learning to barefoot

Trying to get these videos in dropbox so the quality is not terrible.

Im really glad I figured out cheeking out its about impossible if you wait until you get up to speed. You gotta start just about when the boat starts.

Do you guys tape up your nose? I am effected for about a day after from all the water that goes up it. I was just wondering if it would be hard to breath with the tape.

NCH20SKIER wrote: No tape with forward deep's- back deep's get the bandaid over the snoz. I always try to "flush the sinuses" with some saline spray when done for the day.

Thanks for that. I will keep that in mind and I think it may be a bit before back deeps.

I guess I should give it a try. It could be the cold nasty water we ski in too.

I tape my nose every time I ski; barefoot, slalom, trick, sky ski, disk and folding chair...it doesn't matter. I'm miserable if I get lake all up in my head. Get the clear stuff, it doesn't show up in pictures while you're skiing. Pick a side, pinch, pass under, come up the other side. You will be a mouth breather while its taped shut, but that's better than the two days after your run.

I must say since being on this site I have really been tempted to barefoot.

So, I dont have a barefoot suit and hell I dont think anyone even sells them in SA.
So no extra padding, eh, I suppose I will live.

No boom, not yet at least, I have read about using a wakeboard to start on and planting feet at speed. Doable?

Not that I relate any of these things together, but I have always been an easy starter, first time wakeboard, ski, slalom, never had issues, never used a boom.

What are my chances of survival ? I have a normal wetsuit which I suppose is better than a speedo

There are a few schools of thought on this. The young, rich, spoiled kids will say you need a suit ($300) shorts ($90) boom ($400) handle ($100) to learn. ($890). I say that's silly and a pretty significant investment to try something you may not like.

The second school of thought is you don't need all that, but it makes life easier and you are less likely to get hurt. I cant disagree with that at all.

And then you have us old schoolers, Quinner, Alan, JBear, Jackiedeen, me, that learned in the 70s (or there abouts) by stepping off a $10 ski, with a crappy $10 rope and an old vinyl vest and cut offs, or in my case, that Speedo you referred to. (1972)



Going off a kneeboard or wakeboard isn't bad, but just getting planing on one of those with your feet out front at 35 mph is a challenge in itself. Plus you are learning a start to get to someplace you have never been before (standing up barefooting) When stepping off, you are 90% the way to barefooting before you drop the ski. You already have a sense of body and foot position and the feel of the water on at least one of your feet.

Here is a clean step off at the beginning of this video to give you an idea.

IAughtNaut wrote: I tape my nose every time I ski; barefoot, slalom, trick, sky ski, disk and folding chair...it doesn't matter. I'm miserable if I get lake all up in my head. Get the clear stuff, it doesn't show up in pictures while you're skiing. Pick a side, pinch, pass under, come up the other side. You will be a mouth breather while its taped shut, but that's better than the two days after your run.

Thanks for the description on how to do it. Im not sure I will look quite that good once its done.

Landis
Below is my daughter coming of the old school wakeboard



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Yeah, I think Greg meant to address Graeme (geecee).

Another easy way to learn to foot is off a tube. This is how I first started footing when I was younger. Take the rope off obviously.. Then sit in the tube and when you start to get pulled, lean back as far as you can so you don't get pulled out of the tube. Once you plane up on the tube after a few seconds you just hang on till up to speed. When your up to speed, simply put feet down gently and stand up and the tube will fly out from under you and your footing. Easy peasy. Then once your confy footing, you can try the deep starts, then it's a whole new ballgame

[QUOTE=lcgordon]

People also do Naked Backward Deep starts too, but that doesn't mean that is the way I would try to learn, or even actually try.

I know I have somewhat of a very different perspective, having almost literally killed myself participating in this sport, but I am a huge proponent of taking advantage of every piece of safety equipment available, in addition to minimizing the risk of injury it also really makes it easier to learn. I admire these guys who learned in the 70's stepping off a slalom ski, heck I could never get the hang of it when I was trying way back then, but man, it really can be relatively painless with very quick success.

I would also recommend spending some time with a "professional." That doesn't mean you have to pay money to go to one of the Barefoot schools. If you ever get to North America or South America, there are CCF's all over the place that would be happy to spend some time with you. Again, it will just lessen the abuse that your body is going to take.

By all means try it, it is a rush like none other you will ever experience. I miss it, probably more then I am willing to admit. A boom is probably the best investment AND it can be used for more then just barefooting - it is a GREAT training tool. After you try it, I am guessing you will get hooked and then you can start planning your investments in more equipment.

Got to do some barefooting this weekend. Had a great time. Was able to do some one foots off of the 5ft. Still trying to figure out my long line tumble. I just cant believe how much fun it is.

I bought the stuff then I forgot it at the house. I am feeling the consequences of that mistake right now. My girlfriend also feels them because I guess I snore really bad after I barefoot.

Thanks ill try that possibly next year. I tried one today and did the same thing. I can do them all day off the 5ft but long line i just cant. Just need some practice.

GlassSeeker wrote: Keep the handle in a tight circle from belly button to nipples...dont let it get away

I just need a little practice. Every time I go out I get about one try so if I could get about 5 in a row I could maybe get it once. Its hard to think too about what you need to be doing this time of year when the water is cold. Falls also really take your breath away.