Subject: Learning to Barefoot on One Foot!

Winter Haven, Florida April 11, 2004

"Never tell a young person that something cannot be done.
God may have been waiting for centuries for somebody
ignorant enough of the impossible to do that thing."
-Dr. J. A. Holmes, American Clergyman

After learning how to barefoot, most people wouldlike to be able to barefoot on one foot! Because this
involves skiing at a higher rate of speed, I alwaysrecommend to my students that they learn the tumble-turn first before going to the one-foots. But for those of you who are motivated and ready, I am here to help make your dreams a reality!

For additional reading on the position required and my other articles, please check out:
http://www.thefootersedge.com/traumacenter/first_time_barefooters.html

Also, check out my 2 hour instructional video and my Virtual Ski School at http://www.thefootersedge.com/videos/index.htm http://www.thefootersedge.com/newskischool/index.htm

The correct progression for learning to do the front one footis to learn the proper technique on dry land, then on thePuppy Paws (http://www.thefootersedge.com/equipment/trainingaids.htm),and then on your bare feet on the 5 foot rope off of the boom.

The skills required to learn the front one-foot properly are to have

#1 a great Glide (http://www.thefootersedge.com/traumacenter/info/ne14.htm)
#2 Great Posture (http://www.thefootersedge.com/traumacenter/info/ne6.htm)
#3 Power Band (http://www.thefootersedge.com/traumacenter/info/ne6.htm)
#4 Ankles and Angles (http://www.thefootersedge.com/traumacenter/info/ne3.htm)
To see pictures of this trick performed properly, go to
http://www.thefootersedge.com/positions.htm

But for those of you who want this all in one nut shell, I amhere for you in this session of Short Attention Span Theatre!

To help you learn the front one-foot, I have devised a systemfor you to use that will help you to remember the necessary elements in a top to bottom manner that you must committo memory so that you can successfully ride on one foot!

Lane Dawg Bowers' Top to Bottom Check List

#1 Eyes on the horizon
#2 Shoulders rolled to the back
#3 Meat Hook! or Bikini Contest!
(Although a bit gross, it will stick with you. Imagine a meat hook
lifting up your ribs pulling upward from your sternum! If this
is too much for you to imagine, think bikini contest!)
#4 Relaxed grip
#5 Hips forward of shoulders
#6 Soft or relaxed knees
#7 Ankles flexed and behind the front edge of your knees

While maintaining this position, you are now going to dotwo specific moves ("The set-up" position) before attempting to lift your foot off of the water. It is critical that you follow these steps while maintaining the position described above!

The Set-up for the front one-foot!!!!!!!

#1 Move the center of your body over the foot that you
want to stand on.
#2 Turn the handle so that the hand that is over the standing
foot is lower than the other hand! Your hips and shoulders
should mimic the "angle" of the handle.

Before attempting the set-up for the front one foot, make sure your feet are about six inches apart from ankle toankle.

Moving your weight over the supporting foot can be doneby keeping your entire spine over until it is directly abovethe foot you would like to stand on.

Warning: Do not do this by pushing off of the other fooor that foot will feel glued to the water!

You will know if you have done the first part of the set-upcorrectly because you will have moved about 80% of yourweight off of the foot you want to lift!

It is here that most mistakes are made. You can correctyour mistakes yourself by holding this position while you double check your position using the "Top to BottomCheck List" I gave you above!

Assuming that you have everything correct, it is now timeto perform the second part of the "Set-up Position" byturning the handle down towards the foot on the water!

As long as your position has not deteriorated, your footwill feel so light that you will be able to confidentlypick your foot off the water by bringing it forward and then upward while maintaining your ankle flex in thelifted foot.

The easiest ways to spot that things have gone wrong isby looking for the following;

#1 Hips have moved further away from the handle than
eight to ten inches! Do not try to correct this with your
arms! Start over with the Top to Bottom Checklist
and then add the set-up position first before trying
to lift your foot!

#2 Increased spray coming off your foot! This is caused from loosing your Ultra Mega Glide or Foot Ski Positionthat I outline with pictures at
http://www.thefootersedge.com/equipment/definitions_and_theories.html and in the greatest detail in my Virtual Ski School athttp://www.thefootersedge.com/newskischool/index.htm

#3 Tightening in the knees! Although it is difficult in thelearning stages, try to ski bouncy trouncy like Tigger the Tiger which you can read about at
http://www.thefootersedge.com/equipment/definitions_and_theories.html

#4 No breathing! This is a killer of all barefooting!

Good luck and please let me know if I can help you achieve any more of your barefoot goals!