Forward Lean on Technica Icons??

[Z]

I have a pair of last yr's Technica Icon Alu, and I'm gettin some pretty bad shin pain from them....I bought em brand new and they have maybe 25-30 days on them.....Im pretty sure my problem is landing in the backseat a good amount, sometimes i even feel the hit in my shin right after the drop......Should straightening up the boot fix this?? any experience or input?

Also having to do this bums me out a little, because i love the forward lean of the boot, helps me stay forward over my skis....but i guess im just gonna have to comprimise right?

[hyasakyte]

I had the exact same problem and I found two cures...

1. Making the forward lean more upright alleviated some of the shin bang, and also let me stand a little taller when carving high speed turns. It took a while to get used to standing more upright, but my leg muscles feel better at the end of the day.

2. I installed Booster Straps on my boots. This pretty much eliminated the shin bang problem completely. I don't know if putting the forward lean all the way forward again will still cause the shin bang even with the booster straps... I just haven't tried, so it might just be that the booster straps are the 100% solution...

[Z]

I have booster straps on them, and they don't seem to be doing the job......they feel great, but im thinking the shin bang is purely from the lean......

[hyasakyte]

Originally posted by Z
I have booster straps on them, and they don't seem to be doing the job......they feel great, but im thinking the shin bang is purely from the lean......

That very well could be. The size and shape of your lower leg could possibly cause the boot to be uncomfortable when you get to a certain forward lean position. Since its so easy to adjust, I would definately try a more upright position if I were you.

Don't understand why you haven't tried it already, because it sounds like you've been thinking about doing it... Worst case is that it doesn't help and you have to change the lean back to where it was. I think it will help at least a little though...

[Z]

well it turns out I can't change the lean, i thought a shop could do it using the same screws as the canting....Can anyone confirm that it cant be done?? do you have the same boots hyasakate??

[Vinman]

Solution: don't land in the backseat.

Seriously, most shin bang problems start with backseat landings. Get your hands in front of you on drops/airs and stay tight/compact in the air.

[Z]

I feel like thats impossible........i always try to stay forward but backseat landings are inevitable....and its always better to stay back alittle than go over the handle bars, but thats just my opinion......

[Vinman]

I'm not talking about being so far forward that you go over the handlebars, more like being balanced when you land. If you land in the backseat you are just setting your self up to be
1. out of control when you hit the snow which usually results in a fall
2. injured, forget about boot bang it will have plenty of time to heal when you end up out of comission with an ACL injury from one of your skis carving away from you while you are in the backseat trying to recover
3.and if nothing else it looks bad.

[mntlion]

Do they have a F lean plastic wedge in the upper part of the cuff in the back?
If so unscrew that and remove it.
Also if you still have the original power strap, do that up around the liner only and then do up the boot and the booster strap around the shell. That will remove any play in the top of the boot and make sure that your shin has full contact with the top of the boot.

[splat]

mtnlion - since you have such a good insight on the boot, what would you recommend for instep crunch (ouch!) other than shaving the platform and cutting out liner? I just got some dolomites because my icons were killing me via instep crush, but I hate these damn italian schmallions.

[mntlion]

Originally posted by splat
mtnlion - since you have such a good insight on the boot, what would you recommend for instep crunch (ouch!) other than shaving the platform and cutting out liner? I just got some dolomites because my icons were killing me via instep crush, but I hate these damn italian schmallions.

Thin the foot bed from the arch forward
thin the boot board from the arch forward
thin out the plastic on the top of the tounge of the boot.
cut a notch in the side of the tounge and remove some of the foam.
remove some of the bottom of the liner
if all that doesn't work try Scotch and Advil or buy other boots

[splat]

Originally posted by mntlion
Thin the foot bed from the arch forward
thin the boot board from the arch forward
thin out the plastic on the top of the tounge of the boot.
cut a notch in the side of the tounge and remove some of the foam.
remove some of the bottom of the liner
if all that doesn't work try Scotch and Advil or buy other boots

Got a new liner for the Dolomites (zipfit) and will use old/new liner (thermoflex) in the Icons which I had already tried, but still got the crunch. I am going to cut out and resew one of the laps the laps on the thermoflex above my arch, as I've done all your other recommends, some in excess. I really miss the race fit, edge control, lateral support, and forward lean of the Icons now that I'm skiing the Dolomites in Cham.

[hyasakyte]

Originally posted by splat
Got a new liner for the Dolomites (zipfit) and will use old/new liner (thermoflex) in the Icons which I had already tried, but still got the crunch. I am going to cut out and resew one of the laps the laps on the thermoflex above my arch, as I've done all your other recommends, some in excess. I really miss the race fit, edge control, lateral support, and forward lean of the Icons now that I'm skiing the Dolomites in Cham.

There's always the Scotch and Advil...

[splat]

Originally posted by hyasakyte
There's always the Scotch and Advil...

French Equivalent: Cote du Rhone and over-the-counter codeine.