i swear by them, wasnt half as black and blue the last couple of years cos of them..i also swear by the wristguards as well, although there is nothing to protect the knee twisting that i know of.....keep doing that....and it hurts

Do you ski or snowboard?

what are they and where from? off myself on the 16th for 7 days

you'll get them in most shops (including those in the resort you're going too - prices not much different to here) or maybe from e-bay if you've time, they're padded shorts with padding on the thighs, over your hip bones, ass cheeks and most importantly your coxycs. they range from £30 to £90stg. i learned without them and you end up with the sorest arse. they're not essential - better you get wrist guards.

these are meant to be the best (but expensive - around £80)

http://www.bargainboards.co.uk/ProductList...t=303&Brand=138

I bought them for the dry slope in Kilternan next week.

Board!! have never skied!!

i bought a pair of padded shorts in a skateboard shop for €30 and they cover the thighs, hips, ass and coxycs. Seem to do the Job grand!!!

how do you twist your knee - strapped in or one foot out getting on and off of lifts. i did the splits last year getting off a lift. 39 year old male hips are not designed to do that!

actually i was never quite sure until i read your post and it is probably getting off the lift, i had a few spectacular mishaps getting off the lift in the past, much easier to just get a gondola all the way up the top and not be bothering with the lifts!!

Yeah, I've never felt too comfortable with just one foot strapped to the board. The leading leg always feels very vulnerable to twists.

My mate dislocated his shoulder coming off a lift while trying to avoid two skiers who had stopped to have a chat on the run-off slope. You just can't teach common sense.

i couldnt tell you how many collisions i have had with skiers stopping for a chat just after they come off the lift. i once collided with about 10 israeli's and i thought the israeli defence force would be after me thinking i was a memeber of Hammas
And it is the right knee i twist which is my leading leg so it must be when i fall coming off the lift that i twist my knee. I do remember sharing a lift with a bloke last year who strapped his second foot in just before he got off the lift and just shot off, no stopping to strap in the back leg or anything, he did have a lot of experience compared to me though

38 blaas including postage, not too bad for arse protection i'd say

http://chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=2398


bought a helmet too just to be safer

ya did'n yer bollix
nappies & lids wha.....

Dunno about wrist-guards either. All experienced boarders say that they are a waste of time.

IMO The trick to falling forwards when snowboarding is not to put your arms out in front of you with your elbows almost straight cos that is a definite wrist-breaker. Try to land with your elbows bent so that your fore-arms are almost parallel with your body.

I swear by knee-pads though.

All very well in theory but when you are hurtling towards a tree at what appears to be the speed of sound you just fall and dont think about the correct way to fall IMHO.

As for wristguards there are many different opinions on them, i find them great for a bit of leverage when im plonked on my arse trying to get up again!!

Rony, money well spent on the shorts!!!