Barefooting tips

[rjklein]

It has been 20 some years since I last footed. This winter I bought a prostar 190 with a 454 and a nice boom, mostly for my kids. However now I am getting the itch to foot again but have some questions after a 20 years out of the water.

at 6-7 240 how fast do I need to go?
on the long rope, how long should it be?
should I buy footing shoes as a training aid or are they a waste of money?
and where is the best place to buy ropes and wet suits?

thanks, sorry for all the questions.

Rob

[silverblueBP]

at 6-7 240 how fast do I need to go? (Your weight divided by 10 + 20 is the formula)
on the long rope, how long should it be? (I use a 90' rope, non-stretch variety)
should I buy footing shoes as a training aid or are they a waste of money? (a pair of old tennis shoes work fine, I use a pair of Chuck Taylor's myself)
and where is the best place to buy ropes and wet suits? (search the net, they're everywhere!)

[jbfootin]

The divide by 10 and add 20 would put you at 44 mph, but I have friends that are over 250 and 40 is still fine for them, so you might want to start a little slower than the 44 to save yourself on falls.

As far as rope, make sure you get a no stretch rope as mentioned above. Especially at your size, a regular ski rope will be like a rubber band and end up injuring you!

Good luck and let us know how you do...pictures are always good too!:popcorn:

[G-man]

I would practice on a boom and wear a suit designed for barefooting

[duckguy]

RJ-

608-838-0838 is the phone number for Redline Watersports in Madison, WI. They can help you out with ropes/handles/suit etc. We carry a full line of Barefooting items. Tell them Matt said so and get 10% off.

Your speeds should be about 44 long line and 41 ish on the boom.

[captain planet]

So, is there a formula for backwards footin' speed?

[jdubwall]

Rob,

Best speed for you 42mph........ I ski with a 59yr old who's right around 240 give or take and he skis at 42....
Length of rope, 80-100 feet right now until you get comfortable...... then you could bring it up to 70.... They usually say with a tournament ski boat 70ft all others 100ft.....
Ski shoes???? waste of money in my eyes..... I've used them and hate them, I like to feel the water under my feet.
Rope: Spectra fusion with a wide barefoot handle w or w/out toe hold, up to you.....

Best thing for you to start out as a training aid would be to start on a kneeboard before you go for your deep up starts.

Best place to buy gear: "www.lakeelmosports.com" they have it all.....

Hope this helps...

[jdubwall]

I haven't heard of a formula for backwards footing.... You can do it as slow as 25mph on the boom and up to 35+....... its all up to you and the level your at.....

[ntidsl]

it may be cheaper just to buy a ski...there are used ones for all you guys to cheap to buy skis...lol...

[jkski]

So, is there a formula for backwards footin' speed?

Fast enough to get your forehead off the water yet sow enough to keep the back of your head from bouncing off the water when the back door suddenly opens!!!

I wish I had a magic formula but about 35-37 seems confortable for me for what it is worth.

[captain planet]

Fast enough to get your forehead off the water yet sow enough to keep the back of your head from bouncing off the water when the back door suddenly opens!!!

I wish I had a magic formula but about 35-37 seems confortable for me for what it is worth.

I don't know what is the correct speed. I can get up just about every time, but once I'm up I'm waaaaaaaaaaay uncomfortable. I always seem to dig a heel then out the back I go, which means I'm a little slow, correct? I try to bend my knees slightly to help lift my heels but I never get comfortable. I can get up on shoe skis backwars and go until my legs let out, but barefoot I'm good for a couple hundred yards.

I need more practice, but as I type this the front of my neck is sore from a couple falls yesterday. I need to take another clinic.

[flipper]

Best advice I ever got....Keep yo toes up!!!!

[tex]

I thought you had to go about 70mph to barefoot!

[Davo]

Fast enough to get your forehead off the water yet sow enough to keep the back of your head from bouncing off the water when the back door suddenly opens!!!.....

8p

I'll readily admit I ain't got the brass to do it (been many years)....plus, even when I did do it, it wasn't that thrilling for me. Spray in the face, can't see where you're going, etc. Maybe that's just cuz I sucked at it and was pretty good frontside. I did do one back to front back in the day and that was cool, but I've had enough pain from watersports over the years to last a lifetime and I'm content without getting back on that horse.

[rjklein]

thanks for all the tips, huge help