Bindings & Ankle Injuries

My newest bindings are 08 Gator Gonzales CT's. The last two times out I've hurt my left ankle on a fall, both times I've pulled out of the binding. It might be a slight sprain... definately swelling involved. Also, on a hard fall I'm getting good bruising up the back of my heels each time.

I really like the support an comfort of the bindings when I'm not falling. Back in the day of the good old neoprene bindings, this never happened because they would release.

Is there a way to get my bindings to release, yet still get the comfort & control they offer? Has anyone tried to swap the standard laces with stretch laces? Would changing to stretch laces allow for release on a hard fall, but retain the support & comfort of the binding? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

It sounds like you've got to decide between two options:

1. Tighten things up so that you don't come out. I'm not sure about the '08 Gonzales specifically, but most new boots will rarely release if they're tight.

2. Loosen things so that you come out more easily.

I think that most people have been going with option 1, only coming out with the very hardest falls where you pull directly away from the board (think failed raley fall). This approach avoids the situation of a partial or one footed ejection which can really suck.

If you go with option 2, the stretchy laces might work for you but just remember that if you tighten them hard enough they're not stretchy anymore.

The worst place to be is right between the two options which it sounds like is what you've been doing. You'll end up with some really painful ejections from half tight boots and one foot ejections which do a lot of nasty things to ankles and knees.

Good luck.