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Blown out big toe nail

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The_Polock
Posts: 345 - Karma: 1,280
I keep blowing out my big toe nail skiing...boots to big or too small? I was fitted by a "master" boot fitter but go thru a toe nail every season. The boots feel tight to me but I have been told that's how it is supposed to be. My old boots did not do this to me....
Aug 20 2013 6:28AM
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.Hugo.
Posts: 17360 - Karma: 28,488
Quit landing backseat
Aug 20 2013 6:34AM
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fortyvalve
Posts: 1442 - Karma: 1,573
toe bang? are your toes slamming the front of your boots when you land?
Aug 20 2013 7:41AM
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coolflash8
Posts: 3171 - Karma: 2,048
after one day at killy preseason a few years ago i had this, went and got a heel insert. never had any more problems with that, those were dalbellos. bought full tils, never had any problems. moral:buy full tilts :D
Aug 20 2013 7:53AM
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The_Polock
Posts: 345 - Karma: 1,280
Yeah...My boots feel tight as hell too.

Aug 20 2013 7:53AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,635
So much this.

You can do all kinds of things to your boots to help, but if you are landing backseat, or even just skiing backseat aint nothing going to help your toenail loss. You're just driving that toe straight into the front top of the boot and fucking it up.

As lame as it sounds, the traditional ski lesson of always keeping constant pressure on the shins of your boots is probably the most key thing you can learn. It'll help your life immensely.

Aug 20 2013 8:05AM
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The_Polock
Posts: 345 - Karma: 1,280
Thanks.  I dont ski back seat but def landed backseat a few times this year.  Some of them hard and thats when I felt the toe explosion.  I was just wondering if a boot change would help.  Sounds like I just need to keep my shit together better in the air and I would not have the issue.  I dont want to go drop the coin on a new pair of boots anyway.  Input=Thanks=Mr. Bishop
Aug 20 2013 8:27AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,635
There's actually very little point to try new boots until you've eliminated the issue of backseat. When you're thinking about it, you might realize you're backseat more often than you thought. Its very easy especially if you're going for a loose style.

The key is to keep your balance centered if you want to make your skiing look loose, yet not screw up your shins and toes - shinbang is almost always caused by backseat stuff. In the center of your skis - if you are religious about only being in the center not the back - works great for a mixture of style and toe/shin health.

Best thing to do if you have serious problems though is force yourself to flex forward all the time. you'll be more upright but deal with it for a bit. Eliminate that you don't need new boots by forcing yourself into the front for a month or two. Once you can see that simply being forward is the solution then you can start to play around with loosening it back up.

of course, boots can be the problem too so if you go forwards and it doesn't solve it, then you'll want to just talk to your local bootfitter about a strategy.

Aug 20 2013 8:59AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,635
Also, do NOT order new boots online if you eventually go this route. Boots are such a personal part of our setup, its vital that you establish a relationship with a quality bootfitter, and work with them on strategy from the purchase all the way up to customization. If you buy the cool boot you saw on Newschoolers from a discount online shop, there is only so much your bootfitter will ever be able to do for you.

Aug 20 2013 9:00AM
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Blake.P
Posts: 9894 - Karma: 3,585
Yup it's all form. I have great fitting boots, but it always happens that once a year I land something backseat, and end up fucking up my toe. It's not the boots at all, just my fault
Aug 20 2013 9:08AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7160 - Karma: 17,588
What type of footbed did you get? You say you were fitted by a master fitter so what work did he do? I always start with a good footbed with a stiff stabilisation. From there I do a toe box expansion and finally a big toe punch. If this does not do it you can look at heel width. Sometimes the heel is to narrow not allowing the foot to go right back. Also if you instep has room above it that canet your foot slid forward. To prevent tho a heel lift and sinus pads can be used. Honestly with a professionally fitted boot you can almost eliminate toe bang even with the biggest of backseat landings.

Boots are something which should not hurt and if they do then your fitter is not as good as he thinks.

You can do things like keeping the nail short though. When you touch the end of your toe of you can feel nail cut it back.

Bit like I said above nearly every boot can be fitted to get rid of toe bang it just takes a good fitter.
Aug 20 2013 9:18AM
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rememberscott
Posts: 1291 - Karma: 5,201
I had this problem as well, and I thought my boots were too small but they actually fit perfect now.

2 things. I bought a shorter middle cable for my boot which keeps the heel locked in place. And I cut my big toenails more often now. You can still feel the toe bang time to time but it's def not as bad.

Aug 20 2013 9:20AM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
Sometimes it's just what happens. I started touring on my set of boots that have fit well (for me and my wacky feet anyway) for years. Three tours later, bruises under both big toenails. Same solution that's been suggested, go to a fitter and see what they diagnose.
Aug 20 2013 9:21AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7160 - Karma: 17,588
Also maybe look at the flex of the boot. You would be amazed how many people are in boots to stiff for them. Having a boot to stiff can prevent you keeping forward.
Aug 20 2013 9:21AM
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The_Polock
Posts: 345 - Karma: 1,280
Thanks for the info guys.  I will keep my Technica's and try not to land back seat as much.  Nice to hear I am not the only one that experiences purple toe nails...
Aug 20 2013 9:33AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7160 - Karma: 17,588
^ do you have any footbeds?
Aug 20 2013 9:35AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7160 - Karma: 17,588
That will always happen if you try to your in a well fitted alpine boot. I know guys who have tried to do short tours in very well fitted boots and have lost nails. Part of the reason we fit boots slightly bigger or at least with more toe room for touring is for this exact reason. When you walk you are pushing your feet forward but leaning back. Now doing this a few times a day skiing will be fine but doing it every 2 secs for an extended period of time will result it damage. It's part of te reason I never recommend any real touring in a well fitted alpine boot.
Aug 20 2013 9:39AM
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corona
Posts: 12803 - Karma: 32,817
Always happens to me too. Cutting your big toenail back to the quick before skiing is a good start. And I find (if it's not too cold) tightening the front buckle to give as little wiggle room as possible for the big toe also helps a lot. At one point I taped my big toe, but I don't know if that helped since it might not have happened regardless. But it definitely felt very secure and snug and that it wasn't going to get hurt.
Aug 20 2013 10:46AM
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MaryO
Posts: 2583 - Karma: 5,996
This happens to me every year too, but only my right toe. I made it fine all the way to March last year, then overshot a jump in Neff Land and slammed my toe into the boot. Hurt so bad, but at least it wasn't my knee! If I hadn't landed backseat in that situation I think it would've been a worse injury.
Aug 20 2013 11:06AM
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HamFaceGirl
Posts: 5242 - Karma: 2,676
I'm guessing you already do this, but keep your toenails short
Aug 20 2013 11:14AM
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Session
Posts: 5389 - Karma: 22,281
This helped me a ton, I went from a Salomon Ghost to a Nordica Double Six. Improved my skiing immensely .
Aug 20 2013 11:29AM
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Miomo
Posts: 4302 - Karma: 14,133
Saw out the top front part of your boot
Aug 20 2013 1:07PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7160 - Karma: 17,588
You really can stop toe bang guys. A really well made footbed and the correct toe box stretching and punching can eliminate the issue. There is no need to ski in pain. Also you guys will all be stocked with the new spk which is in the pipeline.
Aug 20 2013 1:22PM
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animeallstar
Posts: 835 - Karma: 1,245
cut your feet off
Aug 20 2013 1:32PM
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The_Polock
Posts: 345 - Karma: 1,280
Fellow Polock.  I do have a footbed.  However, blew my toe out anyway.  I believe Bishop hit it on the head: I had a couple of bad backseat shit landings last year.  Hurt instantly....
Aug 20 2013 4:01PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7160 - Karma: 17,588
What type of footbed do you have and how is it surported. I can garentee you if your having nail issues you can have those boots fitted better to prevent it.
Aug 20 2013 4:15PM
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The_Polock
Posts: 345 - Karma: 1,280
No clue...Probably ought to go back to my boot man!  Sounds like your a boot man yourself Pietrowski.
Aug 20 2013 4:27PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7160 - Karma: 17,588
Yeah I have worked as a fitter for over 10 years that's how I can garentee you that those boots can be sorted out. Freestyle has its own requirements and from working with some top skiers I have been able to develop techniques which work. It always makes me laugh when people complain as sore feet and toes being part of skiing as it really does not need to be.
Aug 20 2013 4:33PM
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The_Polock
Posts: 345 - Karma: 1,280
Thanks Tom.  Positive vibes to you my friend.  You dont live in Michigan do you?
Aug 20 2013 4:43PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7160 - Karma: 17,588
Sadly not mate I was in whistler for a few years but back in the good old uk now. You will be able to get those boots sorted, keep the nails short and you can do as many backseat landings as you want. Good luck an if you have any questions let me know.
Aug 20 2013 4:49PM
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The_Polock
Posts: 345 - Karma: 1,280
Thanks!
Aug 20 2013 4:55PM
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Jabe
Posts: 567 - Karma: 240
Just buy full tilts?
Aug 20 2013 10:12PM
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Dr.Dickless
Posts: 2620 - Karma: 1,392
its happened to me a few times, just trim your toenails down real low in the winter
Aug 20 2013 10:51PM
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louie.mirags
Posts: 6015 - Karma: 5,027
I recently purchased Nordica Aces sized one down from what I was measured at. After first day skiing I had to get extra room in my toes just to wear socks. After my second day my right big toe is bruised to shit. The pain only lasted 2 runs because my foot went numb, to the point I thought it was frost bit when I first got my sock off hours later. I was going to go back again and try custom footbeds but just read the above post about sitting backseat. Should I risk taking the hour drive to see if my stance is the problem at the hill or take the hour drive in the other direction and skip next day skiing plus $x amount for footbeds? I did not have this problem years past, could the new boot be highlighting a backseat issue?

Also, these boots are colddddd as shit. I purchased ultrathin smartwool socks and nothing. Still freezing. I just want to be comfortableeeeeeee
Nov 30 2013 5:32AM
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The_Polock
Posts: 345 - Karma: 1,280
I have been concentrated hard on no skiing or landing backseat and so far so good. Been out 7 times already this year and have only minor toe nail pain. Still want new boots but landing correctly and not hitting shit jumps has helped a lot.
Dec 1 2013 8:04AM
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louie.mirags
Posts: 6015 - Karma: 5,027
Thanks for the reply! Headed to the mtn now I will report back on the big toe
Dec 1 2013 8:40AM
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The_Polock
Posts: 345 - Karma: 1,280
Click for larger image
Went hard all weekend and have great feeling toes this morning.   Seriously concentrating on keeping out of the back seat has helped alot.  No back seat skiing/landings no pain!  It has helped tons.

Dec 2 2013 9:54AM
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louie.mirags
Posts: 6015 - Karma: 5,027
Definitely! My first run I noticed right away my habits were skiing slightly backsest. I adjusted and had an awesome day shreding. Very little pain in the toe but my feet still do not feel 100% comfortable. I feel like my heel needs more support. From what I told the bootfitter after the first day of skiing he put a wedge in my left boot. I notice now my left big toe has no bruise anymore but the right still bad. Definitely going to lose the big nail eventually. So instead of just getting the wedge i'm going to get custom footbeds for support.
Dec 2 2013 10:51AM
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