learning to barefoot

check out the video on bfc called Soul Shakers, it has KSO and ADV skiing together and doing the sickest sideslides and bodyslides, and its funny too.

I'm sure you could learn alot at Chucks you might learn more at WBC???

Just saying, I guess if I had the oportunity to go somewhere in the US I rather try to hook up with some of you guys over there than going to a clinic!

This saturday we had a nice weather, around 65-70º, so I was out in the waters. Did some runs, no tricks just plain footing, some tumble starts, turns etc.
Again I need to do something else to keep in shape, I was able to foot around 15 minutes after I was totally exhausted.
I used to play tennis 2-3 times a week, and that kept me somehow fit. 4 month ago I fell from the bike and hurt my wrist and since then I haven´t played any tennis.
So other than skiing every 2 weeks or so, and some bike outings, haven´t done much sports lately....

what an awesome weekend, footing in the early morning, then salmon in mid day, (2 balls 32mph 15 off), then some wake boarding. Honestly wake boarding is really to slow for me. All before lunch time. I love my SN sport, all disciplines covered with one awesome boat. I sure had my son been there, we would have also wake surfed as the lake got choppy.

Okay, finally got some video of my bacerds progress - here is the second to last run of my first set yesterday, on shoe ski's:



The last run of the first set


Got really sore from all the "out the back" falls...neck. I think I have some shots of my second set which is a little better, but can't seem to find it.

Next time, I am going to remember my neck brace, work on a little more lean away from the boat and keeping my hands to my butt, any other thoughts?

Andy, thanks! That is a great tip. I really felt the boat/boom really picking me up, it was tough to stay bent over. The skiing stuff here, was all at like 25 to 28 mph, so very, very slow - the whiplash is still bad even that slow. So that makes sense with getting the shoulders too high, so I will also work on staying in that Pike position longer, and the shoulder comment really drives home the need to keep the handle low to your butt.

more importantly, have you been able to keep your toes from catching? people do hang off the boom all the time.

a higher boom helps alot, you can hold on to it and not let go and learn to ski without catching your toes...just don't let go no matter what.(not recommended on low boom).

if you're really serious that you will "learn at all cost" then pay a pro for a lesson or go to a clinic so somebody can teach you properly.

Just this weekend I finally got the glide position off the boom. In the past I've used other's booms and "hung on for dear life" on a higher boom. I can say that I learned nothing from that method.

I was using my 73 ski nautique with a boom. The boat is so narrow, that when I tried to hang onto the end of the boom, it would just pull the boom down to the water. This turned out to be a good thing, it forced me to start in a seated position closer to the boat. As the boat accelerated I would hop over the gunnel sraight to a three point butt glide, then work my way out to the end of the boom as the boat picked up speed. Once up to speed I would leave my arms straight and transfer my weight from my butt to my feet. If I tried to just horse myself out of the water with the boom, I would just pull the boom down, so it demanded better technique,(the driver was apretty good coach too, and made it clear what good solid position would look and feel like.)

All I can say is what a difference, much more relaxed, a hundred times more stable. I really think that with a few more passes I would have been on the handle.

No, No, No to "hanging on to a high boom!"

The boom is adjustable, we adjusted it! The final position was chin level when I was in a good solid position. I'm just saying that I learned more in two passes where I HAD to be in a good position. Your results may vary!

Thanks for the tips, I'll work on those this weekend, I really do think the coaching helped the most. Prior to that, I did learn the death grip on the boom, and got pretty good a tumble ups due to number of times I did them. I should have spent all that time learning to go from my butt to my feet without pulling myself up on the boom! I would be curious to know how the barefoot schools teach a novice.

Much more fun this way!

US Barefoot Nationals run Aug. 8-11, live streaming video!

The nation's top barefoot water ski athletes will be competing in the 35th annual Parson's Roofing Barefoot Water Ski National Championships, Aug. 8-11, at the Barefoot Ski Ranch in Waco, Texas. More than 100 athletes are expected to compete in the four-day tournament. The World Barefoot Center is planning live Web streaming of the Nationals at www.worldbarefootcenter.com.

nope, I had pulled my hammy on Jan 5th it was black and blue and yellow from knee to butt, Hollywood was offended by the photo so I took it down :), I just re-injured it a couple weeks ago (just over the last few days its feeling much better and my back wakes are getting better than ever) so I was not really in condition to participate, I've been sidetracked by freestyle stuff for a while too, I might begin to put together a new trick run and if my wakes get better I'll probably compete in 2013 but only if I can bump up my PB's and if there is a late season tourney out here in CA I might go but my main reason/goal while barefooting is having fun first and foremost.   

Sounds like two CCF's get to ski with Brendan Paige this weekend before Worlds.

Great skiing. I did not find one second of it boring! I agree... Bacerds has to be one of my favorites as well.

Steve impressive.

Is that Lane talking to you on the video??

Nice steve! Now i'm in need to follow your steps! I. Need to go footing asap! Almost a month wo going. Between the pump repair and also its been raining th elast 2 weeks.