In the fall of 1995 a friend asked me to go skiing. He suggested that I try barefooting on his boom, and I did. I loved it. It is not as difficult as many perceive it to be, but it does take persistance, and some good instruction is a very good idea. Here are some thoughts on the subject from yours truly.

     What I enjoy the most is the anticipation. Here I am pictured in August of 1997 with my dad. He and my mom usually stop by once or twice a summer, and watch to see what I have learned.

• I first went barefooting in August of 1995
• I tried to barefoot again in August of 1996
• Efforts in the fall of 1996 resulted in several injuries
• My wife insisted that I go get professional instruction before continuing -- I hate it when she is right
• In May of 1997 I went to Ron Scarpa's Ski School in Florida
  • Ron taught me a solid three point -- the most important move in barefooting!
  • He got me doing a good tumble turn
  • Ron improved my straight pull form
  • He gave me three back deep attempts and I learned the basics to go backwards
• Summer of 1997 I worked on three points, front pulls and tumble turning
• August 1997 I get to spend a day with Mike Seipel
  • Mike further improves my tumble
  • I learn to one foot
  • I hit my first back deeps on the boom
  • I do my first real wake crosses
• Fall 1997 and Spring I work on all of the above, and get very consistent on the boom back deep
• July 15, 1998 on my second attempt long line on an extended pylon I hit my back deep
• August 1998 I spend a half day with Peter Fleck
  • Mainly he goes back over what I have learned with small form pointers
  • He has me try and I nearly get a one foot toe hold in shoe ski's
  • Unlike the first two clinic days I feel that I don't leap forward on anything -- but it may have been time for some refresher work
• September 1998 I finally hit more back deeps on several occaisions with the extended pylon
• Last week in October 1998 I hit it -- MY FIRST BACK DEEP ON LONG LINE WITH STANDARD PYLON, and I am able to do several more in the week following.
• November 5, 1998 skiing ends as my ski pal and I both winterize.

• Early in 1999, I got pretty consistent on long-line back deeps, but continued to struggle with one foots
• July 1999, I spend about three half days with Ron Scarpa
• I get my first one-foot backwards on small shoe ski's
• I get my first back-to-front on shoe skis
• I attempt my first wake crossing backwards on shoe skis
• I again find my one foots
• I realize that Ron Scarpa is the best of the teachers I have been with

• 2000 is a slow to start ski year, it is cold and wet, my ski buddy is unavailable (hmmm, or is he mad at me for something I don't see?) and I just never get the time I would like
• July 26-27, I spend one and one-half days with Ron Scarpa
• I get my first front toe hold on small shoe skis
• I get backwards on shoe skis with foot over rope and one handed
• I get in and out of wakes backwards on bare feet
• I get backwards one foot ... if only for a few seconds
• I get consistent and improving surface turns on shoe skis

My Favorite Barefooting Sites On the Web (back to top)

• Julie Bostian's Mining Company Site -- a good collection on links and information
• Ron Scarpa -- the man! World's Best Barefooter
• Toby George's Barefoot Media Page -- the most comprehensive barefooting site in the world
• Terrance L. Dreyer's Page, including step-by-step suggestions on how to barefoot, very good information

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