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| Barefoot Water Skiing |
Water-skiing behind a motorboat without the use of water skis is commonly known as "barefooting." Barefooting necessitates faster speeds (30-45 mph/50-70 km/h) than traditional water-skiing (20-35 mph).
Is barefoot water-skiing hard?
Barefoot waterskiing is one of the most dangerous and rewarding water sports available today. These skiers travel at high speeds using only their feet's skin! This may appeal to some; however, due to the mental challenges that barefooting presents, many beginners may become discouraged.
Why is it possible to water ski on bare feet?
The physics of water surface tension is used in barefoot skiing. When a stone has enough surface area and speed, it will bounce on the water's surface until it loses that speed and falls into the water, just like skipping a rock on a lake. Barefooters begin in the water, their feet wrapped around the rope.
Keith St. Onge is a 14-time world and 19-time national barefoot water ski champion. He is the best Barefoot Water skier in the world.
Keith St. Onge is the only professional barefoot water skier who has set world records in all three events: slalom, jump, and tricks.
Who was the first barefoot water skier?
Winter Haven, Florida was the birthplace of barefoot water skiing. According to the Water Ski Hall of Fame and witnesses, 17-year-old A.G. Hancock was the first person to barefoot water ski in 1947.
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| Barefoot Water Skiing |
Barefooting requires the following equipments:
1) Boat
2) Handles and ropes
3) Personal flotation device
4) Helmet
5) Barefoot wetsuit
6) Padded shorts
7) Booms
8) Shoe skies
Events of Barefoot water-skiing competition
There are three events:
Tricks
The skier has two 15-second passes to perform as many different tricks as possible. Each trick has a different point value based on its difficulty. The skier is also given points for the start trick they used to get up. At the age of three, Mikey Caruso became the youngest barefoot water skier to compete longline in a tournament at the 1988 Banana George Blairfoot Bananza.
Slalom
The skier has two 15-second passes to cross the wake as many times as he can. The skier can cross the wake on two or one feet, forward or backward.
Keith St. Onge set the world record for the Men's Open division on January 6, 2006. (20.6)
On October 8, 2014, Ashleigh Stebbeings set the Women's Open division world record with a score of 17.2 points.
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| Barefoot Water Skiing |
Jump
The skier passes through a small fibreglass jump ramp. They have three jumps, with the longest successfully landing counting. Professionals can jump up to 90 feet (27.4 meters).
David Small set the current world record for Men's Open division of 29.9 metres (98.1 feet) on August 11, 2010.
On February 19, 2017, Ashleigh Stebbeings set the Women's Open world record with a jump of 23.4 metres (76.8 feet).
On December 29, 2018, Tee-Jay Russo set the Boy's division world record by jumping 26.7 metres (87.6 feet).
Kim Rowswell set the Girl's division world record of 12.1 metres (39.7 feet) on August 13, 2010.
The most recent type of barefoot competition is an event that combines all three events, Tricks, Slalom, and Jump, into a single set.
See also:- Wingfoiling, Dragon boat racing
