Front Toe Holds???

[87MCProstar]

For guys that do this, how fast are you going? Normal speed or faster? My position must be off becasue I feel like I'm gonna sink everytime I go for the trick. I'm 205-210 lbs with a size 9 shoe and foot at about 44 mph. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

[barefoot]

The water should be firm enough at that speed so my guess is that you might be plowing water with your heel.

I think about having my stance a little higher, flattening out my foot to get it under the center of my body, and tightening my abs. Then I lift my foot from the hip and work it into the toe hold. When I let the handle go, I'm looking at the horizon, not down.

Lane Bowers has a youtube video for one foot toe holds that might help. Otherwise, look for other videos and see if you can trouble shoot what you are doing.

[87MCProstar]

thanks barefoot, i'm gonna keep working on it. Practiced my one foots this morning and I'm getting my foot way out front. I'll keep that in mind

[barefoot]

Don't forget to take pics :D

[SKIBUMM]

I agree with Barefoot in that the speed is adequate. I am 190 with size 8 and I one foot at 43 mph. Remember that as you lift your foot that you can't shift your weight back . Practice picking your foot up like barefoot said you pick it up not lift it. I know that sounds like the same but you can lift with you leg but you have to pick it up with your hip. When you get it though take some picks as you will look back and go hey that is me. I have a photo on my desk of myself with Peter Fleck in toe holds and I still can't believe that it is me that can do that.

[areamike]

I weigh 165 and have size 10.5 feet with high arches. My regular barefoot speed is 38-39mph. My one foot/toe hold speed is usually 42-43mph.

I would say adding 4-5MPH to your normal barefoot speed would be the best for one foots and toe holds.

Get very comfortable with one foots before ever attempting toe holds. One thing that may help is practice toe holds on a slalom ski. It will give you a good feeling of what to expect prior to attempting it barefoot.

[kyfooter]

Go Irish! Best way to learn toe-holds, surface turns, etc. is on shoe skis first. Scarpa has some as does barefootcentral. If you're plowing on your feet, you'll slip and fall on shoe skis. They are a great way to fix form, at slightly slower speeds. Many people just learning a toe hold get tense and pull in on the handle - wrong. Toe holds are really mostly mental challenges. Do a good one-foot, arms relaxed, foot flat and practically directly beneath you, then keep lifting into the strap. "Barefoot" had it right...crunch the abs, stay forward, and head up.

Another helper...Get on one foot and make sure you're comfortable letting go with one hand while maintaining your one-foot position. Typically, left hand holding will be when you're on your right foot. Anything you can do out of your norm will help with your balance.

Good luck! Think positive!

Adding a few MPH is about right for 1-foots.

[SKIBUMM]

Go Irish! Best way to learn toe-holds, surface turns, etc. is on shoe skis first. Scarpa has some as does barefootcentral. If you're plowing on your feet, you'll slip and fall on shoe skis. They are a great way to fix form, at slightly slower speeds. Many people just learning a toe hold get tense and pull in on the handle - wrong. Toe holds are really mostly mental challenges. Do a good one-foot, arms relaxed, foot flat and practically directly beneath you, then keep lifting into the strap. "Barefoot" had it right...crunch the abs, stay forward, and head up.

Another helper...Get on one foot and make sure you're comfortable letting go with one hand while maintaining your one-foot position. Typically, left hand holding will be when you're on your right foot. Anything you can do out of your norm will help with your balance.

Good luck! Think positive!

Adding a few MPH is about right for 1-foots.

X2
I completely forgot about them as it has been such along time since I ahve used them. They will force your position to be perfect and at slower speeds. If you are not over your feet they will slip right out from underneath you.

[87MCProstar]

I've gotten to the lake the last few days and have forgotten my camera each time. I'm trying to use the shoe skis from barefoot international, thinking it will help my by slowing down a bit. But when I lift my leg for the one foot the ski goes CRAZY all over the place. What does thing mean that I'm doing wrong? I'm getting the feeling of being over my foot instead of it being out front, but its gonna take time i guess.

[Hollywood]

That means you have poor balance over your foot.

[87MCProstar]

Do I fix that by transfering more weight over that foot?

[Hollywood]

Well there is side to side balance and front to back. Both probably need to be addressed. If your foot is out in front of you and you are on your heel plowing you cannot achieve side to side balance very well anyway.

You could also be going too fast for the trainers, they will get slippery.

[87MCProstar]

okay thanks hollywood, i'm going in the am so i'll keep at it

[2RLAKE]

one simple trick i learned from Dave "Dawg" Reinhart was simply rotating your shoulders over your planted foot ... if you are skiing on your left foot, drop your left shoulder and rotate your right shoulder slightly .... puts your upper body over your foot. As some have already said, you need to be upright. Feel your foot into the toe hold .... keep your head up though. One thing i do when i let go of the handle is to use the spray for balance ... keep your hands in the spray and it will provide balance. Keep your head up. good luck

[ncgreg]

You said - But when I lift my leg for the one foot the ski goes CRAZY all over the place. What does thing mean that I'm doing wrong? I'm getting the feeling of being over my foot instead of it being out front, but its gonna take time i guess.

Only sage advice here, but you are to far back on your heel and not gliding on the shoe. Flex up ur ankle, and get up on top of the shoe! Well like I said, sage. But this helped me on my squirrely shoe. Good Luck!

[airbornjim]

All this Toe Hold talk gets my adrenaline pumping! I always think of lifting with my knee not my foot, then pulling the foot into the handle to release my hands, not just letting go. I practice alot on dry land for balance. I'm size 9 & 195lbs, barefooting at 42mph & add 2-3 for toe holds

[kyfooter]

Get new shoe skis. BI shoe skis are the farthest thing from a real pull/feel you can use. Try Scarpa's or barefootcentral.com

Don't forget to go back to basics when learning new tricks. If you're not steady on one shoe ski, get comfortable holding directly onto the boom doing one-foots first. Without pictures, it's tough to tell what you're doing wrong but I often see skiers on shoe skis pulling in on the handle, thinking this helps them gain control...it won't. Taking the handle out of play may help you get used to this new feeling.

If possible, try to catch a barefoot clinic nearby. I'm sure Scarpa/McDonald and St. Onge are traveling to clinics over the next month or so. They're a blast, and you might even learn something.

[87MCProstar]

yeah, but unfortunately things start to get crazy this time of year with going back to teaching and coaching. So this looks like its gonna have to be saved for next season...where does the time go??