• Subject: Monday, October 18, 2004 Winter Haven, Florida: The Front Step-off Method of Barefooting. "You've got to believe deep inside yourself that you’re destined to do great things." Joe Paterno, College football Coach and athletic Director. Even though stepping off of a ski to learn to barefoot is about as old school as a can get, there's still seems to be a high demand to learn how to safely perform the front step-off method. Although I am happy to teach you how to learn this method, I cannot emphasize enough that this is not the preferred method to learn how to barefoot waterski. The safest way to learn how to barefoot waterski can be found on my web site at http://www.thefootersedge.com/traumacenter/index2.htm under "First-time Barefooters." Why would anyone want to learn the front step-off method if it is not the safest way to learn? With the advent of figure 8 skiing and show skiing, there's an increasing demand to learn this old school method. My recommendation is to learn to barefoot water skiing in the method that I've described above, and then learn the front step-off method. Having proclaimed my disclaimer, I'm going to give you some tips that will keep you safe and bring you success. First of all, learn your first front step-off directly on the boom. The boom should be at head height. The boat speed should be at the slowest possible speed that you are comfortable slaloming at. (If you happen to need the best barefoot boom at the best price with free shipping, please go to my pro shop at http://www.thefootersedge.com/equipment/index.htm) The most important thing to remember when beginning your front step-off is to maintain the proper upper body posture with relaxed arms. What you definitely want to avoid is getting bend over as you are trying to step out of the ski. As a reminder, the proper body position should be thought of in a top--to--bottom form; Shoulder role. Meat hook. Hips forward. Soft knees. Relaxed arms and hands. Practice skiing in this position at the slower slalom speed. The key your success, is going to be getting comfortable in this position at the slower speed so that you are ready for the faster bare footing speed. One to become comfortable at this speed and with this position, it is now time to remove your back foot from the rear of the slalom ski and gently place it in the water slightly in front of your foot in the ski. If you need to review this foot position, please see the pictures at my Position's Page at http://www.thefootersedge.com/equipment/index.htm under my "Foot Ski" article. Although it will be tempting to increase your speed at this point, the best way to master this step-off safely is to master your body position while your foot is in the water at the slower into speed. Now that you have mastered this stage, it is now time to increase the boat speed and step out of the ski. "But Lane, this is the hardest part. This is the part that I actually need help with," you say. Fear not young barefooter. The answer to your problem lies in your form, your relaxed arms, and my "scissor -- step" method of getting rid of the ski. First of all, let's get one thing straight. If you are less than 150 pounds, you should not be stepping out of the ski any faster than 32 mph. If you are between 150 and 200 pounds, make sure that your top speed does not exceed 35 miles an hour while learning this method on either the boom or the 5 foot rope on the boom. For the long line, add no more than 2 miles an hour. If your over 200 pounds, at 2 miles an hour to the above speeds. Excessive boat speeds cause tremendous problems and great pain. Do not be suckered into this knuckle -- head method of using speed to solve problems. After you have your correct barefoot position for the foot in the water, slowly increase the speed half way between your slalom ski speed and your barefoot speed. At this point, do not accelerate any further. Make sure that your foot in the water is very stable with the water line slightly behind the ball of your foot. Once this position feels stable, it is time to learn the "scissor step" by allowing the foot in the ski to slowly move further backwards until the toes of the foot in the ski are way behind the heel of the foot in the water. Practice riding this position while maintaining the correct body position, soft knees, and relaxed arms. Make sure that you do not let your feet go too wide. Once you have mastered this position, you can increase your boat speed to your barefoot speed, allowing the foot in the ski to go so far back that only the toes are left in the binding or on the ski. Although you will be tempted to immediately release the ski here, the wise man will practice riding this position safely without releasing the ski. Once you have mastered the skill, you now will possess all the skills necessary to step out of the ski safely. I highly recommend using a ski without a rear binding or a heel pad on the front binding. If you'd like to purchase the Official Figure 8 Step off Ski, go to http://www.thefootersedge.com/equipment/index.htm Good luck with this classic old school start and please keep me updated of your success. Expect a Miracle! Lane "Dawg" Bowers 2003 World Overall Senior Barefoot Champion lane@lanedawg.com http://www.thefootersedge.com http://www.beabarefooter.com http://www.barefootanswers.com 877 685-6270 <----------Call Me! 863 557-8871 <----------Direct Line Fax: 509 756-4343

  October 18th, 2004 at 5:15 pm

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