learning to foot

James - that's sweet! Good job guys. Next comes short-line I'm sure you have, but take a good look at that video we got from Mike. I've found it very helpful.

After GL I've been footing as much as I can with Brad (Barracuda), Tim (TRBenj) and Larry (75tique). With the help of those guys I'm now very comfortable at the short-line. Last night got up long-line, deep-start for the first time.

It can beat you up but sure is a lot of fun.

-Keith

I got up footing longline the other day - for 2 seconds. The wipe out rang my bell a little, lol. It was the first time I ever tried to foot, learning it oldschool, no boom.

I have no problem getting to the butt glide, I'm having problems cheeking outside the wake, any tips?

Also, I only have slalom ropes, how much difference would a footing rope make? I think it will help with the bouncing that happens sometimes, no?

What is the difference between a wakeboaring rope and a footing rope, they're both low-stretch, right?

Also, what's the formula to figure out the right speed to plant? I'm 180 lbs.

Mark Mel

The no stretch rope is definitely the way to go. The wakeboard rope is typically on 75 feet a barefoot rope is usually 100 feet, the extra 25 feet helps alot. I think you can find the plant speed formula at I want to foot post.

ON another note my brother and I progressed to the 100 long line deep ups on sunday. By the time the water got smooth enough for us rookies to give it a go and have a chance at getting up it was to dark to get a pic because of the distance from the boat. It took a few tries to learn how long to wait before trying to sit up and then get up on your feet but we got it.

My brother made it outside the wake through a turn then back inside the wake on his own after the turn... Thanks again Keith and Alan for asking us to participate in the barefoot clinic at GL it has helped us greatly.

Thanks for the tips, we're using a gps for speed and I think I was trying to stand at 37.

I will try to get a footing rope soon. Trying to do this on the cheap, I got two footing suits, a pair of lovely neon barefoot shorts and another shorty wetsuit for $33.50 on ebay. ;)

Hoping to stand for more than 2 seconds by the end of the season.

Mark,

I have always used the weight x 10% + 20 formula for long line, in your case 38mph.

If you really want to get outside the wake your driver can assist with this, while on your butt glide (around 20mph) have the driver swing you out just enough to cross the wake just as they are throttling up to speed, can be tricky to do or may take a little practice so they don't whip you too hard out and then right back in if you wait too long. Like Hollywood said get a longer line and stand up just off the white wash of your wake. Cheeking requires leaning on right cheek and pulling in slightly with your opposite hand to turn right or vice-verse to go left.

Another tool to work towards your deeps is sitting on a kneeboard and standing up from there. Toughest part can be keeping the board under you at the start, sit towards the front and wrap your legs just above the ankle around the tip of the board, boat in gear helps keep everything in place, have driver accelerate slow/steady up to about 18, get stable on the board maybe move forward just a bit more and outside the wake, when ready signal to throttle up to speed, the more you plant your feet the more the board will rise almost standing you up. Another advantage of this technique is less water up the nose.

Good luck

The speed isn't as critical if you have the correct technique. I normally run somewhere between 39 and 42 (wherever the wife can get it settled in at) and weigh about 190 with the barefoot suit on. Yesterday she didn't speed up as fast as normal but I planted anyway. I knew it was too slow but I made it with lots of spray. After the run she told me I was crazy for planting at 32. I think keeping your speed on the slow side will really help you from getting too sloppy. My dad learned to barefoot behind at a boat that could barely hit 35 with him behind it and he was in the 220-230 range at the time.

Oh, one other question, assuming I do make it up, how do you stop? Other than a spectacular fall that is.

Just let go of the rope?

Bend your knees until your butt touches the water, then lay down on you back, lift your feet off the water and let go of the handle. You'll slide along on your back and gently glide to a stop.

While we're sharing ... here are the results from my first day of long-line. Did this while trying to cheek outside the wake. My feet got caught in the wake and flipped me forward, rope and handle nailed the inside of my knee on the way out. Did manage to get up that day however, after a short rest in the boat.

I'll try the count to five thing and lean back, assuming I can make it to five ;)

JBear is right on, don't know if that was mentioned earlier in this thread but you really don't want to let go on your deep starts, learned that the hard way and it hit my foot and broke a couple bones. Take your time, no need to over accelerate, only learn on good water with the proper gear and it's also a good idea to run through you projected pass and scan for debris/dead fish/etc. in the water before proceeding.

I got a couple so so sets in this morning, storms started blowing in. I got some pics I hope to get posted tonight or tomorrow night. Footing is in the forecast for sat and sun. Pregression is coming along nicely.

Keith
that looks like it really hurts, glad to hear you got up that day though. I agree the 100 of long line behind the boat is a new ball game compared to the boom off the side of the boat.

Mark Mel wrote: Well, I officially have no problem getting to the butt glide. I can ride all around the lake on my ass. So I'm not yet a footer I'm more of an asser. I can not for the life of me cheek out. I think/hope it's due to the 75' slalom rope that is putting me in a spot on the wake that is holding me in the center. I can feel it when I try to move out, feels like I'm stuck. I'm getting an offical 100' rope today. I hope that puts me in a better spot on the wake.

Boat speed could also be playing a part. How fast are you going when youre assing around?

How fast are you going when you're assing around?

LOL, "so what did you do at the lake today?"

"I was just assing around"


I would guess that I'm just coming up to speed. At what speed should I be cheeking out?

By the way thanks for all of the great suggestions in this thread.

Mark Mel wrote: Well, I officially have no problem getting to the butt glide. I can ride all around the lake on my ass. So I'm not yet a footer I'm more of an asser. I can not for the life of me cheek out. I think/hope it's due to the 75' slalom rope that is putting me in a spot on the wake that is holding me in the center. I can feel it when I try to move out, feels like I'm stuck. I'm getting an offical 100' rope today. I hope that puts me in a better spot on the wake.

Shorten your rope to 22 off with the slalom line, you will get it no problem. Try it.