Barefoot Water Skiing
Barefoot water skiing is skiing beneath a towboat wherein the skier do not uses any skis on his feet, thus this waterskiing discipline is also known as barefooting. Barefoot water skiing necessitates the skier to ski at faster speeds than conventional water skiing.
Barefoot water skiing can be easily learned through the use of a barefoot boom. The barefoot boom is made from a long aluminum pole that extends from the center of the boat. The barefoot boom is commonly attached to the ski pylon in inboard ski boats, over the opposite side of the boat from the boat operator. A cable extends from the tip of the pole or boom to the bow of the craft to avoid the boom to bending rearward under loads.
When using a barefoot boom, the skier is skiing next to the tow boat rather than behind it. Barefoot boom also makes it particularly easy for those in the boat to converse with and to instruct the skier or for the barefoot water skier to request speed changes.
The barefoot water skiing using a boom usually starts by gradual progression of the boat on the water at the appropriate speed while the skier is still inside the boat. After this, the skier will them move toward the boom and places his both hands as far as possible on the top of the boom. The skier will then put his feet around at his back onto the gunwale of the boat while the skier is leaning forward and holding onto the boom.
The skier will them step off the gunwale of the boat to swing his feet, legs and lower torso out and falling beneath the boom. Almost all weight of the skier will be concentrated on his arms but as he set and stabilizes his feet, the skier will soon be able to get into the correct barefooting chair position and then transfer his weight on his feet.
Aside from this basic barefooting method, there are another two methods of barefooting using a boom namely vault method and tumble up method. In vaulting method, the student can learn the vault easier if his coach actually show the skier it once or twice with the boat at a stop. The skier can practice several of these with the boat stopped until he can do the vault method correctly. When both the skier and his coach are sure of this, only then should the skier attempt the vaults at barefooting speed.
The skier is relatively near on the boom in vaulting method. This has the benefit of a higher boom and provides more room for the skier to rotate under the boom. Successful barefoot water skier can fix their toes down causing their feet to seize and be thrown rearwards. By continuing to hold onto the boom as their feet are thrown back and into the air, the skier can leap right back onto the gunwale of the tow boat and climb back into the boat.
The tumble up method on the other hand requires the skier to begin with his body half-dipped in the water while gripping the boom that is directly above him. Then, the skier's legs will be compelled behind him as the boat increases in speed. When the boat reaches 20 mph, the skier should spin his legs and torso around to the front so he can face forward in a sitting position on the water. The tumble-up method needs a substantial vigor, dexterity and a high strength ratio as the skier’s weight at this point will be pulled down on the end of the boom. Changeable booms should be place for a relatively high position so that the skier may have to be moved inward slightly from the end of the boom.
When the skier is already in the forward sitting position on the water, the skier will then bends his knees, puts his feet cautiously onto the water at a very flat angle, steadily place his heels and begins to come up to a chair position by pushing against his heels. The skier should be told ahead that when his feet are thrown behind him, he must continue to hold onto the boom for a few seconds to avoid any injuries from accelerated falls caused by the violent action of his feet catching and being thrown behind him.
Barefooting is known to be much exciting form of water skiing but not all can do barefooting because this discipline requires more dexterity, extensive practice and strong will power. Barefoot water skiing is also the discipline that is well known for frequent falls because of the faster and most accelerated speed that the skier must go. A beginner barefoot skier may experience a lot of fall off experience and may encounter several injuries. However, the injuries or accidents that involve barefoot water skiing are usually minor and not deadly. But nonetheless, a skier that wishes to try barefoot water ski must seek proper training from an experienced barefoot water skier to ensure success and safety.
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