1. Be Equipped
Before you even attempt to barefoot water ski you must have the right equipment. First there is the barefoot skiing suit with padding and some form of built in flotation mechanism. Trying to barefoot ski without the proper suit is asking for trouble. The suit protects the skin and makes overall injury less likely. Next you need to purchase a barefoot handle to attach to the main skiing line. This handle is wider than your typical slalom handle, which you especially need for beginners. There is optional equipment like gloves, booms and padded shorts that you wear underneath the suit. The less expereince a person has barefoot skiing, the more equipment they should use.
2. Slalom to Barefoot
To get up on a barefoot run it is usually best to start out with normal deep-water start on slalom skis and then step off or out of the skis. Remove the heelpiece of the slalom ski to make it easier to step off the ski. This will take a lot of practice, but once you are able to stay on your feet, the rest will come easy to an experienced slalom skier. It is never appropriate for a skier to start out trying to barefoot ski. Begin with traditional slalom skiing and when that is mastered try to barefoot ski.
3. Driver's Education
The boat driver for a barefoot skier must also know some basic rules to assist in a successful run. The skier requires an adequate pull speed to get out the hole quickly but as they gain their balance, the driver should pull off the throttle or the forward momentum will result in a wipe out. Then once the barefoot skier is outside the wake, an easy throttle to barefoot speed is the recommendation.
4. The Need for Speed
A person is so vulnerable because he or she is skiing on bare feet; optimum speed is always a safety concern. The general rule of thumb is to take the weight of the person skiing and divide that number by 10 and then add 20. Therefore, if a person weighs 160 pounds the ideal speed is 36 miles per hour. The size of the skier's feet can also be a factor but that calculation gets too complicated. Generally the larger the feet the easier they can barefoot ski. Whatever the chosen speed, work slowly up to a comfortable speed, especially with a beginner.
5. If I had Boat
The ideal boat to pull during barefoot skiing is debatable. Most barefoot competitions use outboard boats because they make it easier to cross wakes and travel at higher speeds. Inboard boats do have their positives as well; the ride is more stable, but they are slower than the outboard boats. It really comes down to personal preference as to which boat is better suited for barefoot skiing.
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