Barefoot How To

[lucky7t]

I will beg my wife to film this as all of you can have a good laugh Monday morning

I will remember to be very nice to my wife before we go out on the water

Knee board is the way im gonna try. Im already nervous and its only wednesday.

[lucky7t]

the shoe skis allow you to work at much slower speeds. but i think they make just learning barefooting harder as they are so slick on the water. they do force you to learn better form though. What part of OK are you in lucky?

I live in Edmond but boat at lake Murray and lake Eufaula

[jeepn]

murray not too far away. maybe i can make it up one weekend with the nauti and a boom. i'm in fort worth, give a holler if you make it down my way.

[lucky7t]

murray not too far away. maybe i can make it up one weekend with the nauti and a boom. i'm in fort worth, give a holler if you make it down my way.

I would much appreciate that!

heck I would haul the boat down and lets surf and board and then barefoot on yours! Im in. Ill get a weekend open and pm you.

[rweilbacher]

i use a wakeboard and wakeboard rope. just sit between your bindings with your feet out of the water. tell driver to "hit it" after you are outside the wake. here is a video...hope it works

[rweilbacher]

how do you post a video from facebook on here?

[pzthk6]

I started barefooting when I was 12, and have never been a fan of the kneeboard version of starts. At higher speeds the board becomes very erratic with little control.
Before learning deep water starts (and having a boat with enough hp) we used a simple 100' nylon rope and handle, removed the heal cup on an old wooden ski. Simply set your one foot in, when you have your balance, lightly drop the other ski out and back, then gently place your second foot in the water.
If you dont have a boom the next easiest is the old style tubes with the hole in the center as mentioned earlier. Set your feet, and slowly pull the tube up around your waist.
Being 160, your speed should be 34-36, I'm 220 these days and 40 is more than enough.
BTW falls barefooting hurt much less than wakeboarding face plants, you just tumble across the top of the water.

[AirTool]

I'm just catching up to this (busy day), but here are some hints from a coach/driver:

1. minimum speed is 20 plus 10% of weight. If you weigh nothing, min speed = 20. If you weigh 100, min speed= 30. If you weigh 200, min speed = 40. For gliding back and forth and doing tricks and tumbles, the speed must be higher than the minimum. If you do feel a lot of drag, speed up some.

2. the foot shoes reduce min speed required by about 8 to 10 mph. Maybe 15. I'll look for links to the BFC shoe ski wars. They are fun.

3. a large boogie board works better than a knee board. (at least for kids/light weights) do not use a knee board that has a hook for the rope handle. You might rip off your scrotum.

4. I've seen people use an inflatable pool lounge, thingy.

5. Your are very susceptible to neck injuries. You should wear a neck brace from BFC.

6. BFC has cheap training days in Houston. If I see them post one, i'll p.m. it. You could fly in cheap and by the end of the day be footing.

7. I suggest waiting for some training and/or the boom.

8. If you ignore 7, don't let the wife use cruise. maybe the GPS models are good enough but it helps that the speed be smooth. I know my PP won't cut it except for experts and lightweight footers at slow speed with the PP on rpm. (rpm fixed and speed creeping up smoothly)

[scott resick]

BTW falls barefooting hurt much less than wakeboarding face plants, you just tumble across the top of the water.[/QUOTE]

Maybe true. IF you have barefooted before. First falls suck.

[Sell]

First Up - I cannont barefoot.
My mate who is a very capable skier/wakeboarder barefooted first go like this (I was driving): -
Get up on one ski, with the foot cup loose as.
Get boat to 40Mph ish and he simply stepped out the same as you would going from two skis to one.
He rode for a few hundred metres & simply let go - said it was easy as & complained it was boring.....

[srock]

I love the fact that you are ready to go and will skip the boom. The boom is so easy that is should be called something other than barefooting. Its cool to learn long line and you will always have bragging rights to that. I always enjoyed trying to ride anything new and the process is part of the experience.

I learned off a kneeboard it works great. The difficult part for most is just getting up and in position on the kneeboard. I'll give a couple quick tips.

I sit with my legs on either side of the kneeboard, like a surfer waiting on a wave, and once the boat starts to move I put my feet on the front of the board. Have the driver take you smoothly to about 15MPH. Having your feet on the front of the board will give you balance and control of the board and it will not bounce...because your butt and center of gravity is toward the rear.

Scoot forward on the board once you are up and stable so your weight is more forward, your knees should be at your chest. With the boat traveling at 15 pull yourself outside the wake, take your time, the curl outside the wake is the best place to ride. A good driver can give you a little turn to help push you outside the wake.

Once outside, lightly place your feet on top of the water and have the driver accelerate to footing speed. With your feet on the water the kneeboard will become very stable as you gain speed. Do not stand but let the acceleration of the boat lift you into the proper footing position (you got from Lanes video). You will feel the water become hard as you gain speed and you can transfer more weight to your feet. No hurry do everything slow there is no rush. The kneeboard will put you into the perfect footing position and the board will continue to ride with you under your butt on the spray from your feet. It really does put you into the correct position and you many even need to wiggle your butt to free the board.

If you crash with the kneeboard near you stay under water or hide your face for a second, the kneeboard may be following you and bump you in the head. I have that happen even when just riding the kneeboard...

Don't bother with all those posts telling you that will "die". If you crash just tuck your head and take it on the shoulder. You do not need a barefoot suit for this method but you always need flotation. Go for it and have fun.

[LR3w8kbrdr]

Just dont slam your feet down when setting them lol ask me how I know we captured the cartwheels on our gopro.

I have a problem with gently setting my feet.

[shag]

A simple equation for speed is your weight divided by 10, plus 20. So yes you should have no problem footing at 36, and probably even 34 with correct form. A fall a 34 hurts is easier than at 40 mph in my opinion. (you could translate that to age as well, lol)
Most of all, when learning, if you feel yourself about to fall, remember to 'tuck' your head. This will prevent you from getting a laid out spine snapping fall. I swear my feet touched the back of my head a few times learning behind the boat, standing up of a knee board in salt water with less than perfect conditions...
And yes, film it so you can review it later to see what you are doing wrong or right..... And post it so we can all get a good laugh! jk
Good luck!

[brananders]

I love this chain, its made me think I should try to barefoot instead of just continuing with my mediocre wakeboarding. Lucky7t, you've really set yourself up here, don't fail us by chickening out.

[CradGen2]

Dude,

I'm going to be your best friend on this blog. While trying NEW things is great, barefooting is dangerous. Be warned.
1. SPEND the money on the boom. You will have it the rest of your life.
2. Buy and barefoot suit. While I like Eagle products, Barefoot international is better for learning. Also buy barefoot shorts to go under the suit. Helps the gliding.
3. Find somebody on your lake to teach you. Barefooters are friendly and understand this is a grassroots sport.
4. If you are going to try long line first off a knee board - DON'T USE A SKI ROPE. Use a nonstretch line. This is for your safely and the folks in the boat. I can't stress this one enough.
Pay all insurance preminums. Update with will.

And please video and post to youtube so we can all see the first event.