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Anyone one else have shin pain when skiing?

Original Post
Dead Head · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2017 · Points: 65

I have started to get a dull, bruising-type pain on my shins when I ski.  This hasn't happened any other season, and I notice it every time I ski now.  Could it be from skiing more agressively/doing more drops?  Has anyone else experienced this?

Nathaniel F · · Modesto, CA · Joined Mar 2019 · Points: 5

The outside of my lower shins really started to hurt after I started doing steeper things and drops. I just ignored it and I am guessing that tendon got stronger after another 8 or so days of skiing.

Dead Head · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2017 · Points: 65
Nathaniel F wrote:

The outside of my lower shins really started to hurt after I started doing steeper things and drops. I just ignored it and I am guessing that tendon got stronger after another 8 or so days of skiing.

Yeah, I've got about 20 days this season and it seems a tad milder but idk.

bearded sam · · Crested Butte, CO · Joined Apr 2011 · Points: 145

https://www.skimag.com/gear/shin-bang-and-how-to-prevent-it/

Chris Johnson · · Boulder, CO · Joined Nov 2015 · Points: 15

I got it after I broke one of my boot straps and replaced them with Boosters. Not sure if that was really the cause or it was I also started doing little hits and jumps. Towards the end of last season, I tried skiing 4 straight days at JH and only lasted a couple hours on the final day, it had gotten so bad. I tried everything. Crank down on the Boosters, coozies on my shins, stopped putting my long john legs in my boots, and nothing really seemed to help.

Coming into this season, I am a candidate on ski patrol, so really wanted to get it under control. I do ski conditioning from Sept-Dec a couple days a week (this one specifically: https://www.backcountry.com/explore/train-eccentric-leg-strength-for-alpine-skiing) and added shin strengthening exercises. Basically, I sit on a bench, feet flat, and lift my toes as many times as I can in a set time. Really focus on a full range of motion, not just bobbing them off the ground a bit. Feel it engage those shin muscles. Started with 30 seconds, when that felt easy, went to 1:00, etc. I would do 3 sets each leg at the end of each round of Leg Blasters. This year has been a little different (my only inbounds skiing has been toboggan training, so not much freeskiing hitting drops or jumps), but I haven't had an issue with it. The toe lifts will 100% be included in my preseason conditioning from now on. 

Ryan Walker · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2021 · Points: 0


I was skiing for two years when I watched this video.  I had almost given up due to foot pain.  I got new boots, had them punched out and still pain.  I never had anybody show me how to ski or do up my boots and when I tried what you showed in this video my foot pain improved probably 90%.  It really made a huge difference as I could never get above green runs as I always had to take a half hour break between every run to take my boots off.  

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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