Ankles and Angles for Great One Foots

By Lane Bowers

Ankles and Angles for Great One-Foots

By Lane Bowers

If you want to learn great one-foot tricks, there is a new leading edge technology that can make you great . . . the principle of "ankle and angles!" Good "ankles" means having a good glide with your knees over or slightly in front of your ankle bone. How then can you lift up the other foot without pushing on your supporting foot? I'm glad you asked! The key is in your "angles."

When I say "angles," I will be referring to the combination of identical "angles" in your hips, shoulders and handle. Think of your hips, shoulders and handle as being three separate planes or lines that are parallel to the water in a two-foot position. In other words, the distance between your right hip joint and the water surface is the same as the distance between your left hip joint and the water surface.

Regardless of whether you are attempting a front or back one-foot, there is no difference in the movement of the three angles. First of all, you must start and maintain a gliding position if you want to do this without exploding from strain. Before increasing the boat speed, practice creating angles in the three areas by first tilting the handle so that the hand over the foot you are being supported by is 8 to 12 inches lower than your other hand. As you do this, make sure that your hips and shoulders are mimicking the handle angle exactly.

As with any new trick, ALWAYS practice the maneuvers on land and then on shoe skis before attempting them on your feet!

After you feel comfortable creating angles while maintaining your ankles, try squeezing your feet together until they are within 6 to 8 inches, then add the angles as the driver SLOWLY accelerates to your one-foot speed (weight divided by 10, add 21 to 24 mph for 5-foot- rope on boom, which is set height equal to skiers shoulders, add 3 mph more for the long line). If you have patiently followed the above steps, the foot that you would like to pick up should feel very light on the water. If it does not, exaggerate the angles more.

When you are confident and solid in this position, slide the foot forward - toward the boom or the boat - and while keeping the same knee bend and ankle flex that it had on the water.

Smile, breath, enjoy the glide!

Lane Bowers is available to personally help you achieve your skiing goals. Call 1-800-665-3188. Call Richard Gray for our instructional video or visit our web site at the barefootcompany.com. You can e-mail Lane Dawg Bowers directly at xldawg@excelonline.com.