Aches and Pains

[Sparky]

At the beginning of every season I seem to have the same aches and pains. My hips burn like I had hip pointers. My question is, do other people end up with the same aliments year after year or is it just my oddly constructed carcass? What is the best way to avoid that, other then the obvious getting in shape and warm up type exercises?

 

[nelsapbm]

Feet

The only thing(s) that seem to bother me the first few times out are my feet. Not sure if they're not used to be in tight confined spaces, or it's muscles that havent been used in a while or what, but the first few times out can be agony. By the third day I'm golden.

 

[Greg]

The only thing(s) that seem to bother me the first few times out are my feet. Not sure if they're not used to be in tight confined spaces, or it's muscles that havent been used in a while or what, but the first few times out can be agony. By the third day I'm golden.

I only usually get that ache for the first half day or so, but man can that hurt. It's not a muscular burn or anything, but rather a deep ache in the foot. Ouch! :evil:

 

[JimG.]

Early season aches and pains seem unavoidable; my pain areas are deep leg and back muscles. But it rarely lasts more than a day.

There seem to be few off season activities that utilize all the muscles we use when we ski.

 

[Grassi21]

Early season aches and pains seem unavoidable; my pain areas are deep leg and back muscles. But it rarely lasts more than a day.

There seem to be few off season activities that utilize all the muscles we use when we ski.

I was just about to say something to that affect. Since you beat me to it...

Has anyone tried one of those Skier's Edge machines? I ordered a brochure and read some reviews. I want to pull the trigger and order one but they are pricey. If any exercise/activity is going to replicate those aches and pains, I would think it would be this machine.

 

[Greg]

Has anyone tried one of those Skier's Edge machines? I ordered a brochure and read some reviews. I want to pull the trigger and order one but they are pricey. If any exercise/activity is going to replicate those aches and pains, I would think it would be this machine.

http://forums.alpinezone.com/search.php?do=process&query=skiers+edge&titleonly=1

 

[JimG.]

I was just about to say something to that affect. Since you beat me to it...

Has anyone tried one of those Skier's Edge machines? I ordered a brochure and read some reviews. I want to pull the trigger and order one but they are pricey. If any exercise/activity is going to replicate those aches and pains, I would think it would be this machine.

I was going to mention the Skier's Edge machine.

tirolerpeter has alot of experience with these machines and could probably answer all of your questions.

 

[jack97]

At the beginning of every season I seem to have the same aches and pains. My hips burn like I had hip pointers. My question is, do other people end up with the same aliments year after year or is it just my oddly constructed carcass? What is the best way to avoid that, other then the obvious getting in shape and warm up type exercises?

Four five years back, I got muscle cramps in the quads skiing on wet snow, ungroom terrain and glades. Started using the StairMaster, its part of my every day workout routine. Haven’t had a problem with the thighs since.

Last season, spending most of my days in the bumps, I got muscle cramps closer to the hip area. Couple of months back I got a pair of rotary disc to work on twisting the hips to mimic rotary turns, I use this along with my poles plants. Waiting to see if this will help knock off two problems; my poling and the hip cramps.

 

[tirolerpeter]

I posted this about the Skier'sEdge in another thread recently:

I own the "Classic Series" because I have height issues in my basement family room. Each of the others has a bit more "rise." What really matters is actual intensity and duration more than the rise. In any case, I bought mine as a "show special" (they sell the models after a show to save shipping them back to UT, or to the next show). Including the Slope Simulator, which runs about $200 or so, I think I paid just under $1,500 including NYS sales tax. About a month later I also added the "Gatekeeper" for another $150 or so. I think it has been worth every penny for me in terms of improvement in my physical condition and development of balance skills.

You can buy the fixed balance bar (I don't have one), or use the standard ski poles. Even with the Slope Simulator set for maximum "free float" of the foot pads, I am at the point where I can go as long as a full minute without even using the poles. Additionally, keeping your upper body centered on the machine, and only moving left and right with your lower body works all the muscle groups that create "angulation." In effect, you are setting your edges at the end of each swing of your lower body. Since you are using both legs, it enhances your ability to develop a "two edges" carving technique. The good thing about that, besides making you a more powerful carver, is that if you catch an edge on the "downhill ski" in real snow, you just unconsciously transition your weight to the other ski while "unhooking" the edge gone bad without any drama. My wife has used the machine to rehab a badly sprained ankle and she found that it eliminated the adhesions that were prolonging her healing time. She couldn't use the treadmill because of the "impact" on the ankle while running. When she uses the machine we set it up in front of the console of our treadmill so that she can hold on while she makes "turns."

BTW, a "turn" is from the center to one side and back to center. So, center to right back through center to left, and back to center is two "turns." My usual pace is right around 100 turns/minute. Sometimes I kick up the intensity to around 108 - 110 / minute, sometimes I "rest" by dropping down to around 95/minute. You can vary how far out toward each end of the machine you want to go, and by adjusting the belt tension you can change the resistance factor. Belt tension also needs to be adjusted depending up the weight of the user. I weigh 165lbs so I don't need the max tension available. I actually made my own modified tensioner pulley bolts, to facilitate quicker tension adjustments for when my wife wants to work out on the machine. Another way to increase the intensity of the workout is take take a lower stance. Normally you stand on the foot pads as you (should) stand on your skiis. That is, feet flat, knees bent, and back straight. For greater quad development, just lower your butt a bit, and feel "heat" build up. You should also calculate your "ideal" heart rate so that you are gaining in aerobic capacity, but not burning muscle. In my case, the formula is 220 -60 (my age) X %80 = 128. I try to not let my heart rate run higher than 135. And finally, buying, trying it, and then letting it gather dust just won't work. If you are on a budget, think about buying one "used" (gently no doubt) by a work-out drop-out.

 

[tirolerpeter]

Aches and Pains II

I originally bought the machine at the end of October of 2004. I worked out on it for about 21 days before I got a chance to ski at Killington that November. From the first moment I stepped off the the K1 Gondola I knew something was different. Since there really was limited cover off the top, I didn't get to actually ski with any kind of rhythm until I hit RIME. My buddy and I had decided to "just take it easy" and let the muscles "warm" up for a couple of runs. I got in about 10 turns when I realized that I felt the way I usually do only after a couple of days after I start a typical season. In no time, I was simply "letting it rip." We hammered that trail for about three hours. Then we went over to another area (can't remember name now) and skied through some horrible wet stuff blowing out or the guns for a while. We went back to RIME and ripped it up some more. When we left, I had absolutely NO QUAD BURN. That was amazing for a first day of the season. I have continued to use the machine both in season, and off season. At my age, I can not let my conditioning lapse. I now enjoy my ski days much much more, and go from first to last chair in comfort and control. If you can afford to buy one of these things, you will be amazed at the results. And no, the company does not pay me for my comments. I just love sharing a good thing. Anybody want more specific information can feel free to PM me.

 

[Ski Diva]

I work out five days a week at the gym -- cardio and weights -- and sometimes I STILL get pain at the beginning of the season (hips, mostly). I can only hope it's not as bad as it might've been if I didn't work out at all.

All the same, have you tried in-line skating? That seems to use a lot of the same muscles as skiing. And it's lots of fun.

I guess the key is to keep active in the off season. If you don't, you're toast.

 

[Sparky]

I work out five days a week at the gym -- cardio and weights -- and sometimes I STILL get pain at the beginning of the season (hips, mostly). I can only hope it's not as bad as it might've been if I didn't work out at all.

All the same, have you tried in-line skating? That seems to use a lot of the same muscles as skiing. And it's lots of fun.

I guess the key is to keep active in the off season. If you don't, you're toast.

I do rollerblade about 1000 miles a year and it real does seem to help, but I still get those early season pains. I guess skiing is just unque enought that you can't get completely ready before hand, although I would like to try one of those skiers edge machines. There just so expensive.

 

[tirolerpeter]

Aches & Pains

I think the workout on the Skier'sEdge machine is so useful because it is the closest approximation to actual skiing that you can achieve. Properly done, you "angulate" just as if you were carving on the slopes, but without the jarring impact that setting edges on infamous eastern "packed powder" can create. You strengthen and stretch all the muscle groups you use in skiing, so that when you actually hit the slopes you feel like you have been skiing already and your body is prepared.

 

[bigbog]

.......

Sparky,
Used to get those upper, outer thigh tendon aches... Doing the early AM pseudo-yoga stretches really helped...and doorway C-leans...etc..but ditto on the Skier'sEdge! A friend over in upper NYS has one....and let me try it for 15min one day last Feb...really really felt great....especially early in the morning on one of those "Following Days"...on hardpack. All of the feedback I've ever heard on that thing has been nothing but positive..
$.01..

*As a side-note, at that time of early AM pains...had my old, over-worn footbeds...was kind of rocking & rolling around inside some..fwiw