learning to barefoot

Nice job! When my barefooting skills were at their best (when I was like 15), the deepwater, wake crossing and the occasional one foot was as good as I could do. My goal for next year is to get to that level and beyond with the help of a good barefoot suit and a boom. Keep it up. Looks like you're having fun.

Very nice bathing suit. Uhhhh...no safety equipment in those days? LOL. No goggles in those days either?
Sure does help to have good teachers, don't it?

john

Awesome video. SacFooter talking here: you gotta get some better "zoom" on your camera work. Those guys look like they are 5 miles back!   Looked like a fun set, wish I was there.

I went out last night at the ski club and am still sore from labor day weekend. I calculated I ran nearly 100 runs that weekend. No wonder I lost the "kung fu" grip!!!

I also noticed Hollywood skied it away when Quinner went down. The pride of vanquishing your opponent was well worth the risk of that empty handle smashing onto your feet!

Ryan: Thanks! It was coldest when I made my run, you could see your breath, warmed up as the evening went on...

SteveW: That is awesome, way to get back into it. Maybe I will have to put backwater deeps off the boom on my list for next year...

Roy: I know, I know, I feel horrible everytime I post one of these. We are using a Nero GoPro HD Helmet Cam, works great for boom work (we are working on a boom mount) but the far out shots are horrible. I am searching for a Cannon Vixia HF 200 which should be a lot better, just haven't found the right ebay seller yet. Hollywood and Quinner both had great runs, the four of us in the boat were laughing our butts off with the two of those guys. We all had a great time that night!

Mark L: You have to give this barefooting stuff a try, take some video and post it up here. These guys are the best. Look what they helped me do in one summer! Hey tried to send you a link and an email to your "bigpond.com" email address. Shoot me an email and I'll follow up with you. The link to "First Deeps" is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDwSC0WgCZM

Mark W: It was a great night, not only for me with my firsts but watching everyone else rippin it up too. Hate to see this season coming to an end but we are going to keep pushing...

Hollywood wrote: Defintely a lot of laughs that night. No reason you can't be backfooting next season Steve. This goes for everyone, with the right conditions (instructor, equipment, water) you can do anything!

Backfooting is one of those skills that really uses no other waterskiing skill....

The back deep separates the "convinced" from the "unconvinced." Convinced that there is nothing better than barefooting.

Steve: The season does not need to end: barefoot year round like us:

Ice skating? Too dangerous...lol!

Here is Sunday night's footing. Very fatigued from Labor Day. I did not have too much to offer up:

Sunday Footset

In terms of cameras, mine is a 150.00 Fuji. I wish I had an HD.

Steve:

Conditions at my ski club are ALWAYS excellent in the morning (as late as 11 AM) and the evening (starting at 5 PM) without exception. Even if it is blowing, and it can blow there, usually 10-12 MPH from the west, it always calms down in the evening. I try to arrive early evening, and camp and ski early morning. That way I can get 4 sets (6 runs each) of killer water.`

There are days when it is glassy all day. Rare this summer, because we had a cooler than normal summer and more wind than normal. Right now it is prime barefoot season. Sept is real warm here, water still warm and super low wind. Right now the wind is 3-5 MPH. Sick. too bad I gotta work.

Tomorrow I am going to rip a set with the incomparable Willie Farrell. Should be killer.

John, that top photo is awesome: the glass, the boat in the background. Freaking classic!

Stopped by for a quick set at Twin Cities to rip a footset with Andy and Willie. Andy was perched up in the fly-high and due to the angle detected that my left foot turns outwards while backwards. I think that is going to be key to solving why my reverse back one foots always end in a headpacker. I took many earlier this year, then just laid off the trick. This is why video is so valuable. Check out the action and some close-ups of the errant foot:

Wednesday Lunch

Fixed. Rollin now.

Prime conditions prevail in the Golden State. Hot. No wind. Going out F/S/Sun. Chasing the sun right now!

Very nice Roy!

John,

Gotta agree with Roy, that photo is a keeper. Great scenery, cool Nautique in the background, mirror surface, old fart bacerds footin. Great stuff. I'm tempted to add it to my LCD picture frame photos.

Leave work right now Sebastian. Foot now, work later. Clouds rolling in here right now. May rain over weekend. Supposed to warm back up. Got a 3 day foot fest planned over here. Rain or shine, I will rip it!

Thanks Larry! You got my permission to use it. Will foot on that water with ya anytime.

john