learning to barefoot

I agree with Joel on the 3 point position, most people go from a butt glide to standing up and forget all about this step. It takes patience and practice not to rush anything.

3 point= butt glide, knees bent and both feet on the surface. Roll your shoulders back and quietly stand up, you will be in a chair position with your feet directly below your knees. Shoulders back gets your hips forward automatically so back to the posture arguement. I also hate the term "Plant your feet" because it gives the wrong impression of what good technique really is. Many many barefooters skip the 3 point but it is the foundation for your tumble turns so you might as well learn things in the correct order.

You can't glide without posture but nail good posture and the glide just happens.

ps. I've been barefooting for 27 years and I'm still working on my posture.

Tim,

I'm refering to this weekend when he ditches that pole and sets up the short line.    

Mark wrote "I can deepstart all day long line. I have a nice Barefoot International line and handle. I just can't stand up - for long"

He can't stand up for long because he's not in the correct position to do so, without seeing anymore video I can tell you he's going out the front and taking a beating. He's bent over so far his feet are practically behind him. So get in a 3point and then stand up. Not picking on you Mark, just constructive criticism.

M3Fan wrote: My 3 point lasts about .001 seconds before I stand up- it's basically a controlled plant- do I can't say I ever ride a 3 pointer long.

Agreed, your .001 in that position is setting up your Plant. I think Lane over emphasizes this in his video but the point is it's still a good fundamental skiing position to learn. I think most footers with a little experience typically don't spend much time in a 3 point but a beginner could benefit by learning it as it slows down the planting/standing up process.

Mark,

Be careful of Timmy, particularly if he tries to get you in that 4 point stance!!

I'll jump back in here.

I had an amazing week of barefooting. I got out 4 times (a lot for a dad of 4 and a business owner). 3 times were with 2 different crews of barefooters I met on the internet in my area. (footers are friendly and are always welcoming a novice to provide entertainment value..LOL)

These guys were hot. You name it, they can do it. Short rope, long line, backwards, forwards, slalom, jumps. They kept coming back to me on 3-point, butt glide (and posture/foot glide) as a REALLY important basic. They busted me on stabbing my feet in the water v. a controlled 3 point, then stand. Relaxing, breathing, and having fun were top on the list too. They really helped me out.

Last week I was able to do controlled wipers, 180 butt glides, hit my first 2 tumble turns including getting back up to my feet. I also made enough progress on my butt glide/TPP to absolutely nail a long line get up that went over half a mile. Before I could only do it on the hydroslide.

I have learned that driving is real important. I had my wife pull me last Friday. She did her best and as I directed her, but it was much harder than when my boys were able to match the speed to what I was doing.

Fun, fun...

81nautique wrote: Many many barefooters skip the 3 point but it is the foundation for your tumble turns so you might as well learn things in the correct order.

OK, question for you guys, especially you old timers, about tumble turns. I, like many of you, taught myself many years ago, 36 to be exact. For many years I just dropped a ski and footed along till I was done. When I got settled after college in the early 80s, I got back into it.   With no one around to teach me, I bought John Gillette's book and taught myself deepwater starts, tumble turns and tumble ups, all long line. Now the question about tumble turns.

Today, people do tumble turns by sitting down and spinning around. How the book taught them and how I did it for years was to go from your feet to directly flopping down on your back.   Does anyone else recall the flop to your back as the way tumble turns were done? Seems more fitting of the name, to me.

jbear wrote: I don't remember the flop from long ago when I first learned but the way Eddie has me doin' them now..sitting, spinning...sure makes them easy.

Aaah... still little under a year of patient waiting...
John, Eddie... Can't wait to be on the lake with you guys!!

Man this forum is great. I just discovered the site. I have owned a 1981 Ski Nautique since 1985. Still have that boat. Will try to post some pics later.

I also learned to barefoot by dropping a ski behind my friend's 59 Chriscraft inboard. Those were the blood and guts days for sure.

These days I enjoy using the boom and pylon for long line. I am 54 and still doing it, although not quite like the old days.

You can post your videos on Youtube and then post a link here. We always like to see videos.

OK, here we go. Time to get the video on line. I amazed myself: bought a camera, learned to use it, took a video, got it on the computer, and now uploaded it to YouTube. I am not a high tech fellow.

This is my first tumble turns, both sides.

Here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18U_yCG1Ino

Roy.

Thanks 75. I had a lot of fun that day. Hopefully Friday I am going out to this site off the Sacramento River. The slough is too narrow to slalom down, so it is perfect for footin as there is not traffic. It is 2 miles long!

My goals are to tumble up start and get into some smokin' one foots. I have hit the one foots on the shoe skis, but not bare feet.

Here is what NOT to do. Notice how I stab my feet into the water, and hang on with a death grip. I have learned to let the arms out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xim4gZv_fnw

I also learned that my wife had the speed up too much during the butt glide. She had me at 28-30 whereas 20-24 is better for me until I stabilize.

Mark:
I watched the video again to see why you fell. Your arms got pulled forward, and you lost the "shoulder roll" that you started with (they slumped forward) As a result your butt pooched back and your upper body came over your toes and you lost your glide. Bam... you are down.

Tighten the inside cable, or loosen the outside just a bit looks like they are not even. Also, if you lower the boom (if you're holding on like that) you'll be in better position.

Going around 38 I guess. If it's slower I feel like I'm sinking.

Went out again on Sun. morn, didn't get to try the handle on the end of the boom. Went for a couple of boom runs. My stomach was killing me because instead of stopping when my feet got swept, I just swung around again and planted.

I really need a day where I can foot, rest a couple hours, foot some more.

These sessions we go out for 2 hours or so and ski and foot. Not enough recovery time. I'll post the vid from that shortly. ;)