does hiking kill your knees

GK.LaserII

I play squash 10 years ago, I played my son thursday first time ever, no pain at all, knees great, not so old then I thought . Next day had to get help getting out of bed! Knees ok, just legs. Went up Snowdon last week no probs.

Edited by Wrighty

I used to play a lot of Squash, race a windsurfer and then a Laser.  After hard racing the Laser on a Sunday my knees hurt a lot on Monday morning.  In fact flexing them made a sound like a ratchet.

I switched to a 400 (just as bad), then a 800 but couldn't manage that in a 6 so I now have a 4000.  Fantastic - knees not too bad now and a lot of fun sailing it.  I'd never go back to racing a Laser.  As I get older I can see that I'll have to go to a twin trapeze - I suggest all those with bad knees do the same.

I loved racing the Laser in a competative fleet.  After a long beat in strong winds my heart rate used to be something astronomical.  So much so that I used to ease off for a few lengths, take a couple of really deep breaths and consider what I was going to do on the next leg.  I was often surprised to find myself going past my peers as they staggered round the windward mark so exhausted they couldn't make a decent decision.

 

Originally posted by olly_love 49er has all that and it is one hell of a buzz going over a start line doing 15 knots

I'd love to you to get me a 49er that is as cheap to race competitively as a Laser; as easy to train on as a Laser; and that has fleets the same size as a Laser.

Speed's fine, but I already have a bunch of singlehanders that can go quicker than a 49er, and while the Laser's slow it's often more fun to race. That's why my local Laser fleets include had guys who have won or placed in worlds in FDs, Cherubs, 18 Foot Skiffs, etc.

Originally posted by GK.LaserII  Can someone with good medical knowledge explain how straight leg hiking  damages  knees??

Steve Cockerill has written an article on straight leg vs bent knee hiking (from first hand experience and with a physio).

Basically Straight leg hiking is best as it puts the least amount of pressure on the knee joint. The flip side is that you need good muscles to keep the legs straight whilst hiking. Hiking shorts help as they reduce the amount of fatigue in the upper legs as will wearing knee supports whilst sailing (I do this as they double up as knee pads).

The other thing you must do is spend time sorting out your toestraps. Too short and you have to bend your knees to use them. Too long and you might not have faith in them.

Just my 2p as always but wih a bit of factual background...

Paul

Originally posted by Chris 249 Originally posted by owain after a 600 and a musto skiff, why would you want to go back to a laser? . I can think of at least five reasons; Huge fleets Simple rigging Easy to train on Sometimes great fun to sail. Cheap to race

 

Cheap to race ????  When i was racing lasers i used to have to buy new booms , mast sections sails all the time mainly because the stuff laser provide is just sh*te!  I agree with the rest of the points but not cheap to race.