Specific stance/angle question/opinions

[RicHard]

Hello everybody,

I would ask for an opinion about something strange I'm experiencing with my stance setup.

I've got a Kessler 168 (20cm waisted), TD2 Bindings and Track 700 boots.

 

I used to ride with

• 3° cant disk on the front (all for lifting the front toe)
• 6° on the back (all for lifting the back heel)
• 57°/53°
• 48cm stance.

It was comfortable for the riding but I noticed that my front leg was almost straight on the backside carve (and I don't know if it's right since it's, for sure, ugly to be seen).

 

Then I tried the following:

• 0° cant disk on the front
• 6° cant disk on the back (at 70°, so splitted between cant/heel-lift)
• same angles and stance.

Everything is properly for the frontside (and the position seems to be visually better) but... while I try to carve backside, I feel as if my rear foot would be trying to open itself (as if the tip of the foot would like to go toward the tail of the board, blocked only by the boot shell, producing pain at the ankle). This is the only bad feeling (nothing on the front foot, hips, etc).

It seems that it can be solved with lower angle (following what the back foot would do) but... with 53° I'm already on the edges.

Any idea about?!

The more I bend the knees (as it should be in the turn progression), the strong my foot tip try to "open".

 

Thanks a lot for every opinion/suggestion!

 

[michael.a]

There is nothing wrong in my eyes with having an upright front leg. I'd say getting that front leg to bend more is more of a case of technique, such as shifting your body (weight) to the front of the board (i.e., you are riding in the backseat).

 

Go back to the settings you were comfortable with.

 

But to gain some insight, I think your problem with the current setup may be tied in with your stance. What is your body height and inseam length (you can also measure the distance between the ground to the center of your knee when barefoot)?

[Neil Gendzwill]

When you say frontside do you mean on your heel edge or on your toe edge?

[ursle]

Grab a set of the cateck bindings, ultimate tuning options.

You went from having your front elevated to front flat and lowered your rear also, and now it feels like you need more rear lift........the pain in your ankle.

Just visualize what your body is doing to change,I always lift-cant away from pain, with the cateck wc2 you can find your sweet spot.

Err, try 20 or 21" width with more front foot lift and rear foot also, cant as desired. Until you can fully articulate, you can't get small.

[kieran]

don't neglect to factor in the built-in angle of the boots. with the 3° disc up front, the sole of your foot may in fact be parallel to the deck of the board. with 0° your heel will be higher than the ball of your foot.

[teach]

The need to rotate your foot back (lower angle) when you squat I think suggests you need better foot support and/or cant on the rear more outward. Sounds like it's inward sloping now.

[b0ardski]

It sounds like a bit more splay would benefit you, Most folks are comfy with 3-5*difference between the feet, I can't ride comfortably below 7* of splay and prefer 10* I might go as low as 5* on 18cm raceboards to keep the front angle reasonable but it's not comfortable.

If you can't lower the back foot angle avoiding boot out, increase the front a couple degrees to boost the splay, a wee bit of underhang won't hurt.

[Beckmann AG]

Your body is telling you that it doesn't like the change you made, and the contortion of your rear foot is an attempt to find 'a better place to stand'.

 

 

Re:, straight front leg:

 

Aim to 'support' your front leg such that the center of the knee joint remains slightly 'ahead of' the center of the ankle joint.  

[RicHard]

As first, THANK YOU all for all of the suggestions/opinions.

I've got many tips to try and tune.

I'm 170cm tall but, concerning stance, I've tried several widths, always missing something. When I'm comfortable with width, I can't bend totally my kees; when I can go lower with my back, my back foot is trying to "open"; when everything was comfortable, I don't like my position while watching some frames. :)

 

I've now got some hints and I'm very curious to test them and to mix them into the best setting.

 

Anyway, it's unbelievable that, even after years of alpine riding, a rider can still find room for improvement even just about board/binding settings!!! :)

And it's even more unbelievable that... a rider can find this part to be one of the most "fascinating". :D

 

Thanks a lot once again!

Richard

[snowboardfast]

Do you know whether or not you are bow legged or knock kneeded or not? I did not pay attention to this and once I realized I am bow legged I changed my set up to both bindings flat and outward cant on the rear boot.the outward cant can be adjusted with the boot. It is working better. I have been riding for many years without making this change.  To check this stand up with both ankles touching and see if your knees touch as well. in my case there is a huge space between my knees when I do this and I have to force them together to get them to touch. Just do this on the floor in regular shoes or in your bare feet.    I can't believe i did not check this?   My rear ankle was hurting from time to time and now it does not hurt.   i have been ridng hardboots for over 20 years and never checked for this. Have to laugh about it. i just happened to read an article about it this year and I also talked to a friend of mine who is a good alpine rider and he uses outward cant as he is bow legged as well. 

[RicHard]

Hi, thanks a lot for the hint.

Actually, I'm a little bit knock-kneeded and I set the only cant option that can advantage my legs on the Deeluxe Track 700 (a very poor system that allow only two position for cant).

Actually, the Track 700 system seems to be a really poor system: you can just be in a position or in the other. :(

 

I have to find somewhere else the problem, even coming back to the lift under the front toe that was making me be more comfortable even if with a more straight leg. :)

[Guest]

Instead of canting the boots, cant the bindings.  In terms of subtle adjustment, I have often found that canting is what makes all the difference, especially when in a more aggressive stance.  It can also help open up the knees some without adjusting the angles of the board if you are having boot out issues.