shoe skis

[captain planet]

I got a pair of shoe skis for chirstmas and go to try them out yesterday for the first time. I had used a pair like them when I took a barefoot clinic with Keith St. Onge last summer, however I have a question. What is the proper/recommended speed when using them to train? I can't remember how fast he was pulling us. I would assume a little slower?

One thing I know for sure, those things make your legs work! If it wasn't for my feet getting hot, I could go all the way down the lake. With these things on, they make my quads catch on fire. :cry: I know it was my first time out this season, however I don't remember my legs burning so much last year when I was on them.

[kawagaskier]

I have an old set of Cypress Gardens shoe skis (might be a little bigger than what you are using), and I typically get pulled about 18mph (I'm about 200lb). You are right though, they are a workout. The biggest thing I will note is the lack of stability, you really have to work to keep your feet from wobbling all over the place.

[Justjoe]

Wow, I hadn't even thought about shoe skiis since 1982. Great times (but I remember slow too (sub 20)). Of course I was using them back when I was 130lb, so...

[JLeuck64]

What material are the ski surfaces made of?

I have a pair of Seipels barefoot trainers and they are stable in the high 20's. (hard plastic ski surface)

The old Jaskis were comfortable around 30MPH as I recall. I made a pair of my own this past year imitating that design and they work well at 30 to 32MPH. (Converse high tops glued to a softer closed cell foam ski surface)

I also made a pair out of wood with regular bindings attached to them. I like to ski those at 25MPH. Tougher to deep up on though...

I guess if I could stand the burning sensation long enough my legs would get tired when footin also. That's why I like starting the season on the trainers, Good workout!

Funny, my daughter pulled me on a barefoot run last weekend at my normal shoe ski speed, 32MPH! I forgot to tell her how fast to go. Just goes to show you that good form can compensate for all out speed when footin. I weigh 200#

[captain planet]

I have the barefoot central extreme footers. My buddy was pulling me about 32 but I was getting a lot of spray in my face so I had him go up to 34 which seemed better. I also made some adjustments with my feet and stance to eliminate some of the spray. I was just curious on how fast most people go when on these skis.

[cscowden]

You can take 8-10 mph off your normal speed when using the shoe skis. Typically run in the mid/high 20's to low 30's

[Footin]

About 10 to 15 off normal speed.

I have the Barefoot International shoe skis, I have used them on the boom a few times, kinda squirrelly for lone line.

[Slinkyredfoot]

This brings back old, oldmemories, still have a pair of Hydro-Flites. I always was pulled around 28-32mph. It is a ton of pull to get up on them but an easy way to pop right up is put a free board slalom between you legs and you won't believe how you pop right up. Thanks for bringing up old memories....

[atlfootr]

Most tend to foot @ speeds 10 mph less than w/out ...

[06197ttlq9-footer]

Atlfootr is right. But it depends what you are doing, Back, front, one foot, toe holds,boom vs long line,etc. You need to go what ever speed that you can maintain the perfect barefoot position(very little or NO forward spray) with little or no effort. This is where a great DRIVER comes in handy, Preferably one that foots as well. Fast enough to one foot but slow enough to sink into the water enough to be really stable. KSO has the best shoes because they flex a bit and have a textured bottom. Peace Wade

[06197ttlq9-footer]

Don't compensate speed for bad form. I personally witnessed KSO do every trick he has at 32mph bare footed. He did it to prove a point to me. I'm 140lbs he is probably 25-35lbs more. I kept asking for more speed and he kept going slower and it worked. The slower he went the better position I got into, mostly out of survival and the fact that by that point I was determined to prove him wrong. He won, and I learned. If you want to be a better footer go see him. He did turns at 32mph FLAWLESSLY!
peace Wade

[atlfootr]

That's why he's KSO and your not :uglyhamme
Went ober there today to get setup to foot w/ him on Tuesday morn'n, if I'm not working ...