learning to barefoot

I have gone backwards off the boom before. He is going at least 10 MPH faster than he needs to! maybe more.

he should really have his hands opposite(palms under boom) and maybe not even be doing it without a leader line. reminds me of DANGER. i agree with the rotator being messed up and maybe even a head.

"What brings you to the Emergency Room today sir?

"My buddies bet me I couldn't do it again..."

81nautique wrote: Crazy how times have changed, I was taught that way by Seipel in the 80's    Only difference is we started by sitting on the boom backwards and stepping off a flip turn ski. Maybe that's why I can barely throw a baseball anymore!!!

I remember you posting that some time ago Alan, along with a picture of you doing it. I was going to try to track it down but couldn't think of where to start looking.

LakeBoy wrote: That's how I learned it last year, was sitting on the boom. Not sure times have changed.

I don't think there's too many schools teaching that method anymore but back then we learned to front foot by stepping off so it was natural to do it backwards too. When I went back to Seipels the next year they were going right to deep backs though, no more steps.

Here ya go Larry, no picture it didn't happen LOL. That picture must be a split second of losing the ski because the ski foot is not on the water yet.


I remember the first few attempts you have a tendancy to really lay down pushing the feet forward and when you step off that ski it wizzes by your face. Fun stuff!

OK, let me clarify: I learned to ski backwards via the backdeep. I learned to ski backwards directly on the boom by sitting on it, not the way that fella in the video jumped out there.    I learned to ski directly on the boom well after I had mastered the back deep. Mostly for kicks I suppose.

81nautique wrote: ... must be a split second of losing the ski because the ski foot is not on the water yet.

Here's another split second picture I always liked. Its my buddy I posted about a few years ago, when he passed away. Picture is from 1972. I gave it to him in 72 and his brother set it out with other pictures and memorabilia at his funeral. I took a photo of the photo, that day, hence the poor quality.

LakeBoy wrote: By the look of the picture, I wonder if skied that one away? His foot on the water is so out from underneath him, I can imagine his second foot came down hard on the water??!

I am guessing he probably did, Roy. As I said, it was 1972. It was rough and crude and not very pretty. No booms, no wakeboards, no kneeboards, no barefoot suits, no one to teach us. We did start out with a vest (vinyl covered foam) but it pretty much disintigrated with our falls and not even 20 miles of duct tape could save it. So I recall some pretty rocky runs, and this was probably one of them.

EDIT: A little more history. TJ and I went our different ways after high school and fell in and out of touch through the years. We hooked up in the mid 90s and did a little skiing together again. I kept it up and advanced a bit. He didnt, but could still pull off a step-off after about 23 years.

Larry&TJ-1995

I received an old 80´s instructional video from mike seipel when I bought the EZ footer..he actually shows the flip ski method off the boom to do the first tries for bacerds bf...

HW, love the front flip! Great move! Is it gonna make it into the 60's this week. That should knock down the ice and snow...

Steve,

That is very high. Very high is useful in learning some new things, such as back deeps, side slides, dolphin starts, maybe some others. Having it that high and the rope that steep can also make things like normal deep water starts and toe holds much harder.   For normal teaching/learning I would say bring the far end down to about shoulder height.

That sure brought back some painful memories!

LOL CQ.

Learned deeps at TN in world famous barefoot cove. With a pair of cutoffs over my suit.

My instructor/driver (a well known ex-lurker on here) idles by while I was in the water and says "hey, you know the snakes come right down from the woods and swim right across the narrow part here?" As I am DEATHLY afraid of snakes..I made it up and footed all the way out!

Now thats what I call encouragement!



john

Monday after Thanksgiving, 2009. Another cold one.

Nice Back Deeps!

I take it thats the new Dry suit, looks like the new seals are working great!