without further bending my knees, I have to 'actively' flex my ankle rather than just allow it to bend, and this pulls my toes up off the footbed.

Any thoughts are very welcome!

Welcome to J2ski :D

My 1st thoughts are that you should see a bootfitter, and soon.

Your shin should be against the boot tongue, so do up the cuff.

Your leg/ankle needs to work as one within (and with) the boot, if your toes are pulling up, then the angle of the ankle of the boot might not be right for you.

Your toes should remain relaxed on the footbed.

I'm not a boot fitter, you need professional advice on this. Try a PM to J2skier, cem and see what he suggests.

jonesW wrote: I have to 'actively' flex my ankle rather than just allow it to bend, and this pulls my toes up off the footbed.

Sounds like you may need some toe lift. It seems counter intuitive, but to some degree raising the toe of the boot helps keep you forward. This is either done with shims under the toe piece of the binding, or with lift on the sole of the boot.

The best way to find out if you need this, is to find a boot fitter that does stance analysis. There are different ways to do that, and a little reading up will help you decide who to go to. The analysis itself shouldn't cost much, but the work, if needed will.

An old trick is put a folded trail map under the toe of your boot as you click in. Start with about 1mm, and then try about 2mm. You should feel the difference immediately in the form of your hips being further forward, and feeling more stacked over your toes. This is just for an experiment, and not really even a short term fix though.

Ha,,,the toe curl !

Amazing what a toe can do!

The toe "pressure" ( that BIG toe pressure) is just a indicator of correct ski technique!

Let me explain.

I am keeping this "simple" so please all you technical experts please allow me this "vulgarisation",,,,,

You want the inside tip zone of you ski to bite into the turn. You must THINK "big toe pressure as you turn" What this does is send a message to all your "correct turning muscles" to activate and have pressure; in front of skier, on tip area, inside edge area!

How this is done and in what sequence is another course!

You DO NOT curl toes ( since you will soon get cramps)

You do put pressure on the big toe which then translates into pressure on top of ski boot cuff, pressure from body core and finally from hips! Again how this is done in sequence is another course!

The major concept you must retain is the big toe is your focus point. Your pivot point in your mind!

If you feel pressure on your heels or near foot arch,,,then you are NOT in good turning position!

Hope this helps you !

PS many "expert" level skiers have noted that this toe pressure while doing ski turns gives them the same emotional "feelings" while in another critical social position which also requires much stamina, concentration and yes passion!!!!!