Barefoot deepwater start

Subject: Barefoot Deep Water Start

From: Doug Fierro 
Subject: Re: Deep-Water Barefoot Starts
Date: 22 Nov 1994 20:03:45 GMT

> >In article <3a1rs1$nh7@sifon.cc.mcgill.ca> popa0144@PO-Box.McGill.CA writes:
> >From: popa0144@PO-Box.McGill.CA
> >involved in such an endeavor.  Can anyone give me some pointers
> >Regarding some key aspects of the start which might make my
> >efforts a little bit less dangerous?
>
> Just to add my $0.02 worth.
>
> Just to add my $0.02 worth.
>
> When learning the deep-water start, don't cross your ankles over the ski line.
> If you lose the handle, it will definitely cause some damage somewhere down your
> body.  It only took me one time, ( and a broken toe ) to realize this was not a
> good idea.  That was the first year I learned (8 years ago) analot


  This is correct about the ankles- toes only!


  I you are interested learning deep-water barefoot starts, you
should start out with the necessary equipment:

        Barefoot suit
        wide handle
        100 foot rope
        positive attitude :-)

  I have a 75 foot rope but it is easier if the rope is longer.


  I have a 75 foot rope but it is easier if the rope is longer.
I also wear a pair of Siepel barefoot shorts underneath the
O'Neil barefoot suit because frankly when learning to deep-water
start there is not enough padding in the butt area!!!

  There are stages to learning the deep-water start.

  The first stage is to plane on your back.  If you make it
this far, the rest is easier I think.

  To plane on your back most people can plane at 35mph if
they are under 200 pounds or so.  There is no need to pull
someone at 45mph for barefooting, especially when learning.

  When you start off, the key thing is to grap the rope with
your toes (balls of feet are ok too) and really PUSH down
with your feet once the boat starts.  When the boat goes,
hold your breath and arch your back to help put more pressure
on your toes to keep the rope down.  You know you aren't doing
this correctly if the handle slips out of your hands and
god forbid decides to take a toe or two with it!  Beware,
barefooting is not for the faint-at-heart, that is deep-water

god forbid decides to take a toe or two with it!  Beware,
barefooting is not for the faint-at-heart, that is deep-water
starting.

  Another common thing is to see someone bouncing around
furiously when starting.  At this stage, you are able to
keep your toes on the rope, but you either aren't arching
correctly or the boat speed is a bit too fast on the take-off.
Have the driver ease up to 30-35mph, and once you are planeing
on your back then go up to the speed you want.

  Once you get to planing on your back consistently, you are
ready to shift your weight to your butt/thigh area, and you
can actually sit up and see the boat passengers while still
being pulled.  This is where the extra butt padding comes
in handy :-)

  At this stage, you can begin to lift your feet off of the
rope and plant them symmetrically in the water.  Start out
squatting and eventually stand up.  You don't need to be
outside the wake to stand up, but it is easier to get outside
if you can.  I'm still working on that part :-)


if you can.  I'm still working on that part :-)

   Barefoot falls are not as bad as people make them out
to be- it's just a different kind of wreck if you are used
to the slalom  wreck or wakeboard wreck.  If you ski in
water that is not that clean, I would get a nosepiece to
wear, since a lot of water goes in your face/nose when you
are coming out of the water.  They are only 2 bucks so if
it comes off it's no big deal.

  Those beginning stages should be enough to get you going.
Don't try to learn around a busy travelled area- it's hard
enough when the water is calm!

Doug