Email Campaign Archive

subject: Winter Haven Florida October 30, 2004 – Short Attention Span Theatre "A man who is self-reliant, positive, optimistic, and undertakes his work with the assurance of success magnetizes his condition. He draws to himself, the creative powers of the universe." ---Norman Vincent Peale, The Power of Positive Thinking As promised, here are my short answers to your short questions that I hope will help you achieve your barefooting dreams. #1 “Is there a trick to painless falls???? If so, what is it?" Thank you, Ryan Lane Dawg: that is a great question and one that is close to my heart. There is nothing that I enjoy more than helping people to learn how to ski smart and thus fall less. The key to painless falls, is choosing the right thing to do at the right moment , and that the right speed. I highly recommend you read my article at http://www.thefootersedge.com/traumacenter/info/ne44.htm . But since I know that you want a direct answer to your question that is simple, I would tell you that the most critical thing to falling forwards is to let go of the handle immediately without attempting to hold on, and to make sure to put your chin your chest as you curl your body into a ball. Also, try to keep your hands near your hips to avoid having your arms extended. #2 "Why do I need a lot of speed (45ish) to feel like I am not sinking? Weight 165" Thanks, Mark Lane Dawg: the problem that you are encountering, Mark, is that you'll are not in a gliding position. In other words, you are only skiing and a small part of your foot near your heel. If you study and practice my Ultra Mega Glide foot position, you will feel comfortable at speeds in the low to mid-thirties. Make sure you read my article at http://www.thefootersedge.com/traumacenter/info/ne14.htm and also my Foot Ski article at http://www.thefootersedge.com/traumacenter/info/ne53.htm Even though you may not want to hear this, the best place to learn the Ultra Mega Glide is by doing the Three-point Position properly. You can review this and master it on dry land first (before ever taking to the water) by reading my article at http://www.thefootersedge.com/traumacenter/info/ne61.htm . If you would rather watch this being done via video, check out my virtual ski school at http://www.thefootersedge.com/newskischool/index.htm where I show you how to practice this position before ever getting on the water. #3 "I weigh about 150, and I was able to get the boat up to about 35mph with me behind on 1 ski. I am able to ski around with 1 foot on the water, but when ever I try to step out of the ski, I fall. I then tried the wakeboard start, but the board would always bounce rapidly until I fall off. Any suggestions?" Lane Dawg: My advice to you is to stay away from the ski and concentrate on the wake board start. The reason the board is bouncing is because you're trying to go too fast before getting your feet set. Keep the speed around 10 miles an hour until your feet are in a good position on the water. As the boat accelerates, flex your ankles and bring your heels back underneath your knees. Concentrate on good upper body posture, relaxed arms, and let the boat pull you off the board as I described in my article at http://www.thefootersedge.com/traumacenter/info/ne36.htm . You can also see this video for free at http://www.beabarefooter.com where you can follow the links for the "Free Videos." Your life would also become a lot easier if you could watch my two-hour instructional video at http://www.thefootersedge.com/videos/index.htm . #4 "Tell me what I am doing wrong with my back wakes. I just have a hard time getting across." --Gregg Lane note: I can most certainly guarantee that you are having two problems. First of all, you are not in a great backwards barefoot in position. Second of all, you need to learn to be more relaxed like Tigger the Tiger. Once you can ski in perfect form on the boom, while showing me a bouncy trouncy Tigger the Tiger position as described in my article at http://www.thefootersedge.com/traumacenter/definitions%20and%20 theories.htm , you then need to begin to perfect your position in the same way on the long rope before ever trying to cross the wake. I recommend the following articles; http://www.thefootersedge.com/traumacenter/info/ne13.htm http://www.thefootersedge.com/traumacenter/info/ne60.htm http://www.thefootersedge.com/traumacenter/info/ne16.htm #4 "Have you ever experienced a pulled hamstring? Do you have any good advice on physical therapy to avoid re-injury next season?" – James Hanan Lane Dawg: unfortunately, James, I have experienced a pulled hamstring and it is not fun at all. I can tell you that the best thing you can do is to get immediate physical therapy deep in the muscle to make sure that you do not have excessive scar tissue. Once you have been given the OK by the doctor to start training, I recommend some light strength training in order to get the blood flow in that hamstring and to increase your strength there to keep this from happening again. Avoiding either one of these steps will cause you a lot of grief. I've seen this many times, and those who avoid therapy and strength training end up paying a dear price for their neglect. Make sure you allow proper time to heal. #5 "Lane, I'm planning a trip for the family to visit Orlando in early May '05. We are a family that enjoys water sports, nothing competitive, just fun. My 11 year old daughter has been open water slaloming since 4, is also getting into wakeboarding. My Wife and 8 year old also slalom. Now she's thinking about footing. Do you offer lessons in May? Do you provide barefoot suit (for 11 year old girl)? How much instruction would be needed to get her started (time and cost)? What could I expect her to be able to do after instruction, boom, short line, long line? Can we video the instruction? How long of a trip from Orlando are you?" - Dave Plummer Lane Dawg: those are great questions, Dave. It is never too early to get your kids involved in bare footing if they already enjoy the water and waterskiing. Yes, I offer lessons in May (year-round depending on my schedule). Yes, we rent wetsuits for any age and size as long as we get your information well ahead of your trip. A lot of your 11 year old girl's progression will depend on how comfortable she is on the water. If she is not afraid of water in her face, you can expect that she will become proficient in the swing and possibly on the short rope (5 foot on the boom) in one to two days. So much of it depends on your daughter, but I have taught many young children who are proficient on the long line both backwards and forwards at that age. I am more concerned with safety then I am with the speed of learning. The order of my priorities are safety, having fun, and then learning something. This always produces the best result. Yes, you are always welcome to video my instruction at The Footer's Edge Training Center. We are 45 minutes from the Orlando international Airport. Info on training with me personally at The Footer’s Edge Training Center is available at http://www.thefootersedge.com/skischool/index.htm or you can call us at the numbers below! I will answer more of your questions in my next presentation of Short Attention Span Theatre next week. If my information is helping you, please do me a favor by forwarding this e-mail with a message like this; ---------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- Hi (Insert their name here) Do you subscribe to Lane “Dawg” Bowers Free Barefoot Tips Newsletter? I do, and I think it's great because....(insert your own reasons here) Subscriptions are FREE and you get a copy of Lane's 200+-page "Be the Best Barefooter on Your Lake" E-book with 48 articles covering everything from The Easiest Way to Learn to Barefoot Water Ski to Learning to Backwards Barefoot to Jumping Inverted... Just go to http://www.thefootersedge.com/free_ebook and you can get all the details. Talk to you soon! (Your Name Here) ---------------------------------------------------------------- ------- Thanks for helping out! I appreciate it... 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