Barefooting is an exciting, fast paced extreme water sport that is gaining in popularity over the last few years. Skiing barefoot was the first known "extreme" sport to be developed. Since you have to ski at a much faster speed than traditional waterskiing, and need really good abs, it is not for the weak or the faint hearted. Here are answers to FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) about barefooting.
Question: Where did the idea of waterskiing barefoot first start?
Answer: The first recorded water-skier to ski barefoot was Richard Downing Pope Jr., who is credited by some as starting the barefooting sport in Cypress Gardens, Florida in 1947. Dick Pope Jr. performed his barefoot waterskiing trick to a crowd of onlookers and made history that day, although an Australian by the name of Chuck Sligh may have developed the idea first.
Question: Where was the first barefooting competition held?
Answer: The first official barefooting competition occurred at Cypress Garden Theme Park in Florida, the site of the first official public barefooting feat and the first barefooting competition. Cypress Garden Theme Park is a botanical garden and water park located in the middle of Florida, about two hours from the coast. Cypress Gardens theme park was founded by Richard Downing Pope Jr.'s parents in the 1930s and operated from 1936 to 2009, when it closed. Although Richard Downing Pope Jr. is credited with first succeeding with barefooting, the idea developed in Australia at about the same time and it may have been first invented there.
Question: Do most barefoot skiers really learn to ski barefoot, or are there gradual ways to wean skiers off the big wooden skis?
Answer: It is much easier (and safer) to learn to ski barefoot using certain equipment, such as a using a boom, a kneeboard, or BFC Extreme Barefoot Trainers.
What is a boom?
A barefooting boom is a long metal stick that sticks out to one side of the boat. You attach the handle to the boom, and ski alongside the boat. Since you aren't on a rope, it's easier to ski barefoot this way. With a boom, you also can learn barefooting at much lower speeds (more like 18 mph rather than 50 mph).
Question: Is barefooting really dangerous?
Answer: It can be more dangerous than traditional waterskiing because you are skiing at high speeds (usually behind a boat going 50 mph or more), and you do not have anything on your feet to protect you from debris on the water that can cut or injure your feet.
Question: Do I need better muscle tone to ski barefoot?
Answer: Yes, you need good overall muscle tone, but in particular you need really strong abdominal muscles. If your abs are weak, you won't be able to get up or you won't be able to stay up for long.
Author Resource:-
Barefoot Central (http://www.barefootcentral.com/) is the place to come for all the best information about the sport of barefooting or waterskiing with bare feet
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