skydivercowboy

hey everyone! so i went to leadville, CO, to snowboard 3 years ago. it was my first time to snowboard. i have patellar tendentious in both knees! which totally sucks because my knees hurt so bad when i was trying to snowboard, i had to sit out that day then go trade the board for ski's. if anyone has any ideas or information for me that will help. please let me no your input. because i really want to snowboard so bad!!!

604al

Try some of these:
- see a physiotherapist for advice
- work out your legs and if you're fat, try losing some weight
- stretch ALOT before you ride
- spend a day trying different stance widths and angles
- check out and research new company gear tech, like K2's harshmellow and ride's wedgie bindings to find a really damp setup

skydivercowboy

haha when you said work out your legs and if you fat loose some weight, it made me laugh!!! im 125 pounds, 19 years old, and im a runner! i run ever day like 5 miles at least if not more... do you think i should wear knee braces? im from texas. so i rent the gear. and when i wakeboard i have to wear knee braces so i can ride longer. and like what do you mean try different stances?

SchultzLS2

You can move your bindings further apart, closer together, change the angles they are set at, you can get "cant beds" for your bindings which put your feel at more of a natural angle when you ride, you can wear knee braces, you can rotate your highbacks, you can do a lot of things.

Try all those, if none of them help, then I'm stumped.

604al

I've been told many times that, unless they're custom, knee braces won't do a thing for you except maybe keep your knees warm and help you mentally, but definitely not physically. In regards to stances, try googling or searching on the forums for "stance width". It's about adjusting your binding width and angles to find something that works for you. It may help to take a few hours next time on the hill with a screw driver and measuring tape, trying different stances and angles for a few runs, and then seeing which one works best for you.

skydivercowboy

ok... what are "wedgie bindings", "cant beds" and "highbacks"? and do you think it is better if i take lessons again or just get on the bunny and figure it out myself. because the instructor paid no attention to us cuz there was about 25 people in one lesson. when i learned to wakeboard i didnt have anyone to teach me and i got up and stayed up for about 5 minutes the first time. sorry for all the questions guys. like my user name says, "skydivercowboy" cuz im a skydiver... so hope yall are forgiving and understand where im coming from.

ETM

Stop running! Seriously its probably the worst thing you could do if you have bad knees. You really need to get a sport that doesnt do so much damage to your knees or you will be an arthritic mess by 40. I have a damaged acl and if I desrespect it (eg run a lot) it will fill up with fluid and i cant move it for days yet i snowboard like crazy with almost no pain while I am boarding and after.
I think if you gave up running and took up something less damaging to your knees (like cycling maybe?) that your knees would hold up much better for snowboarding because they arent 95% dead when you turn up in the carpark in the morning.

SchultzLS2

I suppose none of those words really
matter until you get your own set up.

skydivercowboy

well i got patellar tendentious cuz i grew so quickly like all at once... and when i snowboarded that one time. it was the keeping my knees bent the whole time that killed them... so do yall think it is easier to learn by getting on the bunny slope and just me getting after it and figuring it out by myself or should i take lessons?

NYSnow

Well said. Stop running. It is terrible for your knees and can cause micro-fractures in the cartilage in your knees and eventually osteoarthritis. Swimming or cycling would be much better. Adjusting your stance angles is also a good idea. Also see a orthopedic sports medicine specialist if your pain continues.