learning to barefoot

Oh yeah, BTW, I would not put a barefoot suit under your drysuit, especially if you want flexibility. You don't need it. Put some BI shorts on. I used to throw a vest on under, but I don't do that anymore. Plenty bouyant.

Kap, you need to work with your driver! Way, way way too fast. The driver can tell if its too fast because youre bouncing. If this happens, cut speed dramatically. As a skier, hook your foot on the rope and wait it out. They also need to drive in a straight line!

Clearly whoever is pulling you is not someone used to pulling it (or skiing it). You guys need to get on the same page and come up with a plan. Try this:

1. Accelerate firmly to ~10mph. Do not watch the speedo, watch the skier. Bouncing = too fast. Water rolling over the skier's back = too slow (drowning). Have him look for a geyser coming up between your legs- this is the sweet spot.

2. As you take your feet off and plant, you are going to slow the boat down if he does not compensate for it. As you plant your feet in the water, have him increase speed very slightly- approx 14-15mph. Have him wait until you have a nice consistent 3-point going, with a steady stream of water off both feet. Once this is achieved, have him pull you like this for a few seconds before starting to accelerate.

3. Once you have a few seconds worth of a good plant going, he is to promptly accelerate to skiing speed. Think 4-5 seconds of acceleration to get you from 15mph to 38mph (or whatever you ski at). Too fast will pull you out of position and too slow will make you work too hard to get up.

Again, he needs to be going straight- none of this starting out on a corner crap, or making turns while youre working on your 3-point. Once you guys form a plan, you can start to know what to expect as a skier and make adjustments based on your progress (with help from guys here).

I plan on going to better water next time...
there was a boat surfing around and wind so he was probably adjunting to find me good waters...

The only thing ill add to Tim's list is that of your chest is not off the water before 30 mph do not pass go do not collect $200. Driver must wait for some lift from you. You are not to be skimming along on your chest at full speed.

Hollywood wrote: Steve, if you weren't tryin to learn your llbd in a handful of of sets it might not hurt as much but it also serves as proof you're almost there.

Nope, I agree, It's all good muscle strain, the kind of "hurt" that makes you stronger. Nothing strained or injured, just reinforcement to me (personally) how out of shape I am.

kapla wrote: on my last attemp I bite my tongue and cheek, and dont know why but looks like i put lot of pressure on my teeth

When I first learned it I chipped a tooth slightly and learned to keep mouth closed, now I don't let my chin touch at all...it's chest, and cup area, inner thighs, and legs and feet

Found out Gopros are no good long-line!

After a 10 year pause, rode out my 2nd and third attempts at llbd

used to ride more upright, was just being a little cautious these runs

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


Here's my girl, fixed the link in my post prior
First morning footing for her, she was curious.
The handle went slack on her first runs, so she was really feetskiing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTxUdsyLo0g

GottaSki wrote: Found out Gopros are no good long-line!

Sure they are, you just need to wear it on your chest!!!

Great job by your daughter, no fear there!!! Ready to go short line and do some butt slides.

Thanks for the advice guys!

you have students?

kapla wrote: you have students?

ROFL...

cool videos Andy...sure is fun to see a 15 year old girl who's better at that than me...and not emasculating at all, haha!

I posted this in another thread believing that it was from here originally. Kapla suggested we let that three die (it has been kaputt since 2007) so I'm moving this here. Hope I don't interrupt the convo...

Hansel wrote: CCFans, I am a big-time lurker on this site, reading almost everything, and posting almost never. However, I thought that you should know that this thread, and all the barefoot talk in general here, convinced me to give it a go this afternoon and I was able to complete my first two barefoot runs (~100ft & ~500ft). Big thanks to Quinner for the kneeboard technique. I don't have a boom (yet) nor any specialized gear, so that seemed the most doable way to learn. It took some trial and error, but I am very glad to mark this first in 2007 (especially since the boat is probably coming out tomorrow for the season). Thanks!

I posted this six years ago on this thread (almost impossible to believe...) and thought about it because of an email I just received. This summer two friends from Germany were visiting me, one of them is a professional photographer. They just emailed me a single photo (below) of me barefooting this August. I'd be very happy for any of you to critique my form, but mostly I just wanted to share and celebrate six years of barefooting. I'm better than I was then, but not a whole lot, in part because I'm usually only able to do it 5-10 times a year. But every time makes me as happy as the first time! Still rockin' the kneeboard (haha!), and still think of Quinner every time I bust it out.

Cheers,

Jamin



P.S. The old '97 SN has now pulled three Germans for their very first waterski. One last summer and two this year. Also something to celebrate!

C'mon Kap, read closely!

Ive seen video of HW doing a deep start sans suit... no thanks! Stepping off a ski or kneeboard isnt such a big deal. Just gotta be careful with your dismount.



Jamin, straighten those arms a little... roll the shoulders back, stick the chest out, bring your hips forward. That'll help you glide a little easier. Form doesnt look bad at all!

Edit: I probably should mention that the picture above was not meant to be an example of good form- we were coming in to shore for our landing.

Kap,

I cheat with the kneeboard, so no biggie on the suit. Though, I did tear one up pretty good trying to learn. Someday I'll invest in a real barefoot suit.

Tim,

Good to hear from you! Thanks for the pointers, I will put them into practice next season which cannot come soon enough. Moving to North Dakota from WI could crimp my style though as it puts another 6+hrs on my drive to the lake.

Roy,

Thanks! Credit goes to my friend Bernd. He does industrial photos mostly, but loves action shots of people so he was taking a lot during out days at the lake. This is the first one I've seen, and I know he has lots of winners in his collection.