WaterSki Magazine

WATERSKI Magazine
2004-03-25 15:00:00 | 598 views | 0 Comments

If you are a barefooter, getting started on the right foot  in the spring will make all the difference for your success this season. Focus on the basics and start with a clean slate. In many cases it's impossible and dangerous to come back on the water thinking you haven't skipped a single beat. Getting back to last season's abilities could take a month or even more. The water and weather are cold and many muscles are out of shape. With that in mind, here are some pointers that should help refresh your memory and your skills and get you hitting the water with the right foot first.

1. Speed: Drop your speed 1 to 2 mph because your normal speed will feel way too fast. You won't even feel the difference.
2. Relaxing: Don't try to overcompensate balance with pure muscle and strain. You'll find that relaxing your shoulders, your grip on the handle and your back will help you track straight, like riding a bike with no hands.
3. Position: Most barefooters will push their ankles in front of their knees, not realizing how badly they're plowing. As hard and frightening as this may seem, you must allow your ankles to come under your knees so your soles can glide freely.
4. Stretching exercises while barefooting: The best maneuver for a full back and arm stretch would be simply releasing with one hand while picking up the opposite foot. Having more pull on one arm than the other will loosen your shoulders and put a little stretch in your lower back.
5. Tricks: The toehold is one of the more basic tricks, and it's important that you ride both sides, reverse and basic. While riding the toehold, you can move your hands side to side as if you're sliding them across a table. You can also raise your hands straight up. This will help your balance and can be applied for the back toehold as well. If toeholds are a problem, then ride one-foots or put on shoe skis.
6. Shoe Skiing: Before putting on shoe skis you should barefoot on your feet first! If you start fresh on shoe skis it'll feel awkward on your feet afterward. Shoe skiing opens many doors for spring foot'n. They'll keep your feet warm and many tricks are easier on shoes, so you'll be less likely to fall.
7. Boom Usage: Many people fall in love with the boom. I like to call those footers “Boom Babies”! There's nothing wrong with using the boom, but it should only be used 70 percent of the time in the spring and 30 percent of the time during the summer months. An advantage of using the boom with cold water is that you'll spend more time on your feet than in the water.
8. Two-Foot Wake Slalom: I've seen many barefooters on their first couple of passes of the year go right into front wake slalom and tell the boat driver to give them full speed of the boat. When I hear that I become psychic and see the footer taking hard falls out the front, with an ice-cream headache not far behind. Ask for a slower speed and get your legs warmed up with some easy, controlled two-foot wake slalom. Feel the wake, feel the speed, and most importantly, stay on top of the surface instead of scuba diving. Your body will thank you in the morning!
9. Tumble Turns: As much as some people hate doing tumbles, it's the fastest way to warm up your body and work your abs. You can either do “no-feet tumbles,” where you don't stand up, or stand up between tumbles to give your legs a workout while letting your abs rest.
10. Riding Backward: This is probably the most uncomfortable feeling after not barefooting for several months. However, it's an extremely safe position. Whether you're plowing or have straight legs, it's just nice to ride as far as you can on the larger portion of your foot. Make sure you have someone watching you because they'll see your mistakes. Work on flexing your ankles, bending your knees and keeping your head up while your feet gain real estate on the water.

To barefoot with Keith St. Onge this spring visit www.glidingsoles.com, e-mail keith@glidingsoles.com or call 813-987-9121.