The Easiest Ways to Get Better at Barefoot Skiing

Getting better at barefoot skiing may seem like a mountain of a challenge, but we promise it’s easy when you take the right steps. Learning the basic techniques is the key to becoming a pro. A lot of these tips are simpler than you’d think, but they make a huge difference when you get on the water.

Breathe!

This can be especially hard to remember if you’re just starting out. Starting a new sport can make you nervous and forget to breathe. But if you’re not breathing properly, you can’t perform as well. Breathing properly will give you the proper energy and ability to think calmly. So take a few seconds to breathe deeply and relax. Thank us later— it’ll do wonders and better your barefoot skiing technique.

Practice while at home

You probably didn’t realize that you can actually improve your barefooting technique even while you practice social distancing. It’s true. Lane ‘Dawg’ Bowers is even available for a one-on-one to give you personalized advice to improve your barefooting. Here’s an example of the specific tips and analysis Lane can provide for you. The best part is that virtual lessons are at a discount right now. Who said quarantine couldn’t be fun? Virtual barefooting practice is the best way to stay active right now while social distancing.

Have the right posture

This might be something you don’t think about, but it can seriously affect your success on the water. Resistance is actually an important element here, and you’ll only experience it properly if you’re in the right position. For a normal barefoot posture, your knees should be bent but not tight. You shouldn’t be putting too much power into your knees or hands. If you’re clenching the handle, you need to soften your grip. Your chest should be out and shoulders should be up. If this isn’t the case, something is wrong with your posture. You can learn more about Lane’s thoughts on how to put this technique into practice here.

Glide

What’s glide? Glide is when you use the maximum amount of your foot’s surface area on the water, while being as safe as possible. To be clear, this means using all of the bottom of your foot-— from the heel all the way to the ball. Don’t push on your toes. This position can get tricky to master, because using the wrong amount will make gliding impossible. Putting too much of your foot on the water can be risky, while not using enough will create friction. If you don’t master this balance, your barefooting performance will falter.

Use the right equipment

All the top-performing barefooters know this not-so-secret tip. What you wear makes a huge difference for your barefoot potential. The Footer’s Edge suit will reduce resistance and allow you to glide on the water like a dream. This is one of the easiest ways to get more comfortable on the water without changing anything else. You won’t know until you experience the magic of this barefoot suit, so don’t wait to unleash your barefooting potential.