How to Barefoot Water Ski

Barefoot water skiing is an exhilarating sport. If you enjoy watching others do it, why not try it for yourself? This water sport is not hard to learn. All you need is a lot of patience, discipline and presence of mind. It’s also important to wear the proper clothes and use the right equipment=.

What you will need:

• Barefoot wetsuit - This is a padded suit with built-in flotation so =you won’t need to wear a life jacket.
• Padded shorts - As a beginner, it’s advisable that you wear padded shorts to help you practice your starts and turns properly and safely. The more padding you have, the better.
• Boom - This is a pole that extends from the center to the side of the boat.

Steps:

1. Have someone with you who is a barefoot water skier or somebody who knows how. It would be a lot of help to have somebody show and explain to you the proper way of doing it.
2. For a beginner, start by using a boom instead of a towrope. It is easier to learn from a boom because it doesn’t swing like a rope does. It is something steady that you can hold onto when the boat starts to move.
3. Do the tumble-up start.
4. Enter the water and grab the boom with both hands.
5. When you’re ready, signal the driver to start. The ideal speed depends on your weight. Divide your weight by 10 then add 20. When doing tumble-ups, the speed of the boat is a little slower than your required speed.
6. When the boat moves forward, your legs will be dragged behind you.
7. As the speed increases and you start to feel the water solid under you, turn your body to one side.
8. Bend your knees. Swing your legs in front of you using the strength of your upper body and arms.
9. Your butt is now sliding on the water and your feet in front of you.
10. Gradually lower your feet, making sure that your heels touch the water first. Don’t lower your feet too quickly. The boat should  be traveling at the right speed and the water should be hard enough before you set your feet down.
11. Stand up carefully.

Tips:

• Practice as often as you can. Be patient and don’t expect to be able to perform the skills immediately.
• Having the right stance is the key. To prevent injuries, it’s important to know the proper position and do the proper body mechanics. Put more weight to your feet as the boat accelerates. When you’re standing up, make sure your knees are bent at the proper angle, arms forward, feet a few inches apart and your head up. Movements and changes in position should be done gradually and in proper timing.
• Wear a life jacket if you don’t have the kind of suit that has built-in flotation.
• When starting on a towrope, make sure there is no slack on the rope before letting the driver speed up.
• It is also good to have a spotter with you. A spotter will inform you of any obstacles in the water that you need to avoid.

Barefoot water skiing may be a risky sport. Remember to always consider your safety. Give yourself time to learn the basics. Do not attempt to perform stunts that you don’t have to skill level for.