Skiing Knee Injuries, one way to prevent them

Wow, I just learned of a new binding which is concentrating on protecting knees from damage.  What?
 
KneeBindings offers a four bindings built around protecting the skiers knees with the PureLateral kneel release.  This patented mechanism can detect the specific forces that cause most knee injuries on skis, and can release just before the forces are great enough to otherwise injure the knee. 

A study in Scotland states a knee injury occurs every 1218 days of skiing.  This report is from 2010.  Although five years old, still relevant.  New ski styles will assist in these problems. "The introduction of carving (“super sidecut”) skis, which possess improved turning characteristics compared to traditional skis, was initially linked to an increase in knee injury rates." 

Ski Injury Website

The KneeBindings are built in the good old USA.  It is great to hear of a company looking after the well being of skiers and pushing the edge of R&D.  If enough people see this product and others like it, we can see more people in Breckenridge, skiing the GREAT mountain, having fun. 

Here are some way to prevent injuries -

Preventing injury on the slopes

• Remember the keys to effective skiing technique: hands and weight forward, legs parallel, and hips, knees, and ankles flexing equally.
• Stay on marked trails: Going off trail can take you into ungroomed territory with many possible obstacles (such as trees and rocks) that can contribute to injuries.

Getting ready for the slopes:

• Prepare your body. A few simple exercises can prepare your core and lower extremities for skiing. Three to four weeks of aerobic training such as walking, elliptical, or biking can be excellent ways to help you tolerate a full day on the slopes.
• Ensure you have proper equipment: Make sure ski boots, bindings, and ski length are fit and appropriate for your height and skill level. Wear a helmet. Wrist guards are a good idea if snowboarding.
• Learn proper technique: Take a skiing technique class with a professional before you hit the slopes.
• Rest: If you are tired, rest.  Injuries happen more commonly when skiers are fatigued. 

Let me know if Elevation Ski and Bike can assist you in any way with your future choices.   Located in beautiful Breckenridge, CO.

 

Three things to do to keep your bike in tip top shape!


1. CLEAN YOUR CHAIN Complicated methods abound: Remove the chain and soak it overnight; disassemble and clean each roller with a cotton swab; and something else involving pipe cleaners and a toxic solvent.

But this lazy-chain-cleaner's process removes gunk and you won't need safety goggles:

Buy a chain cleaner such as Park Tool's Cyclone Chain Scrubber and fill it with Pedro's Oranj Peelz Citrus Degreaser. Attach the device to your chain, turn the crank 15 revolutions, and let the brushes scrub away grime. Remove the chain cleaner and wipe the chain dry with a clean rag.

No chain cleaner? Spray Finish Line Speed Degreaser onto the chain, focusing on small sections at a time (it evaporates quickly), and wipe clean with a dry rag. Apply lube when you're done.

2. ADJUST YOUR BRAKES If your brake lever reaches the handlebar before it stops your bike, either your pads are worn or your cables are stretched. Worn pads should be replaced—but that's another story, and you want to ride now, so do this to get by.

Turn the barrel adjuster on the brake caliper (where the cable enters the brake) clockwise one click at a time, testing your brakes after each adjustment. If you reach the last click and still haven't solved the problem, turn it clockwise until it stops, loosen the pinch bolt (where the cable goes into the caliper) and pull a small amount of cable through.

Tighten the pinch bolt and repeat the process until you get the right amount of tension.

3. SMOOTH OUT SHIFTING What good is a clean chain if it jumps around and skips gears? Loose cable tension is the likely culprit. With your bike in a repair stand, shift to the smallest cog. Turn the barrel adjuster on the rear derailleur one-half turn clockwise. Then, as you rotate your pedals, shift once.

If the chain doesn't jump to the next cog, make another half-turn. If the chain starts to jump two cogs for every one shift, you went too far. Back it down a half-turn. Don't turn the barrel adjuster more than halfway at a time. You may end up with too much tension, which will make your shifting just as bad or worse than when you started. 

If all else fails, bring it by Elevation and we will take care of it for you. 

Elevation Ski and Bike