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WATERSKI MagazineWhen you are barefooting, whether on the short rope off the boom or on longline, and your toes accidentally catch on the water and cause you to fall, make sure you quickly let go of the handle, put your chin to your chest and tuck your head down low, and roll forward, head over heels, without turning your head to the side.
You'll know if you have fallen correctly because the water will hit you on the back of your head and shoulders.
Don't turn your head to the side. You risk injury to an eardrum if you fall on the side of your head. Roll forward, facing ahead.
Don't put your hands up to protect your face. Your hand will hit the water, and then it will hit your face, resulting in a nasty smack or even a black eye. Leave your hands and arms where they are as you let go of the handle, because hand and arm placement are not important.
Don't try to tumble-turn out of a fall. Let go of the handle the instant you realize you're falling. Tuck and roll forward.
A good way to practice this technique is directly on the boom. From your normal barefooting position, slow the boat down to 25-30 mph. Tuck your chin to your chest, let go of the boom and roll yourself forward. It's like doing a front roll on a gym mat. Practice this a couple of times so that when you take an unexpected fall, you have already trained your body to instinctively let go of the handle, tuck and roll. It happens very fast on the rope, and you have to get used to it.
NOTE: If you want to stop barefooting and your toes have not caught on the water, the easiest way is to sit down low, lean back and let go of the handle. But don't lean back after your toes catch on the water, because you could seriously injure yourself. If you are skiing directly on the boom, have enough strength in your arms and aren't too tired, you can hold on to the boom after your toes catch. But if you are on the rope, don't hold on after your toes catch because you could seriously injure yourself.
If you fall correctly, you can't get hurt.
You can train with Mike Seipel at Barefoot International and Fly High Ski School, 3201 Tuxedo Ave., West Palm Beach, FL 33405. Call 800-277-5446.
