WATERSKI Magazine
2003-04-22 15:00:00 | 313 views |
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Foot 411

You’ve got questions, we’ve got
answers

By Paul Macdonald

1. Does barefooting hurt your feet?

“There is no greater rush than the feeling of knowing you
are walking on water. It may take a while for your feet to become
conditioned but at the most it feels like the arch of your foot is
getting hot. Bad form or an extra-high arch will cause your feet to
burn more or even bruise.”

– Lane Bowers, 2002 U.S. Overall National Champion

2. How fast does the boat have to be going in order for me to
barefoot frontward and backward?

“This is dependent on your weight and form. Assuming you
have the correct form, you should be able to front barefoot on a
5-foot handle from the boom in the low 30s and backward in the high
20s.” — Lane Bowers

3. How can I avoid getting spray in my face while
barefooting?

“Spray in your face is usually a result of pulling in on
the handle and/or pushing your feet out in front of you too far. To
fix this problem, most people try to increase the boat speed, but
this is just a Band-Aid solution to the problem. Your best bet is
to try to stand a little taller and bring your ankles under your
knees until the spray goes away [because your form has
improved].” — Jason Lee, 2002 U.S. National Slalom
Champion

4. Can I pee in my wetsuit?

“It depends on your fluid intake. If you have been
drinking a lot of water it is OK, but if you are dehydrated and
haven’t gone in a while — not cool. I definitely prefer a
more hydrated pee. One warning though – hydrated or not,
never pee in your drysuit!”

– Jason Lee, 2000 World Slalom Champion

5. Will the falls really hurt as much as everyone says they
will?

“I’ll be honest, the falls hurt at times but after a
little while you develop an instinct for when a fall is coming and
learn to tuck and roll with the fall.”

– Keith St. Onge, 2002 World Slalom Champion

6. What is the best way to get started back barefooting?

“I call it ‘Taking a Taxi’. With both hands on
the handle, learn to ride (taxi) on your stomach with your feet on
the rope comfortably at very slow speeds (8-12 mph). After you are
comfortable, take one foot off the rope and place it on the water
while the other foot is on the rope. You want to place your foot in
the water at a diagonal angle from your pinky toe to the arch of
your foot. Practice this with both feet, and once proficient, plant
both feet and stand up.”

– Keith St. Onge 

7. How should a barefoot wetsuit fit?

“In one word – TIGHT! When zipping up your wetsuit
you want to feel resistance on the zipper as the material comes
together. Although fit is very important, a cheap suit that fits
perfectly will still be a cheap suit and cause problems with your
footing. I recommend a 5 mm padded wetsuit.”

– Peter Fleck, two-time X Games Jump Champion

8. Are padded shorts worth the money, or is the padding in my
wetsuit good enough?

“When beginning, padded shorts are a must. You want to be
comfortable riding on your rear, and without padded shorts your
rear will be too sore to get comfortable. I always wear padded
shorts under my wetsuit for a little extra protection.”

– Dave Small, World Overall Champion

9. During a tumble turn, my shoulders seem to catch the water.
How can I prevent this from happening?

“This is a very common problem with a strange solution.
Instead of trying to sit up to avoid catching your shoulders while
rotating in a tumble, try to lie flatter on the water and spin on
your back, rather than your rear. Also make sure the handle stays
close to your body during the whole tumble. This should make the
spin effortless and smooth.”

– Dave Small

10. What are the best exercises I can do to get ready for the
footing season?

“I like to start training for the season around January. I
try to run and hit the gym three times per week. The first three
months are basically lifting heavy weight, and then as I get closer
to the season I lower the amount of weight I lift and do a lot more
reps. The areas I like to focus on are legs, stomach and
back.”

– Jon Kretchman, Former World Jump Record Holder