Latest posts for the topic "How to put more pressure on your toes"

How to put more pressure on your toes

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:23:23 GMT

I am a serial offender at not keeping pressure on my toes. No matter how much I intend to, I just can't. I seem to remember someone on a thread here suggesting that you can put something inside your boot to help with this, maybe a piece of cork tile or something. So would you put it under the heel, or under the toes in order to increase forward pressure? I'm assuming you'd put it under the boot liner? I can't afford to buy custom footbeds and I don't have time/can't afford to visit a boot fitter.
Any comments gratefully received.

Re:How to put more pressure on your toes

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:46:04 GMT

I can't answer your specific question but have a read of this thread http://www.j2ski.com/ski-chat-forum/posts/list/12025.page#108513
which may help, the article that SwingBeep found http://hvst.org/files/Balance_-_Proper_Boot_Alignment_web_.pdf is very thorough but worth it if you are interested.

The three photos sort of explained posture for me quite well.

Re:How to put more pressure on your toes

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 19:07:35 GMT

Why do you feel that you need to put pressure on your toes?

Re:How to put more pressure on your toes

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 21:35:13 GMT

Make sure to rent the new tip rocker type of skis next time. They do not require the same forward pressure as a regular camber skis.

Re:How to put more pressure on your toes

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 22:08:15 GMT

I never think about my toes at all when I'm ski-ing. In fact, in one lesson they told us to think about our big toes leading the turn and it totally confused me. I just concentrate on making sure my shins stay forward against the front of my boots and I keep 'thinking' forward (i.e. I don't lean back against the slope away from the scary drop in front of me!).

Re:How to put more pressure on your toes

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 22:08:40 GMT

Do you not generate pressure on the front of the ski by pushing your shin into the front of the boot rather than transferring weight onto your toes?

Re:How to put more pressure on your toes

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 22:09:00 GMT

I sometimes grip with my toes when i am scared :shock:

How to put more pressure on your toes

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 22:12:09 GMT

acarr wrote:I am a serial offender at not keeping pressure on my toes. No matter how much I intend to, I just can't. I seem to remember someone on a thread here suggesting that you can put something inside your boot to help with this, maybe a piece of cork tile or something. So would you put it under the heel, or under the toes in order to increase forward pressure? I'm assuming you'd put it under the boot liner? I can't afford to buy custom footbeds and I don't have time/can't afford to visit a boot fitter.
Any comments gratefully received.

Dave Mac would probably wibble on about using floor tiles or bits of carpet at this stage :shock:

I bought some footbeds for GBP35 recently, apparently they will change my foot inside my boot. I am yet to test this on the snow. I don't think GBP35 is a lot of money if it corrects the issue I had, which was one ski wanting to edge sometimes.

Why, as Bandit asks, do you want to put more pressure on your toes?

Re:How to put more pressure on your toes

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 22:37:11 GMT

Sorry - my bad description. I really meant that I feel I need to lean forward more, not just my toes. I do feel pressure of my shins pushing against the boot, but I feel my centre of gravity is still more to the rear, leading to a sense of instability. The photos posted by SwingBeep on the other thread are interesting. I'm going to put my boots on and look in the mirror to see which photo is more like me. I might experiment with a heel lift as well when I get to the slopes.

Re:How to put more pressure on your toes

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 22:39:06 GMT

acarr wrote:Sorry - my bad description. I really meant that I feel I need to lean forward more, not just my toes. I do feel pressure of my shins pushing against the boot, but I feel my centre of gravity is still more to the rear, leading to a sense of instability. The photos posted by SwingBeep on the other thread are interesting. I'm going to put my boots on and look in the mirror to see which photo is more like me. I might experiment with a heel lift as well when I get to the slopes.

Interesting. I read into this that you have an issue with your position in your boots.

Re:How to put more pressure on your toes

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 22:40:25 GMT

Old Andy is right. I'm looking for full contact with the whole sole of my foot when I have resting pressure on the cuff. As I move forward to start a turn, I increase the pressure on the cuff, but also want to feel my weight move onto my toes a little. This is where having your boots and bindings set up correctly is crucial.

Ally, I have trouble with all that big toe, little toe stuff too.

Re:How to put more pressure on your toes

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 11:07:10 GMT

If your skiing in the right position wouldn't this come naturally anyway. My instructor always told me to keep your knees bent with your weight forward, master this and the rest follows. I know it can be hard especially for a beginner to lean forward when going down hill as your mind/ body wants to do the opposite.

He also said this is when people usually fall or crash because the body weight isn't positioned right.... My only thoughts as I set off from the top of each lift are.

Am I relaxed.
Do I have my knees bent
Push my shins against the tongue of my boots
And keep my feet hip width apart.

My only thought as I'm skiing is stay relaxed at all times. And I find myself doing the above as standard.

Re:How to put more pressure on your toes

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 13:21:11 GMT

acarr,

The solution to your problem begins with your mind.

Stay in easy slopes and think SEE/SAW ( yes that playground board children all love ) ! Think pushing that board ( your ski tips ) down at all times!

How do you do that physically?
As mentioned by all others;
pressure on tops of ski boots.
pressure front of ski boot tongue
Knees forward
hips forward

I am the one who suggested placing a tiny object at heel , thus every time you lean back you feel pressure on heel ! Soon this pressure will be an irritant,,,,,then you must take it out ! The resultant soft spot will be for at least a day a "reminder to lean forward" !
Note this is as a last "solution" !

Another way is to talk to yourself ( in a low voice),, "forward,,,,forward,,,,forward " as you go dow easy run !

Hope this helps you acarr!

It will happen.
Just practice and do not lose desire to ski better.

Pavel

Re:How to put more pressure on your toes

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 13:24:06 GMT

When I feel the pressure on the back of my boots I know I am doing something wrong....

Sometimes joined by a reverse 360 jump - not intended though :twisted:

How to put more pressure on your toes

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 14:54:04 GMT

Tony_H wrote:

acarr wrote:I am a serial offender at not keeping pressure on my toes. No matter how much I intend to, I just can't. I seem to remember someone on a thread here suggesting that you can put something inside your boot to help with this, maybe a piece of cork tile or something. So would you put it under the heel, or under the toes in order to increase forward pressure? I'm assuming you'd put it under the boot liner? I can't afford to buy custom footbeds and I don't have time/can't afford to visit a boot fitter.
Any comments gratefully received.

Dave Mac would probably wibble on about using floor tiles or bits of carpet at this stage :shock:

I bought some footbeds for GBP35 recently, apparently they will change my foot inside my boot. I am yet to test this on the snow. I don't think GBP35 is a lot of money if it corrects the issue I had, which was one ski wanting to edge sometimes.

Why, as Bandit asks, do you want to put more pressure on your toes?

If one ski wants to edge you may want to take your boots to a bootfitter to check alignment. I had a tendency to ride a big toe edge on my right foot when off-piste, which created all sort of problems when I was trying to go faster - turns to the left while were easy to initiate had slopppy finishes (I couldn't dump speed immediately as instead of ending up on a definite slip I would be on edge and keep going) and turns to the right were difficult to initiate and I tended to lift the right ski. I checked my side-slips and they are very good when left ski downhill and way worse when right ski is down, so I went to a bootfitter and he canted my right boot and also made custom insoles with bigger support under my right foot arch to prevent it from rolling inwards. Problem solved! Now, while I am still some way off from doing a zipper line on Tortin I can keep up with boys while making nice smooth pivots with both my feet moving simultaneously. Maybe superfeet or any other ready made orthotics will work for you, but if you have time definitely visit a bootfitter. Very good investment of time and money.

Re:How to put more pressure on your toes

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:06:08 GMT

Well, you can mess around by trying various things (as long as you don't try to mess with the construction of the boot) but really nothng can substitute a visit to a bootfitter. It may turn up that you are in a totally wrong boot for you and while you might learn to compensate for it you will never progress very far. I had a boot once with too much foreward lean and all I was doing while skiing as fighting myself as to not to seat back - I really wanted to as I felt I was about to fall out of my boots face forward. Skiing is an expensive hobby, and boots are the most important piece of your equipment. So if there is something bothering you about your stance, think about finding toe and money for a bootfitter. It may be a relatively easy to fix problem, and it may cost you next to nothing, but you do want a professional to assess it. Generally, all you have to do to put pressure on your toes is to flex your ankles. If you flex your ankles and don't get enough control of your tips, see a bootfitter. He's better fit to address the issue - you may need heel lifts, you may need toe lifts, you may need to have your boots softened some, and you may have a few miserable days on slopes while trying to resolve your issue by yourself.

Re:How to put more pressure on your toes

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:24:54 GMT

Thanks everyone for your advice. I think a trip to a good boot fitter is in order, even if I have to raid my piggy bank for the money :roll:

Allie

How to put more pressure on your toes

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:53:12 GMT

verbier_ski_bum wrote:

Tony_H wrote:

acarr wrote:I am a serial offender at not keeping pressure on my toes. No matter how much I intend to, I just can't. I seem to remember someone on a thread here suggesting that you can put something inside your boot to help with this, maybe a piece of cork tile or something. So would you put it under the heel, or under the toes in order to increase forward pressure? I'm assuming you'd put it under the boot liner? I can't afford to buy custom footbeds and I don't have time/can't afford to visit a boot fitter.
Any comments gratefully received.

Dave Mac would probably wibble on about using floor tiles or bits of carpet at this stage :shock:

I bought some footbeds for GBP35 recently, apparently they will change my foot inside my boot. I am yet to test this on the snow. I don't think GBP35 is a lot of money if it corrects the issue I had, which was one ski wanting to edge sometimes.

Why, as Bandit asks, do you want to put more pressure on your toes?

If one ski wants to edge you may want to take your boots to a bootfitter to check alignment. I had a tendency to ride a big toe edge on my right foot when off-piste, which created all sort of problems when I was trying to go faster - turns to the left while were easy to initiate had slopppy finishes (I couldn't dump speed immediately as instead of ending up on a definite slip I would be on edge and keep going) and turns to the right were difficult to initiate and I tended to lift the right ski. I checked my side-slips and they are very good when left ski downhill and way worse when right ski is down, so I went to a bootfitter and he canted my right boot and also made custom insoles with bigger support under my right foot arch to prevent it from rolling inwards. Problem solved! Now, while I am still some way off from doing a zipper line on Tortin I can keep up with boys while making nice smooth pivots with both my feet moving simultaneously. Maybe superfeet or any other ready made orthotics will work for you, but if you have time definitely visit a bootfitter. Very good investment of time and money.

Thanks VSB. But I asked about Canting as thats what I thought might be the issue, and was told in no uncertain terms that I should try an insole as canting is the "last resort". I've got a 100% refund policy so if theres no difference they'll be going back and I'll be asking about the canting. I have to say I was fairly sure canting would be the issue, not an insole, for catching an edge where IMO the boot was not sitting 100% flat on the ski.

How to put more pressure on your toes

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:42:23 GMT

Tony_H wrote:

verbier_ski_bum wrote:

Tony_H wrote:

acarr wrote:I am a serial offender at not keeping pressure on my toes. No matter how much I intend to, I just can't. I seem to remember someone on a thread here suggesting that you can put something inside your boot to help with this, maybe a piece of cork tile or something. So would you put it under the heel, or under the toes in order to increase forward pressure? I'm assuming you'd put it under the boot liner? I can't afford to buy custom footbeds and I don't have time/can't afford to visit a boot fitter.
Any comments gratefully received.

Dave Mac would probably wibble on about using floor tiles or bits of carpet at this stage :shock:

I bought some footbeds for GBP35 recently, apparently they will change my foot inside my boot. I am yet to test this on the snow. I don't think GBP35 is a lot of money if it corrects the issue I had, which was one ski wanting to edge sometimes.

Why, as Bandit asks, do you want to put more pressure on your toes?

If one ski wants to edge you may want to take your boots to a bootfitter to check alignment. I had a tendency to ride a big toe edge on my right foot when off-piste, which created all sort of problems when I was trying to go faster - turns to the left while were easy to initiate had slopppy finishes (I couldn't dump speed immediately as instead of ending up on a definite slip I would be on edge and keep going) and turns to the right were difficult to initiate and I tended to lift the right ski. I checked my side-slips and they are very good when left ski downhill and way worse when right ski is down, so I went to a bootfitter and he canted my right boot and also made custom insoles with bigger support under my right foot arch to prevent it from rolling inwards. Problem solved! Now, while I am still some way off from doing a zipper line on Tortin I can keep up with boys while making nice smooth pivots with both my feet moving simultaneously. Maybe superfeet or any other ready made orthotics will work for you, but if you have time definitely visit a bootfitter. Very good investment of time and money.

Thanks VSB. But I asked about Canting as thats what I thought might be the issue, and was told in no uncertain terms that I should try an insole as canting is the "last resort". I've got a 100% refund policy so if theres no difference they'll be going back and I'll be asking about the canting. I have to say I was fairly sure canting would be the issue, not an insole, for catching an edge where IMO the boot was not sitting 100% flat on the ski.

Sure. This is a reasonable way to proceed. If the insole is ready-made, then the amount of support it offers is averaged out over a large number of arches. It may or may not be enough, and you might need a combination of insole (it will be better in any case than the stock insole) and canting. You will see when you ski. Try side-slipping, I find it a good way to tell. A bootfitter has a special device that measures alingment and determins how much support needs to be added or how much canting needs to be done. canting alone takes a minute and you probably won't even be charged for it.

How to put more pressure on your toes

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 22:28:28 GMT

verbier_ski_bum wrote:canting alone takes a minute and you probably won't even be charged for it.

Aha. Now I'm beginning to see the big picture :shock:

How to put more pressure on your toes

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 01:13:46 GMT

verbier_ski_bum wrote:canting alone takes a minute and you probably won't even be charged for it.

Canting or cuff adjustment? Canting requires either removal of the binding and adding a canting strip, or adding material to the boot sole and planing. Neither is is normally free.

Cuff adjustment centres the leg in the boot cuff.

How to put more pressure on your toes

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 07:11:24 GMT

Trencher wrote:

verbier_ski_bum wrote:canting alone takes a minute and you probably won't even be charged for it.

Canting or cuff adjustment? Canting requires either removal of the binding and adding a canting strip, or adding material to the boot sole and planing. Neither is is normally free.

Cuff adjustment centres the leg in the boot cuff.

yup, my bad. This is what I meant. However on my boots the place where you put the screw in to adjust the caff is factory-marked as "canting". The canting you are talking about is indeed the last resort and usually for badly pronate people.

Re:How to put more pressure on your toes

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:57:50 GMT

acarr wrote:Thanks everyone for your advice. I think a trip to a good boot fitter is in order, even if I have to raid my piggy bank for the money :roll:

Allie

It's a good investment that you won't regret. Nothing ruins your day on slopes faster than badly fitted boots. On the other hand properly fitted boots will let you concentrate on your skiing instead of constantly worrying about your feet.