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#21
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Roller skiing protective gear
On Wed, 09 May 2007 08:59:45 -0400, John Forrest Tomlinson
wrote: You've made a serious reading comprehension error. -- JT **************************** Remove "remove" to reply Visit http://www.jt10000.com **************************** |
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#22
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Roller skiing protective gear
The important thing with roller-skiing (assuming you are doing it to
improve your skiing) is to be able to roller-ski with good technique. You cannot do that if you are scared of hurting yourself, whether that fear is legitimate or not; nor can you do it if the protective gear that you wear to eliminate that fear is too cumbersome. My impression is that the fear factor is more significant than the gear as an enemy of good technique. If you have trouble standing up on roller-skis (it is a stage that passes fairly quickly for most), then as JT suggests you are probably better off concentrating on balance training that is less injurious (to technique, gear and body) and more rewarding. Even for a good skier, specific balance exercises can be very beneficial. If you have to wear protective gear to feel safe enough that you can ski relaxed, commit your weight to a gliding ski, etc, then that is what you should do. If the same gear physically inhibits your movement so that you still cannot ski well then it does not solve the problem, but merely exchanges the cause. This is worth it if a few weeks or months dressed like the Michelin Man teaches you that you are not going to fall, so that you can discard the cumbersome gear. If you plan to use it long-term, then the protective gear must be appropriate. If you are still nervous even with the gear, and that does not improve with practice, then I would suggest doing more dry-land training drills, as you will ingrain bad habits and body positions by roller- skiing scared, and probably do your skiing as much harm as good. When you do a lot of roller-skiing, learning not to crash becomes very important, because of both the injuries crashes cause and the technical inhibitions caused by fear of crashing. In the summers I spent training at Ruhpolding (one of Germany's major biathlon centres, and a magnet for foreign national teams even during the summer; the world cup ski trails are roller-ski trails underneath) I don't think I ever saw an adult roller-skiing in a helmet; the only significant injury I heard of there was incurred on roller-blades, which are far less stable at high speeds (and it would not have been prevented by helmets or pads). Of course, not crashing entails judgment about the kind of roads you ski on: if you are scared of hitting a stone then you are probably not skiing well anyway - that was why I started wearing a head-lamp for night roller-skiing. I did hear of one former world champion who ran into a cow on the biggest descent on the Ruhpolding track (probably at 40mph). It was the cow that died, so the farmers keep their cattle away from the track now. We all weigh perceived risks every day, and I think that individuals (apart from cows) should be responsible their own choices about the degree of precaution they take against dangers to themselves. I don't wear a helmet on the stairs or in my car; I do when roller-skiing at Kensington because of the risk of being fined if I don't. On a hot day I will roller-ski somewhere I do not have to wear a helmet. I wear a helmet when biking with the group because I find the social pressure tiresome when I do not. There are many factors in the judgment. What bothers me a lot more than wearing a helmet is the sanctimonious busybodies who get a high out of pretending that they care more for my welfare than I do. Sorry I can't help with specific suggestions about gear - except to mention that football (soccer) goalkeepers wear shorts with padding on the hips, which may be useful to you. I would also suggest gloves, as I find that it is almost invariably my hands that hit the ground first in a fall. Hugh |
#23
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Roller skiing protective gear
On 9 May 2007 06:51:58 -0700, Hugh P wrote:
I wear a helmet when biking with the group because I find the social pressure tiresome when I do not. There are many factors in the judgment. I do the same a lot of the time... and fear of fines near where I live.. -- JT **************************** Remove "remove" to reply Visit http://www.jt10000.com **************************** |
#24
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Roller skiing protective gear
wear a helmet. I can't recommend anything in addition to that.
People break their backs falling off rollerskis (B Daehlie), and you won't prevent that with knee/wrist pads. someone suggested earing motorcycle protective gear, which sounds like a good idea, but I 've never seen anyone use it. |
#25
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Roller skiing protective gear
Randy, not a dumb question at all, just not evident your decision
making is based on functionality. Your knee protectors must be poorly designed or too small, since a properly fitting velcro-around type should not block any movement (unless there's a technique issue). Wear gloves and forget the wrist pads, since it's next to impossible to fall there. Elbow pads should be slip on type. In a worst case situation, I'd wear Crash Pads under shorts or wind pants, but I'm not sure why I'd be rollerskiing in that case. Another suggestion: find locations where you don't really need any protective gear beyond clothes, cap and gloves, and develop greater confidence. rm Randy AKA Cubby wrote: Dumb question: What do you guys wear for protective equipment? I'm not sure if it's just me, or what, but I've been through like 5 different pairs of 'roller blading' and 'roller skating' protective gear, i.e. knee, elbow and wrist pads, and have yet to come up with something I can live with. The wrist protectors seem to inhibit my pole work a great deal. The knee pads are the biggest bugaboo; they seem to really dampen my push and almost seem to change the angle of my knee a bit. I'm an Emergency Room nurse in real life, so I WON'T go without them (having cared for many of the local H.S. team roller ski injuries). I also wear a generic bicycling helmet which isn't all that big a deal. Depends on the weather, I'm either in a Swix ski pant or shorts. wit h the knee pads, I've tried the wrap around velcro and the pull-over volleyball type. Any suggestions? Randy B |
#26
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Roller skiing protective gear
http://crash-pads.com/intro.aspx?dept=skate - Style 2600
When I was learning, a rollerski went out from under me on a downhill and I slid about 8' on these. Hardly felt a thing. Just got up and rolled away. Jerry M. Wright wrote: On 8 May 2007 05:54:47 -0700, Larry wrote: [snip] Interesting, crashpads.com is now a flight crew relocation service. Is there another source you can point to? I got padded shorts from crashpads.com after I fell backwards early on in my training practically standing still. They aren't too bulky, don't constrain movements at all and don't look too bad. |
#27
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Roller skiing protective gear
There are a number of good reasons why smart organizations don't have
medical personnel (esp. doctors) chair their medical commissions. The most important is because their perspective is shaped and limited by medical training, medical experience and knowledge, and the politics of government regulation. We're primarily focused here on sports, cross-country skiing in particular, not safety or medical issues. Your priorities, as implied by this post below, seem to be the opposite. That's how I understand JFT's response. As in any aspect of life, there are priorities and risks that flow from them. Even x-c snow skiing itself has its dangers, as clubs, race organizers and ski centers repeatedly remind us with their liability waivers. This discussion raises broader social issues that really are beyond the group's focus. For a number of reasons there has been a shift since the 1950s and 1960s from the relatively care-free approach to play many of us grew up, to the worrisome if not doting approach that gets a lot of publicity today - and DAs prosecuting parents. It's long amazed me how well the vast majority of kids came through the first. rm Randy Bryan wrote: I'm going to tell you all something about this thread. I work as an Emergency Department RN.Over 30 years now if anyone's counting. I also served as a medic in Vietnam. During that time, I've had days that weren't so bad, where I felt like I made a difference. I've also had days where I put toe tags on children. I have seen my share of trauma, both accidental and self-inflicted. Lives completely destroyed and ended over preventable incidents. If there's anything anyone can do to minimize any kind of trauma, it has my support. I've been involved or years with a program to give kids free bicycling helmets. Yeah, maybe Mom and Dad can afford that beat up third-hand bike but a $9.95 helmet is too much. Happens. I think a fall at full speed roller skiing is the same impact as being thrown from a car going 40-50 mph. If you cannot avoid that totally, then minimize the injury by wearing the damn equipment. Look like a geek? Try the alternative, which may be you drooling in a bed for the rest of your life, while me and my co-workers wipe your ass and spoon feed you. I get really defensive and really irate when someone advocates NOT wearing a helmet, a seat belt, a pair of pads and some clothing to protect your sorry ass. You want to risk your own life, feel free. Just don't try and convince anyone else to share your stupidity please. I'd still care for you if you came into my ER. I hope all I'd be doing is resetting a bone or stitching you up. I may think you're a moron, but generally I won't say it. I would say something to the effect that you had an angel of your shoulder that day if that's all that happened to you, that you have a second chance. But if I'm zipping your body bag, I WILL tell you out loud you're an asshole. Sometime through tears, but I will say it. Randy AKA Cubby wrote: Dumb question: What do you guys wear for protective equipment? I'm not sure if it's just me, or what, but I've been through like 5 different pairs of 'roller blading' and 'roller skating' protective gear, i.e. knee, elbow and wrist pads, and have yet to come up with something I can live with. The wrist protectors seem to inhibit my pole work a great deal. The knee pads are the biggest bugaboo; they seem to really dampen my push and almost seem to change the angle of my knee a bit. I'm an Emergency Room nurse in real life, so I WON'T go without them (having cared for many of the local H.S. team roller ski injuries). I also wear a generic bicycling helmet which isn't all that big a deal. Depends on the weather, I'm either in a Swix ski pant or shorts. wit h the knee pads, I've tried the wrap around velcro and the pull-over volleyball type. Any suggestions? Randy B |
#28
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Roller skiing protective gear
"John Forrest Tomlinson" schreef in bericht ... Hahahahahaha. You ski fast. I fall harder on skates or off my bikes then from the average bad guy's sedan back seat. The height difference is key. I'm also positive I (6'4") fall down harder than people a head shorter than me. My head is just traveling at a higher speed when it hits. Not the difference helmet-not of course. Being thrown out of a car, I would say you roll out more than tumbling over a bad pave stone of your own poles (dead stop). Man, that even hurt real bad on fresh falling snow. all but broke my wrist. But I suppose you just meant to be a wise-a55 having a bad day. |
#29
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Roller skiing protective gear
On Wed, 9 May 2007 12:42:27 -0500, wrote:
It's long amazed me how well the vast majority of kids came through the first. Many many of them are dead or crippled, given the views of a number of people nowadays. -- JT **************************** Remove "remove" to reply Visit http://www.jt10000.com **************************** |
#30
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Roller skiing protective gear
As a long-time lurker, this thread seems to be deja-vu all over again. I
think JFT played the foil marvelously during the last go around if memory serves me correctly. jc "Randy AKA Cubby" wrote in message ... This is normally a hugely supportive, serious snippage |
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