learning to barefoot

One good thing..I have the boom back...still the borrowed one I used to have..but talked the owner..old time friend..stores the boat at same marina i have mine...so if he needs it eventually he can pick it up right out...
still in the hunt for one though..

Sebastian, do you have access to shoe skis? If not, a pair of old tennis shoes will work pretty well in their place. The shoe skis will help you get the feel of the correct form at a lower speed and build some confidence.

ripped a set today morning..nice..got some nice headpackers on the one foot attemps!!! started working on the 2 feet jumps..got to do a pair with no falls!!! also worked the tumbles..I need to do something with the leg positioning while turning as I think i´m not bending them...
anyway a nice set..sun is shining!! Temperature around 86º


I forgot the shoes..next time out I will take them..

I would be nervous about putting anything on my feet that can't be easily pulled off, like a tennis shoe. Invest in some good shoe skis.

Seb: I did not know you were such a good wakeboarder! The warm weather is but a memory here in California. Been a cold Fall so far for here: 30's at night, and low 50's in the day.

The reason I dont' like anything tied to my feet is that I have had shoe skis YANKED off where they go flying in the air or skating across the water by themselves. I figure if they did not come off, they would be jacking my knee up. I know it is not a scientific comment, maybe just some paranoia.

LakeBoy wrote: Seb: I did not know you were such a good wakeboarder!

Been boarding since 1995..
this thread got me into trying to Barefoot..part of the inspiration came also from watching your videos.

LaurelLakeSkier wrote: Your warm temps sound great.....I was out on the water last weekend....was able to walk across the lake.

So cold enough for ice, but is there enough snow yet to ride, the opener is fast approaching...

Shoe skis- once you strap anything to your feet you can increase the torque applied to knees when you catch an edge. I have twisted my knee pretty badly while screwing around on shoe skis. If you are going to use them be very serious while on them. Yes you can use old shoes, tennis shoes or whatever but just be careful. The added torque can be bad for the knees.

I was using BFC shoe skis and got very low with my knees bent all the way so my butt was just about on the water, my arms were on each side of my knees and thats when one shoe caught and pulled my leg right under me. I ran over my own leg with my body...I kept skiing but later could barely walk ...for a month and it took a good six months before it got better...no I did not go to the doctor. Just be careful on shoe skis. One of our friends, 1RadNad, just hurt himself on shoe skis, twisted knee.

Andy, ouch definitely some more good lessons! As I get older, I can't tell you how valuable this type of information is. I would much rather learn from others experiences then find out on my own...

That should be a fun little boat, isn't JoeInNY running something similar in his 2001, maybe he is closer to 500 ponies, anyway you may see even more then 55.

I can probably pull you 55 across the water with the 150+ HP, 700cc in my Arctic Cat, definitely need a dry suit and plastic sled for the start though, and if you fall you'll have to swim out, not circling back for pick up with the sled...    

Eddie is stroking his sbc and should be good for around 400hp. He doesn't slalom though so I doubt you'll see him going anywhere near 50 mph.

this is from last week

i was out yesterday...no footing..it was extremely windy and I had no driver...

nice job Kapla! Please keep 'em coming. Makes getting thru the winter that much easier

Keeganino wrote: Seems like just last week we were at Reid's having a good ole time on the water.

I was thinking about that this morning. That was just over 2 months ago and the weather was awesome. I hope next time to get a ride in your skier, Keegan. The closest I got was when we were trying to get it loaded along with the others amid that windstorm that crept up on us. So much going on it was like CCFAN stimulation overload. I got a first time ride in a BFN (thanks TRBENJ), a surf session behind Mike and Gail's boat with Raindog, JoeinNY etc., shots from a ski........all too much for my small mind, but a good time nonetheless

The thought of footin in december without even a wetsuit is awesome.. the ice is just starting to creep in here in northern NJ.. We got a quick run in on thanksgiving and it was insane cold, but really cool to be on the water with snow in the air..

The same to you and yours in this Season of Joy!!! LOL. Nice pic. One question: What happend to all of his other fingers? It seems he is missing all of his fingers EXCEPT the middle ones. Industrial accident. Propeller accident?