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WATERSKI MagazineYou can call Lane “Dawg” Bowers a lot of things – world-class instructor, workout freak, national champ – but don't ever call him old school. The college philosophy major turned footer brings a thinking skier's approach to the latest barefoot teaching film, The Footer's Edge Barefoot Waterskiing Instructional Video.
In the 110-minute video, produced by award-winning footing filmmaker and former national champion Scott Gray, Bowers breaches the known limits of barefoot teaching, relying on an “interactive” approach. Borrowing heavily from Web site models, Bowers uses a variety of methods to teach everything from his famous “posture and glide” position to one-foots. There's straight-on video (live voice and action), super slo-mo action with a Bowers voice-over, full-speed action with Bowers appearing as a head-shot inset in the corner of the screen and even high-action footage taken from a pole cam and a barefoot rope. The U.S. national jump champion utilizes every conceivable portion of the screen to give footers their full $39.95 worth.
Most interesting (though least interesting visually) is Bowers' real-life session with a first-time footer with absolutely no skiing experience. Teaching her step by step, Bowers gets the novice up in one day and proves that you don't have to be a fantastic skier to be a decent footer.
Our assessment: Two thumbs up for a very interesting approach to coaching. Bowers' use of “interactive” on-screen information like boat speeds, boom heights and live teaching on every trick is the kind of innovation that the Dawg's in-person training sessions are known for – and the kind of information you need to learn safely. No, there's nothing particularly earth-shattering here – it's still barefooting, same as it's always been – but there is a fresh, new approach. Even if you're at the higher levels of the sport, you'll still appreciate the bevy of never-before-seen angles Gray somehow gets on tape.
Call 800-665-3188 for more information. Or write The Barefoot Company, PO Box 880, Blaine, WA 98231-0880. RS 157. – Fred “Smokey” Wingate
