learning to barefoot

75 moral of the story, sit on the boat and watch everyone else and pop a chilly

Yes, I've taco'd a few times. You're down there under the water, completely trapped and helpless, seeing your pathetic life flash before your eyes and the guys in the boat are saying "Oh just speed up a bit, he'll surface as soon as we get going a little faster." But with your butt leading and your legs up over your head, aiming you down like airplane flaps, there is only one way to go.

Sorry Ken, we got a little off track there. You should have no problems like those with a wakeboard start. Just a few things to think about when you move on to deep water start, but we'll cross that bridge when you get to it. Good luck with you efforts. I think that wakeboard video clip ripster posted will be a great help to you.

Similar to tacoing...

One day last summer, Keith brought along a swing barefoot trainer. Brad's buddy Erich gave it a try, never having barefooted before. Erich was quite reasonable in asking what happens if he stumbles or lets go.

I told him no problem, his body would just fold up around that swing like a wet dollar bill.

He appreciated my input, and ended up doing just fine on the swing.

Great for the Bananaman. Drowned twice...sounds like he's done a couple tacos in his time, too.

Actually, sometimes at the end of the day I feel like he looked when he was getting helped out of the boat.

man i liked that vid of banana george good insperation. i should get one of those DO IT sings to put in the boat haha

i was on that site a few times yeah i saw the foot skis and every other gear but really don't want to ivest money in gear if i'm never gonna use them. i still have the boom but i don't have the clamps so the boom is use less i didn't try footing yesterday since i was grounded :S so hopefully this weekend ocean is calm and slow day that i can try it if i like it i'll begiin purchasing a suit and a foot ski

thnx for the help guys

Certainly everybody has the their way and their will to learn. I guess other factors come into play. For the very young (my kids are learning with me and they are 4, 6, and 11) they are using the "sling" suspended from the rope with the foot skis and are thrilled to death. They "did it" the first time they tried. They cannot wait for more. On the boom I can give and get instruction. For the old (or almost old, I am 45) injury is a concern. If I were 22, filled with P$#@ and vinegar, a long line deep water start would appeal to me.

The site I recommended never says all that gear is required. They are simply tools. The "Dawgs" methodology discusses deep water starts, dropping a ski, starting on a wake or kneeboard, off the boom, etc. I saw a guy run the slalom course on a fence board once. Why doesn't everybody do that and say to heck with the $1100 D3? Better equipment enhances the experience. Not required? Personal choice I suppose.

I belong to a water ski club that has 15 families as members. I would say at least 6 of those guys are excellent barefooters of the blood and guts type you describe. I have yet to see any of them out foootin' except for one guy who takes a straight 40 MPH pass at sunset. Why? My feeling is they lost the passion for the sport since they stopped progressing. They don't know the fundamentals of the glide or the three point position. How do I know? I asked them about those things, and they did not recognize what I was asking, nor could they really instruct me themselves, because they learned "the hard way."

I have the means to get the gear, so I get it. While it is not for everyone, it works for me. I feel safe, I am progressing in incremental stages approporiate for my skill level, and I have yet to take a serious fall. Most of all I am having a lot of fun! I cannot wait for the weekend to roll around or catch a weekday evening set.

No problem 75, I definitely did not take it the wrong way or as being critical. Thanks for clarifying, though. I read the thread last night before I posted, and felt compelled to post my experience which was different.

It all comes down to strength and fundamental techniques with or without equipment. My perspective is one of safety (that was a huge concern of mine, I have a lot of friends severely injured in this sport) and one of longevity: I want a positive experience that will last me a lifetime.

Barefooting is SOOO awesome for me right now. I see these guys doing stuff I want to do. I feel it is in reach for me too, for how I am built and wired. 28' off at 34 MPH has been unreachable for me and my slalom abilities so barefooting has set some new goals for me and I am stoked!

75 Tique wrote: LakeBoy wrote:    75' of rope and 40 MPH may have been the old school way to do it, but ask anyone who has busted an eardrum about that. At minimum you will need a boom, barefoot handle and a barefoot wetsuit. Additionally Barefoot International sells "foot skis" which greatly reduces risk of injury since you can drop speeds from 40 MPH to a much more sane 28-30 MPH. I agree with pretty much everything you said, but take some exception to the above. I guess us old school guys, me, Eddie, JBear, Quinner? take some pride in the fact that we learned the old way, when men were men and all that crap. It can be done, long line, dropping a ski or off a kneeboard or wakeboard. And if you do succeed learning "the hard way" its just that much more satisfying and its certainly doable. Go for it Ken, don't be intimidated.

Larry, I take exception to it too! You forgot about me! Another old guy here from back when it was more of a challenge. We haden't even heard about wake or knee boards ether because they weren't invented yet!!

Larry: I am laughing so hard at your posts that I got tears. Thanks for the memories. Was cool to learn the old way but it sure is easier now and that opens things up to more people.

That's why I had to get busy with the bacerds before it was to late. My Ohio buddies, Gary B and Dale taugh themselves behind the boat using a picture of Brett Wing, back in the early 80's. Was lots easier with a boom and Eddie!

john

neeh i ainn't afraid i jump out of the boat just for the hell of it. the only things i'm taking slow is wakeboarding and kneeboarding yea i know the simplest cuz i've busted my knee already with wakeboarding and i can't even ride well i took a hard fall and my right knee hurts when i'm sitting for a period of time or sleeping when i get up i can barely walk. aand for footing i'm stoked to try this thing i really don't care about crashing unless i break i limb then i would go really easy with it

and i believe in the thing you learn from taking a beating.

I don't think your size will be that much of a problem. If anything it will force you to use better technique. My dad learned to barefoot behind a boat that would only hit about 34-35mph with him back there and he was 230lbs at the time. He ate lots of water but it really enforced the proper way to do it. I learned behind that same boat and we both used the kneeboard technique.

Is it easier to do whit a pair of sneakers? Do you have the same control? I think it is safe

i still didn't get a chance to go out. with fuel prices going up and buisness being slow had no chance i hope for this weekend but not gonna promise anything since were not so sure were going out