Spray Guard / Pro Ski Coach Water Ski Forum

AndersonSkiTeam · #1 Fri, May 23, 2008 8:12 PM

I have a question regarding spray guards. My brother tells me I am a complete whimp, and a few other terms I can't write on the board, for using one. Problem is my back leg on the outside literally gets bruised from the top of the binding to just below the knee if I don't wear one. He said just keep skiing without one and it goes away. I tried this for a couple of weeks and decided I could not live without my spray guard. Is there something wrong with my skiing technique or am I truly just a big whimp. If it is the whimp factor I am ok with that but would like to know as I never see any pro's wearing a spray guard.

Garn · #2 Fri, May 23, 2008 9:19 PM

I had to comment on this one. I have always worn a rear spray guard. A few years back Wade Cox came to Utah and put on a clinic which I attended. As I was putting it on he jokingly said, "I see you are wearing your girdle." I said, "Yes, and proud of it!" If I don't wear one my leg is literally indented where the spray hits it. Having said that, I have been trying to get away from it this Spring. I didn't wear it when I went to SkiTek last month. And I have skiied a couple of times since I got back to Utah and I haven't worn it. Can I feel it? OH YEAH!! But not near as much as I used too. I no longer notice it while I ski, just afterwards. And even that is much less. I am hoping I am getting past having to use one. So I guess the key is just putting up with it until your leg toughen up (or falls off - whichever comes first!)

Garn

JP · #3 Sat, May 24, 2008 12:27 AM

i get it early in the season but if i just ski thru the pain it goes away

AndersonSkiTeam · #4 Sat, May 24, 2008 6:06 AM

Alright, so I am clearly a whimp. Now that we have settled that matter I will give the no spray guard a try for a month but if it is not better I will still wear it with my head held high.

brianmanko · #5 Sat, May 24, 2008 11:52 PM

I skied on May 17 with a full length wetsuit....first time I had ever used a full length. I feel as though I skied better without the distraction of the 'water pain' on my rear leg. I'm glad I found this forum, as it gets hotter out I still want that leg protection. Here's one for the wimps! Rule #1, who gives a #$% what other people think. lol. You can tell I'm getting older and just don't care.

Great forum, great tips!

miski · #6 Wed, May 28, 2008 9:02 PM

I feel it more when I'm bogging down in my off-side turn - when I am skiing well and keeping momentum through the offside, my leg doesn't get clobbered.

I just started skiing regularly again last spring after many years off and at one point, my rear leg hurt bad enough that I cut the bottom off of a neoprene bottle cooler and taped it on my leg to get another set in! Later on in the season, I forgot all about my leg - it toughened up and/or I started skiing my off-side better.