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WATERSKI MagazineYou've had it. How much longline slalom and wakeboard hopscotching is a person supposed to take? This year will be different.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I'm gonna do it,” you announce, wobbling at the edge of a swim platform. “I … will … barefoot! Who's with me?”
You are about to give barefooting a bad name. Everything about the situation smells of disaster. You have no barefoot boat, no barefoot boom, no barefoot suit, no barefoot coach and no idea what you're doing. Armed with the bare minimum – 100 feet of rope, inboard or I/O power and a pair of feet – you will jump in the lake and look into the boat. Your eyes will focus on a collage of mystified faces: in other words, people just like you. A bunch of you's trying to barefoot … again.
Every summer across North America skiers try to shake their bindings and walk on their own. It usually isn't pretty. Even Lane Bowers, the world-class footer who led us through the following instruction, likes to regale students with stories of how it took him five years to learn how to step off a ski. His advice?
“Don't try the step-off,” he says.
You might as well step off a cliff.
There is a way, though, even if it's just you and the gang, to get on your feet and bypass the punishment at the same time.
By far, the safest way to learn to barefoot is to stand off a wakeboard. It's easier to straddle than a kneeboard, it's more stable because of the fins, and it doesn't require glove-tight shorts and barefoot suits. You're a step ahead of the deepwater start because you're already sitting on the water.
After taking off the front binding, you get yourself situated on the middle of the wakeboard. You grab the handle, and the boat starts to pull you forward.
Time out!
Posture, posture. Arch your back, with your shoulders slightly behind your hips.
Boat speed: 12 mph.
Rope Length: Use an 85- to 100-foot rope to put you well behind the biggest wakes.
Sitting pretty, you shoot your heels out toward the water – and start bouncing like a rodeo cowboy in a rainstorm.
Cut!
Before putting your feet on the water, jam your knees together. This will keep spray out of your face. Then pull your ankles back toward your hips to keep from hopping around.
Boat speed: 15 mph.
With your legs positioned like bat wings, you touch the balls
of your feet on the water.
Hold it!
Cock your feet upward so the toes are pointed up and the sole is almost parallel to the water.
Boat speed: 18 mph.
After pointing your knees together, pulling your feet back and cocking them slightly up, you dunk your heels into the water.
Wait!
Your feet should go onto the water, not into it. They should be lowered in super-slow motion so as to practically put the observers to sleep.
Boat speed: 20 mph.
As your feet gently comb the water next to your hips, you steal a peek to watch the spray come off your bare heel.
Freeze!
Everyone wants to see the water on the feet, and everyone winds up feeling water on the face. Keep your eyes straight ahead.
Boat speed: 20 mph.
Eyes on boat, feet on water, it's time to stand on your own.
Sit down!
Enjoy the ride. Once you've developed a three-point stance with your feet and butt, keep riding for at least one minute. Get comfortable, with your feet planing from a sitting – and safe – position.
Boat speed: 23 mph.
The tingle is gone. Your soles and the water are united, so you pull yourself off the perch.
No!
Do not pull on the handle, friend. Keep your arms relaxed, with a slight bend in the elbow. You shouldn't feel any strong resistance.
Boat speed: 25 mph.
You are perfectly relaxed. There's no better time to get off your duff. You start to rise and lean forward for a little momentum boost.
Call off the horses!
Forward “mo” won't stop until you're underwater. Maintain that straight back and press straight up with your legs. The board will drift away without your knowing it or needing it.
Boat speed: Gradually accelerate to 30 mph. Any time you start to have trouble, your driver should slow down.
You … slowly … stand … up.
There are no loud voices telling you to stop, only the voices of your admiring friends in the boat.
Who's next?
