There are many people who could be Olympic Champions, All-Americans who have never tried. I’d estimated five million people could have beaten me in the pole vault the years I won it, at least five million. Men that were stronger, bigger and faster than I was could have done it, but they never picked up a pole, never made the feeble effort to pick their legs off the ground trying to get over the bar.
Greatness is all around us! It is easy to become great because great people will help you. What is fantastic about all the conventions I go to is that the greatest in the business will come and share their ideas, their methods and their techniques with everyone else. I have seen the greatest salesmen open up and show young salesmen exactly how they did it. They do not hold back. I have also found it true in the world of sports….
Great people will share… Great people will tell you their secrets. Look for them, call them on the phone or buy their books. Go where they are, get around them. It is easy to be great when you get around great people.
Bob Richards
Pole Vaulter-Two Time Olympic Gold Medalist”
Howard E. Ferguson The Edge
Man, I LOVE that quote! That is exactly what I attribute my philosophy of success to as well! It is so true! I have had the great fortune to have been around all the best barefooters as well as many great business people who have made an incredible contribution to my life!
I have had many people asking me about how to get involved in their FIRST tournament. I am going to write a brief summary of how you, yes you, could either enter your first tournament or improve your tournament skiing!
I also want you to know that I am going to clear my schedule so that I will be here in Florida to train for tournaments with several lucky individuals whom I will tutor to ski tournaments.
If you would like to train with me during the following weeks, please contact me immediately as I will be limiting enrollment.
Would you like to have Lane Dawg Bowers walk you through getting ready?
Check out Ski School Info…CLICK HERE!
It doesn’t matter if you have never barefooted before. I will be available to help you achieve your goals here in paradise during these times! Email me at lane@lanedawg.com for more info!
Now, how do you go about getting started? First of all, I want you to realize that you do NOT have to be some barefoot hard core skier with tons of tricks to enter your first tournament!
I have many students who went into their first tournament and skied off the boom! The best tournaments that I will be recommending cater to absolute beginners such as yourself. The great thing about barefoot tournaments is that they are very small and barefooters love helping other barefooters. There will be no lack of people who will be willing to make you feel at home and show you the ropes!
Think of it as going to a convention where you get to talk to lots of people who are dying to get you to join the club! No matter HOW good you are!
How many events are there? Three;
slalom-crossing the wake as many times as you can forwards and backwards. You get 15 seconds for your first pass down the lake and the same coming back. There are usually starting gates or they will start the timer when you start crossing. You do not even have to know how to do this to get involved.
Tricks- you get the same time as slalom. This is where you can put together a trick run (I will show you how coming up!) or just ride down waving to the crowd who will be cheering you on! You actually get points for waving with one hand and even with the other! Remember this is a small fraternity and everybody loves first timers!
Jumping-You get three jumps and they count the one with the greatest distance! No first timer is allowed to jump so sit back and watch the abuse! It is well worth it! It is kind of like when your brother or sister is in trouble and is getting a spanking. It is such a good feeling just to be safe and uninvolved!
Of course, I actually love jumping and help many barefooters also learn to jump (This week is JUMP WEEK down here in paradise!)
But let’s say you want to put your first trick run together. How do you do it? First of all, start by making a list of all the tricks you can do.
For a list of tricks, their descriptions, and point values, go to https://thefootersedge.com/trick_points.htm
Then put a %value next to each trick. You will want to build your trick run using your highest percentage tricks first. Then IF you have more time…it goes by quickly, you can do the less consistent tricks near the end.
For your first tournament, a great goal would be to do only those tricks that you are sure you can do without falling. Just getting down to the other end without falling will be a major rush for you! Remember, “No rope…no hope. Skiing is better than swimming any time!”
If you have never slalomed, you can give it your best shot or just ride down and do some more tricks! You won’t win the event that way, but it will be more experience for you.
But let’s assume you have some tricks and you CAN cross the wake. How do you prepare?
My recommendation is to practice tournaments! This is what I call a “come to Jesus meeting” with your skiing. The people who never understand this concept have a very difficult time improving their tournament skills.
The only way to get better at barefoot tournaments is to practice skiing in tournaments! The best way to accomplish this is to set-up your own tournament. Do this by planning out your trick runs and slalom runs, and then setting a date when you will practice your tournament skills. I recommend having someone video from the boat also.
When that day comes, put your boat in the water, and then ski your “up and back” passes. What does that mean? It means you get one 15 second pass down and one 15 second pass back. Use the trick scores from the above page on my site to add up the tricks that were completed successfully WITHIN the 15 seconds allotted. Do the same thing with slalom. This is where the video will come in handy.
The hardest part about this is discipline. Even if you miss your first trick or your start, do not repeat it. Simply mark down your score, log it in a journal, and compare it to your next tournament practice!
It is very unusual that you could do your personal best tournament score as well as compared to what you THINK you can do in practice. The honesty rule here is tough, but it will prepare you for how tournaments run! This is critical!
The persona who keeps correcting every mistake until it is perfect every time he or she skis will never get the feeling of how judges view your skiing. Remember that if the judge can not decipher what you do, then it does not count even if you KNOW you did it right. Get a rule book and learn the rules!
The great part is, when you enter your first tournament, you are automatically registered as a novice. That allows you some extra help that seasoned competitors will not receive. For example, many tournaments let novices redo their start if they miss it. This is just a way of giving you some more confidence.
Here is a helpful email from Brent Benoist who runs the tournaments that are near Tampa Florida.
“Lane,
One of the most important things a new skier can do when entering a tournament for the first time is to contact the tournament organizers and let them know that they are a first time tournament skier. The organizers can help the new skier to get into the correct division, and let him or her know about any special considerations for the tournament. Make sure to ask the tournament director or the organizers to send you an information sheet for the tournament. I always have an information sheet with stuff likewhere to stay, banquet information, boat choices, and local ski schools for folks coming from out-of-town.
Best Regards,
Brent”
Thanks Brent! Well, I am looking out my office at an entire lake of glass! I am going to open a can of whoop-ass and practice what I have been preaching! I hope this helps you all! Email me if you need more help!
I can’t wait to hear about your progress!
-Lane Dawgumus Maximus
Don’t have enough time to get down here to paradise? Bring Lane Dawg Bowers to your turf for a private clinic with you and your buddies! http://https://thefootersedge.com/skischool
Get an unfair advantage by signing-up for some lessons with Lane Dawg Bowers http://https://thefootersedge.com/skischool
Order the best instructional video on the planet https://thefootersedge.com/videos/index.html
Email the Dawg with your questions lane@lanedawg.com
"When you have confidence, you can have a lot of fun and when you have fun, you can do amazing things." - Joe Namath, NFL Quarterback and Sports Broadcaster —–Original Message—– Randy McEachen wrote: “Good Morning. I have been footing off the boom for about two months and am very comfortable one footing right [...]
“The successful man has enthusiasm. Good work is never done in cold blood; heat is needed to forge anything. Every great achievement is the story of a flaming heart.” Harry Truman Thirty-Third President Would you be interested in advice on coaching yours or other kids to barefoot? If you are, then you will love …
Subject: one-foot turns with the Big Dawg!!!!! “Never do anything to compromise your integrity. Anythingworth achieving is worth an honorable and honest effort. There are no short cuts to becoming a champion. You will never take any trophies or medals with you when you leave this life, but your character will be with you always. …
Your First Tournament
“There is Greatness All Around You-Use it!
There are many people who could be Olympic Champions, All-Americans who have never tried. I’d estimated five million people could have beaten me in the pole vault the years I won it, at least five million. Men that were stronger, bigger and faster than I was could have done it, but they never picked up a pole, never made the feeble effort to pick their legs off the ground trying to get over the bar.
Greatness is all around us! It is easy to become great because great people will help you. What is fantastic about all the conventions I go to is that the greatest in the business will come and share their ideas, their methods and their techniques with everyone else. I have seen the greatest salesmen open up and show young salesmen exactly how they did it. They do not hold back. I have also found it true in the world of sports….
Great people will share… Great people will tell you their secrets. Look for them, call them on the phone or buy their books. Go where they are, get around them. It is easy to be great when you get around great people.
Bob Richards
Pole Vaulter-Two Time Olympic Gold Medalist”
Howard E. Ferguson The Edge
Man, I LOVE that quote! That is exactly what I attribute my philosophy of success to as well! It is so true! I have had the great fortune to have been around all the best barefooters as well as many great business people who have made an incredible contribution to my life!
I have had many people asking me about how to get involved in their FIRST tournament. I am going to write a brief summary of how you, yes you, could either enter your first tournament or improve your tournament skiing!
I also want you to know that I am going to clear my schedule so that I will be here in Florida to train for tournaments with several lucky individuals whom I will tutor to ski tournaments.
If you would like to train with me during the following weeks, please contact me immediately as I will be limiting enrollment.
Would you like to have Lane Dawg Bowers walk you through getting ready?
Check out Ski School Info…CLICK HERE!
It doesn’t matter if you have never barefooted before. I will be available to help you achieve your goals here in paradise during these times! Email me at lane@lanedawg.com for more info!
Now, how do you go about getting started? First of all, I want you to realize that you do NOT have to be some barefoot hard core skier with tons of tricks to enter your first tournament!
I have many students who went into their first tournament and skied off the boom! The best tournaments that I will be recommending cater to absolute beginners such as yourself. The great thing about barefoot tournaments is that they are very small and barefooters love helping other barefooters. There will be no lack of people who will be willing to make you feel at home and show you the ropes!
Think of it as going to a convention where you get to talk to lots of people who are dying to get you to join the club! No matter HOW good you are!
How many events are there? Three;
slalom-crossing the wake as many times as you can forwards and backwards. You get 15 seconds for your first pass down the lake and the same coming back. There are usually starting gates or they will start the timer when you start crossing. You do not even have to know how to do this to get involved.
Tricks- you get the same time as slalom. This is where you can put together a trick run (I will show you how coming up!) or just ride down waving to the crowd who will be cheering you on! You actually get points for waving with one hand and even with the other! Remember this is a small fraternity and everybody loves first timers!
Jumping-You get three jumps and they count the one with the greatest distance! No first timer is allowed to jump so sit back and watch the abuse! It is well worth it! It is kind of like when your brother or sister is in trouble and is getting a spanking. It is such a good feeling just to be safe and uninvolved!
Of course, I actually love jumping and help many barefooters also learn to jump (This week is JUMP WEEK down here in paradise!)
But let’s say you want to put your first trick run together. How do you do it? First of all, start by making a list of all the tricks you can do.
For a list of tricks, their descriptions, and point values, go to https://thefootersedge.com/trick_points.htm
Then put a %value next to each trick. You will want to build your trick run using your highest percentage tricks first. Then IF you have more time…it goes by quickly, you can do the less consistent tricks near the end.
For your first tournament, a great goal would be to do only those tricks that you are sure you can do without falling. Just getting down to the other end without falling will be a major rush for you! Remember, “No rope…no hope. Skiing is better than swimming any time!”
If you have never slalomed, you can give it your best shot or just ride down and do some more tricks! You won’t win the event that way, but it will be more experience for you.
But let’s assume you have some tricks and you CAN cross the wake. How do you prepare?
My recommendation is to practice tournaments! This is what I call a “come to Jesus meeting” with your skiing. The people who never understand this concept have a very difficult time improving their tournament skills.
The only way to get better at barefoot tournaments is to practice skiing in tournaments! The best way to accomplish this is to set-up your own tournament. Do this by planning out your trick runs and slalom runs, and then setting a date when you will practice your tournament skills. I recommend having someone video from the boat also.
When that day comes, put your boat in the water, and then ski your “up and back” passes. What does that mean? It means you get one 15 second pass down and one 15 second pass back. Use the trick scores from the above page on my site to add up the tricks that were completed successfully WITHIN the 15 seconds allotted. Do the same thing with slalom. This is where the video will come in handy.
The hardest part about this is discipline. Even if you miss your first trick or your start, do not repeat it. Simply mark down your score, log it in a journal, and compare it to your next tournament practice!
It is very unusual that you could do your personal best tournament score as well as compared to what you THINK you can do in practice. The honesty rule here is tough, but it will prepare you for how tournaments run! This is critical!
The persona who keeps correcting every mistake until it is perfect every time he or she skis will never get the feeling of how judges view your skiing. Remember that if the judge can not decipher what you do, then it does not count even if you KNOW you did it right. Get a rule book and learn the rules!
The great part is, when you enter your first tournament, you are automatically registered as a novice. That allows you some extra help that seasoned competitors will not receive. For example, many tournaments let novices redo their start if they miss it. This is just a way of giving you some more confidence.
Here is a helpful email from Brent Benoist who runs the tournaments that are near Tampa Florida.
“Lane,
One of the most important things a new skier can do when entering a tournament for the first time is to contact the tournament organizers and let them know that they are a first time tournament skier. The organizers can help the new skier to get into the correct division, and let him or her know about any special considerations for the tournament. Make sure to ask the tournament director or the organizers to send you an information sheet for the tournament. I always have an information sheet with stuff likewhere to stay, banquet information, boat choices, and local ski schools for folks coming from out-of-town.
Best Regards,
Brent”
Thanks Brent! Well, I am looking out my office at an entire lake of glass! I am going to open a can of whoop-ass and practice what I have been preaching! I hope this helps you all! Email me if you need more help!
I can’t wait to hear about your progress!
-Lane Dawgumus Maximus
Don’t have enough time to get down here to paradise? Bring Lane Dawg Bowers to your turf for a private clinic with you and your buddies! http://https://thefootersedge.com/skischool
Get an unfair advantage by signing-up for some lessons with Lane Dawg Bowers http://https://thefootersedge.com/skischool
Order the best instructional video on the planet https://thefootersedge.com/videos/index.html
Email the Dawg with your questions lane@lanedawg.com
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“The successful man has enthusiasm. Good work is never done in cold blood; heat is needed to forge anything. Every great achievement is the story of a flaming heart.” Harry Truman Thirty-Third President Would you be interested in advice on coaching yours or other kids to barefoot? If you are, then you will love …
One-Foot Turns
Subject: one-foot turns with the Big Dawg!!!!! “Never do anything to compromise your integrity. Anythingworth achieving is worth an honorable and honest effort. There are no short cuts to becoming a champion. You will never take any trophies or medals with you when you leave this life, but your character will be with you always. …