learning to barefoot

I love the new nickname for the old man...Big Daddy...awesome.

For anyone on this thread who's ever fallen barefooting, I wish we had videos of Justin's run, because he'd have made you feel bad about yourself.

After unsuccessfully trying to ride the kneeboard on his butt, we had the following exchange:
Me: You want to try stepping out of a slalom?
Justin: I never slalom skied before.
Me: Now's as good a time as any to learn then.
Justin: Ok.

The kid stood right up on the slalom, first try. We had given him instruction on how to put his foot in the water, put some weight on it, then drop the ski. When he got up to speed I told him to put his foot in the water from the observer's seat in the boat. Instead of doing what we had talked about, the boy wonder jumped, not stepped, jumped both feet off the ski and landed, feet about 6 inches apart and rode it out. Probably rode for about a hundred yards like that with his feet basically on top of each other. He didn't fall until I told him to spread them out.

It was something to see. Awesome for him, and awesome for his dad trailing us in Paul's boat. He got out of the water and said, ok dad, now I need a barefoot suit!

Swatkinz wrote: some 1 foot attempts....interestingingly i felt that lifting my right foot was easier than the left. felt more solid. I would think it'd be the opposite as I'm right handed.

Are you a RFF slalom skier as well? I am RFF and right handed, but my left foot is way more stable on the water than right doing toe-holds.

skutsch wrote: Butt glide into another boat that sounds really bad, no mention of that from the announcers. I take it the other boar was just sitting. I hope he/she was okay.

He is Jamie Kumlien from Janesville RAJ ski team and a world barefoot 3-event competitor. The bow eye got him in the hip, definitely not OK...

Hollywood wrote: Are you a RFF slalom skier as well? I am RFF and right handed, but my left foot is way more stable on the water than right doing toe-holds.

I'm a RFF slalom skier...I prefer to wakeboard and wakesurf with left foot forward though. I was thinking that would make me ambidextrous enough to lift either foot. Guess not.

Wow! Amazing how far the sport has come! The first video: the dude was skiing on some rough water. No wonder he took a few packers. I noticed he still used the slalom over/under grip.

My only question is how I can grow hair like the driver!!!

So finally found a driver. RJ (our resident babe's rep on CCF) and his family came to visit us at the in-laws cottage this weekend. I was pretty excited. So woke up on Saturday AM after a night of huge down pours to clouds and drizzle, not good skiing weather but also kept all the tubers off the lake. Around noon the rain had stopped, so I asked RJ if he would give me a pull. RJ responded with sure, but I have never pulled anyone barefooting. So I told him, just start like you do when you pull me on the slalom, but when you get to 25 just pause for a moment to make sure I am back there and then take me up to 38 or 40. After the run RJ was pretty pumped as all he heard was 40, something about I looked in the mirror at 25 and then DTH! (Had to explain that one to the kids too, Drop The Hammer - that is also RJ's website www.DTHinboards.com)

Anyway here is the video:



First, sorry for the video - forgot the good camera. So its been a couple weeks since the last outing. Wow what a crazy start. Then once I got up it was just catch my breath from the start, then I tried a tumble but I was so crazed from the start I forgot to lift the hips and then caught a leg - what are ya supposed to do with your legs in a tumble turn anyway? Just hold them off the water, curl them up, I guess I need to watch some more video. Anyway, RJ was pulling me right at 40 mph, which I think was a little quick. Have to talk him into slowing the boat down a bit next time. Anyway now is when I do my most learning. I know its tough to see, but let me know what you think.

Andy, that is what I need to do. maybe I'll even do some dry land practice. I think that is the key, really have to think this stuff through. Thinking through the start even, I think I was all over the place, because I had "floppy elbows" which caused my legs to go all over. This really is a mental sport.

I got up on the long line last week!!!!!!
I lasted for about 8 seconds (good enough for a bull ride), then ended with a pretty good fall. It was a little rough (other boats) I think I caught my left toe, it spun me left and my head went in first then it folded me sideways like a lawn chair. Squeezed the wind out of me and tweaked my back a little. I recovered in about 15 minutes. Then my boat acted up the last three days of vacation so I didnt get to try again. very dissapointing. Thanks everyone for all your pointers. It took me about 7-8 attempts.

Jllogan wrote: it spun me left and my head went in first then it folded me sideways like a lawn chair. Squeezed the wind out of me and tweaked my back a little. I recovered in about 15 minutes.

Congrats! you accomplished your first scorpion move!!!

hey guys, i had an awesome barefooting session yesterday morning early. Perfect water conditions, 75 degrees, no humidity and just one other person/footer in the boat. I've just about decided not to foot unless those are the variables. I can see improvement in myself when I have that setup.

Questions for you all. I'm getting comfortable with one foots on the boom. Particularly lifting the right foot. Lifting the left isn't as smooth, but it's coming. I can do a deepwater start from the boom and long line. I'd like to start doing some tumbles, but in the few instances where I've fallen over gently and tried to tumble back around (while using the 5ft on the boonm), I seem to get stuck. When learning tumbles, is it advisable to shorten the 5ft to the boom. shorten it so that maybe just the handle is hanging off the boom. Get the advantage of the upward pull and then gradually let out to 5ft and then long line?

Also, what line length are you guys using for your long line stuff? I'm specifically interested in those of you who are footing behind 2001 boats.

BTW, I'm aware of potential injury from hanging on after a fall.

Were you back out with Ron Meeks? I am trying to figure out when I ahve some time to get out with John Gillette later this month or next

SN206 wrote: Suggestions: 1.Try to get comfortable lifting each foot before progressing. 2.Dry practice for the tumble will make it easy. First work on the perfect 3 point position(both off and on the water), try working the tumble(land practice) on a auto creeper,furniture dolly or a smooth surface or floor. The trick is to force yourself to take the handle hip to hip. Watch the video above of KSO, he explains it perfectly. 3. 80'to 100'(Use a good barefoot rope).

Ryan, as always, has all the right tips. I think the sit and stand into and out of the three point is the first place to start. I am guessing that part of the issue also might be the ski rope your using. I could not believe the difference switching to a barefoot line made. I paid big dollars for the 100' Spectra Line ($1 a foot) but it sure made a difference. Now that I am comfortable deepin up, I have been out with some guys who only had a ski rope and it gets a little crazy every time. So the rope definitely makes a difference. I also seemed to get whipped around when doing tumbles on a ski rope as opposed to a nice smooth circle with the barefoot line. Keep trying and put up some video!

Watch the video for tumbles, it's all there. Visualize before you go out. The better the gear the easier this will all be. You can wrap the loop around an extra time or two on the boom.

In the curl I'll usually ski at 90', on the table 100'.

Swatkinz wrote: Questions for you all. I'm getting comfortable with one foots on the boom. Particularly lifting the right foot. Lifting the left isn't as smooth, but it's coming. I can do a deepwater start from the boom and long line. I'd like to start doing some tumbles, but in the few instances where I've fallen over gently and tried to tumble back around (while using the 5ft on the boonm), I seem to get stuck. When learning tumbles, is it advisable to shorten the 5ft to the boom. shorten it so that maybe just the handle is hanging off the boom. Get the advantage of the upward pull and then gradually let out to 5ft and then long line? Also, what line length are you guys using for your long line stuff? I'm specifically interested in those of you who are footing behind 2001 boats.

I would stick with the 5 foot rope, it does not get easier than that. I agree on the 3 point. Practice standing up, sitting down, and standing up. When you sit down, make sure to get the handle in to your beltline, and elbows in, knees slightly bent. You should feel it in your core to hold that position. Learn a good butt glide, is the bottom line. If you are squirrely in the butr glide, put your elbows into your ribs.

Work then on some handle control: while on your butt, shift the handle (while keeping it in tight to your beltline) to your right hip; your feet will go left. Center the handle; your should be centered up. Shift the handle to the left hip, your feet should go to the right. At all times, keep the leading edge of your butt/hip up so it does not catch.   

At all times, the handle should be in tight to you belt line area. at all times knees are bent and slightly off the water. If you want to develop a really good habit, do this. When you shift the handle to either the left or right, and your legs move one way or the other, try to look behind yourself. Turning the head will have the net effect of lifting the hip on your leadind edge. When you get into your tumbles, you will be golden!

BTW, after a 2-week hiatus from footing (felt like a 20 yr to life sentence) I hit the ski club yesterday afternoon for a hard aggreesive ski. felt good. conditions prime. no video, sorry!

Steve,
I did recieve your check for John's book.

For those following this forum, John skied with us at last years New Years Day Tournament. I will take this time to again encourage all to come to this years Tournament where John is announcing and perhaps will foot again this year