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Shinbang - I hate you!

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Vincenzo
Posts: 304 - Karma: 445
So, here is the deal. I've been skiing for a solid five seasons or something. Every season I get a horrible shin bang, I can maybe ski two days or something and then I have to rest up cause the pain in my shins are just too much to handle. I've haven't actually been skiing in a resort yet this winter, but I've been shredding alot in my backyard, hitting rails. The first couple of weeks everything was going good and skiing was super fun. Then the shinbang started to come back. I have been doing alot of massaging after each session, trying to prevent it, but its back again. I don't know if its chronic or whatever, but I'm kinda thinking about seeing a physio regarding this. I don't know if you guys might have some tips, maybe some exercises that you do to prevent this? If you know how I can make it stop, please contribute. I have heard about people using sportstape before each session, trying to hold it back. I haven't tried it, anyone who got some experience with this? I'm really sick of this and its ruining my skiing, I'll do whatever I can to make it stop. Thanks.
Nov 19 2012 11:06AM
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andrewblackie
Posts: 292 - Karma: 109
Custom tongues will only help so far as they're thick enough to push your ankle back, I might be wrong, but shinbang usually stems from the height of the cuff and how little space there is in the cuff when you are applying forward pressure. Anyone more experienced than myself know if adjusting the canting would help the problem at all? Possibly a more upright stance to ease the work done on the shins? I know both the SPKs and Full Tilts have a more upright stance than regular boots, but whether that is to avoid shinbang or purely to ski switch more comfortably, I'm not sure?

Fortunately for me shinbang seems to be something I've grown out of over time, but I do feel OP's pain.
Nov 20 2012 1:10PM
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doitbig
Posts: 4818 - Karma: 315
my boots were sloppy up top which cause the shin bang. these in combination with a booster strap worked great for me. didn't notice any difference in handling other then my shins didn't hurt if i landed on my tails or skied hard for a few days in a row.

i have since purchased boots more fitting for my foot shape/calves (OMGGG FT's) and haven't needed them or the boosters.
Nov 20 2012 1:58PM
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ButteredToast.
Posts: 6459 - Karma: 2,570
GO TO A BOOTFITTER AND GET NEW BOOTS THAT FIT PROPERLY

Seriously. I had horrendous shinbang for years until I went to a bootfitter and dropped serious $ on boots and it completely went away.

Please do it. Your shins will thank you.
Nov 20 2012 2:39PM
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rednecknation
Posts: 548 - Karma: 63
Hey man, i have had a constant struggle with shin bang as well. It all started out of the womb, i started skiing when i was 2 years old. I had painful shins every season then a couple years ago when i started skiing park it got extremely worse. I was using a shitty pair of nordica boots, everyday before skiing and mid day i would lather my shins with aspercream and took pain pills. Haha sounds a bit low but like you it was ruining my skiing and i couldnt handle it. The next season i got a pair of nordica speed machines got a great deal i couldnt resist. Again terrible season as well, used the same method. So last year i finally switched to full tilts, now shin bang is minimal to none. Hearing your case i thought, oh just get tilts. And then i see you already have them. I dont have anyway to help you really but try aspercream that might help, just lather it on your shins and rub it in really good, multiple layers and then throw socks on when still wet that might help a bit. Good luck to ya pal.
Nov 20 2012 8:16PM
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90053
Posts: 2565 - Karma: 3,728
i will offer my two cents:

1. STANCE, make sure you feel even pressure across the whole of your feet, also if you're really struggling forget the park type stance and bend your knees more and your hands up and shoulders up over your hips a bit (this will make sure that not all the forward balance is coming from the ankle muscles)

2. BOOT FIT, i know its been said but make sure your boots actually fit, visit a few different fitters to get several opinions, getting the right boot setup can take years of adjustments. (also find a shop which has the pressure reader for feet and boots this helps a lot with things like canting stance and stretches you should do)
CUSTOM LINERS AND FOOTBEDS - if you have the cash seriously look into these

3. SOCKS, going through the obvious but use 1, ski specific sock (correct areas of padding, preferably fairly thin, comfort and warmth does is not proportional to sock thickness. make sure your socks are not cotton, choose either a synthetic or merino wool pair (merino wool is da shit anti bacterial high wicking properties etc. look it up) this will help take the sweat away from your skin and prevent chaffage, the antibacterial properties of merino might also help prevent inflamation but i'm not sure.

4. LANDING BACKSEAT, really practice getting good straight airs and popping well so you land evenly on your feet as sated above in STANCE. Do lots of quad work especially squats and stuff to help smoother landings

5. ANTI INFLAMATORIES, after a hard days shredding if your skins are all bruised up and sore rub an antiinflamatory cream into them to help ease swelling

6. BUCKLING BOOTS it is really important to buckle your boots properly so your feet rest correctly in the boot. get your heel to the back of the boot, (not sure with FTs but i'll have a go from a picture), bottom buckle first then work your way up tightening so the hold is firm but not uncomfortable, power strap should be tight, when you done your warm up lap you should be able to tighten your buckles a bit more. I personally have my boots super tight for performance and unbuckle on lifts. buckling will different for everyone so play around loosening and tightening to see what works(for 3 piece boots with four buckles bottom buckle closest to ankle joint first then toes then second from top then top then strap

7. SHAVE ANKLE HAIR TO REDUCE FRICTION?

hopefully this covers all the potential problems, btw its nearly two in the morning in the uk and i have work tomorrow, glad to help though
Nov 20 2012 8:54PM
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Heart
Posts: 6156 - Karma: 3,462
Tt's all about dat fit. Ive had shinbang once, and it was when i took some "flex adjuster" bolts out of the back of my technica agent's. Made the flex weird. Go see a bootfitter and you'll be happy as a clam
Nov 20 2012 9:20PM
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Dr.Dickless
Posts: 2620 - Karma: 1,392
works surprisingly well, my liners are mostly custom, sewed a bunch of memory foam in and shit
Nov 20 2012 9:27PM
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