learning to barefoot

I just started learning to foot late lst season and plan to continue come spring. When doing tumble ups on the boom -- the front of my thigh tends to get bruised. Also, my calves tend to get bruised if they come in contact with the water when gliding on my butt.

Is there any additional projection available for my thighs when I do tumble ups? Would footing in a 3/4 leg jump suit help project my calves? What needs to improve in my form to stop be from getting beat up?

Thanks!

At first I thought you were getting bruised through your suit, but then I decided (especially the calf part) that you meant where your skin was exposed. (I was going to say some folks wear jump shorts under their suits for more padding, but thats not your problem.)

A little bruising comes with the territory and is a good conversation starter ("yeah, I got these bruises while barefooting") and the mark of a good day out on the water. However, I would say what you are seeing seems unusual or excessive. First thought is that if you are just learning, you might be spending too much time on your chest and then butt. Maybe once you get more experience it will all happen more quickly and you won't get so beat up. Pictures or videos would help folks critique your form to see if there is something that could be done to help.

Smoother water?

Yeah, I second that on the water. I foot all the time in my sleeveless suit with extra shorts on. I never get bruised, even if I am bouncing around. I hear complaints about bruising, but never get them...

Hey Roy!! good to have you back..hoping you get well soon to see you again ripping the water...

I'm planning a morning session tomorrow, wake and foot...I was almost going out today..but had no one to leave Tomy (the little one) with, so I had to stay..day was perfect..sunny..but little windy though..
we'll see how it turns out

those videos are awesome....

I was out today..working on the glide thing..bouncy trousy..lol..awfull...
looks like I'm doing it all wrong...
I'm currently uploading the videos...
sadly after my session I hitted a log and bent the shaft...

run 1

run 2

run 3

run 4

I should know by now but..how do I embeb a video..lol

75 Tique wrote: GlassSeeker wrote: RE: bruising bruising on the calf and topside of thigh. Most likely the bruising on the calf is from the rope- when you deep water start only cross your toes over the rope don't put a whole leg over it.... I get the impression from Adam's (OP) post that he is still doing his tumble ups holding directly onto the boom, no short line yet (hence no rope damage...yet) I am trying to picture where calves would be getting clobbered by the water to bruise them. All I can think is on the spin-around or really bad form once around. Here is a good video clip to show a tumble up Adam. Compare this to what you are doing.

Thank you! The video was a huge help (I think... won't know til spring). In the video he rolls on to his back/butt before spinning around. I'm certain that in the few tries I took at it last fall, I wasn't all the way on my back/butt when I spun around. Also in the video he spun around at about 20mph, and I was probably much faster than that, closer to 30mph. I'm thinking that is where both sets of bruises came from... dragging to long, at too high a speed and then skipping my legs a little bit as a drag myself around, without fully being on my back/butt.

The few runs I took in the fall, I felt very stable in the 3 point glide and was able to stand... get back to my butt and let go. All of it on the boom. When I go back to it in the spring... I'll work more on getting on to my back/butt before spinning around.

So, I can get on my butt at a slower speed.. say 20mph-ish. What speed should I be going from the 3 point to standing on my feet? I am 5'10" and weigh between 165 and 170lbs.

Why not try back deeps?

thanks for the tips..
actually on the power band i was trying to see If I could lower the riding speed..only that..I see its little diferent from my normal position...
On the falls you are right..I need to quit trying to save the run..

Those pictures are almost as cool as your boat party pictures, almost. Classic falls indeed, your form is looking solid you're doing very well!

Too Funny Seb! Classic!

New Sanger DXII pushes 55 mph!