Resistance Theory of Barefooting- Backwards Barefooting

“When the time to perform arrives, the time to prepare has passed.”-Unknown artist Backwards barefooting

“True enjoyment comes from activity of the mind and exercise of the body; the two are united.”-Alexander von Humboldt

“The key to safe and rapid acceleration of the learning process comes from understanding that your mind doesn’t recognize the difference between the muscle memory developed on the land and that developed on the water.”-Lanemus Maximus

“Lane,Backwards barefooting

As you may already know, I am president of the Lane Bowers fan club here in Central Texas. I have both videos, your Internet book, and I even cut out copies of your articles from Waterski Magazine and bind them. Yes I am anal, but it works for me.)

You teach the way I learn–simple basics and lots of repetition. The same way I learned to fly helicopters in the Army.

I laid off of back one-foot slalom due to the “headers” and have finally committed to learning them on shoes first, then doing them on my feet. That is my goal this off-season. I have made several one-foot crosses, but they were suicide crosses rather than controlled. Kept hopping off the table with a straight leg, and wham!

With the shoes, I am taking fewer falls, and able to find the sweet spot occasionally. Last Sunday, I made two crosses on my feet. Next set, I lost them again.”

Michael HartmanBackwards barefooting
Contractor
Homeland Security Div, G-3 Ops
5th U.S. Army

Boy can I and a lot of other people relate to this problem. In fact, it is the exact same problem that causes footers to catch backwards when they do a front to back, heel caching on back one-foots, and even falling when you first learn to ride backwards.

This problem can be solved by understanding and then implementing the following leading-edge technology:

Lane Dawg Bowers’ Theory of Resistance Backwards barefooting

This information is so powerful that it is illegal in several Eastern block countries!

I want you to take the following test:

What is the difference between the two pictures?

“Resistance 1a”

vs

“Resistance 1b”

What is the difference? Is there anything noticeable or are they basically the same positions?

NOW look at the “Resistance 2” pictures

“Resistance 2a”

vs

“Resistance 2b” Backwards barefooting

The first picture shows the rope going through a hook and is connected to a one-gallon container of water that weighs roughly 7 pounds.

The other picture shows the same set-up connected to a cement curb that weighs about 70 pounds.

Surprised? I hope you are because this dramatically illustrates my Resistance Theory of Back slalom.

Critical point? RESISTANCE IS NOT BAD WHEN IT IS APPLIED FROM A GREAT BAREFOOT POSITION. This means great posture, glide, and an awesome Power Band!

This is incredibly important to comprehend. The application of this info is now what will help your back one-foot slalom shred like you are carving on a ski or a snowboard!

Great barefoot slalom needs three critical skills:

1. Position
2. Edge control
3. Resistance from the hips

What Mike and every other slalom aficionado needs is to increase the pull (resistance) without deteriorating the position. In other words, ski like the position illustrated in the second picture. This means you will have to load up against the pull of the boat.

If I illustrated my point correctly, it should have been difficult to tell the difference between the first two pictures because it doesn’t take straight legs, arm pulling, bending over more, or looking down into the water to increase resistance.

This is a very difficult concept to grasp. It is common for students to try all of the incorrect attempts above to increase resistance. In addition, you need to maintain maximum foot area on the water by keeping a relaxed ankle. If you push on your toes (I call this ‘gas pedaling’) you not only lose surface area on the water, but you will tend to “skip” your foot as you cross the wake. Backwards barefooting

Here is what I recommend. First, learn to compress in your longline back one foots on both sides of the wake using my Tigger the Tiger bouncy trouncy exercises which are listed in my Trauma Center at https://thefootersedge.com/equipment/articles_listed.html

Next, learn to load before you start your slalom pass. The key here is to change your resistance from a normal resistance to one that is ready to hold a much heavier weight, like in my example in photo number two. Make sure once you load up with resistance, that you maintain your resistance.

If you want to set up a rig like the one I did, use a bucket full of cement or something similar. If you do this correctly, your weight should remain very constant in its height as you dry land your slalom.

If your resistance gets less after you start your cross, you could catch, become unstable, or even hop off the second crest of the wake. It is also critical that you not lose position or resistance as you change direction in your transition.

KEEP THE BUCKET STEADY! Backwards barefooting

I sure hope this helps you achieve your goals. Please support the most powerful newsletter in the world by visiting our Pro Shop for your equipment, video, and lessons needs at TheFootersEdge.com