Riding on One Foot With No Hands
After you have mastered one foots, you will want to get a toe harness handle (see equipment) and practice getting your foot up high enough to put it in the harness and let go with your hands riding on one foot being pulled by your other foot in the harness.
I have yet to accomplish this as I just learned one foots during the 1997 season but many of the footers I ski with can do it and I've learned a lot by watching them.
Here again, the boom makes a great training aid. That way, you can practice this trick on the 5' line without having to contend with the wake.
- Get in a good comfortable one foot riding position with your foot high enough to put in the toe harness (you may want to lower the boom so the rope isn't so high).
- Insert your foot into the toe strap while resting the handle on your shin (don't let go of the handle yet!).
- You will gradually be letting the handle go forward as your foot becomes tight in the harness. Notice here that your back is almost perpendicular to the water with basically all of your other foot riding on the water (from the ball of your foot back - see my one foots "Hints" for more on this subject).
- Finally let go of the handle! You may want to just barely let go at first with your hands just inches (or less!) from the handle. Eventually you can really let go and ride the "Rope on Foot" trick using your arms for balance.
Easy huh? You haven't REALLY accomplished this trick until you can do it with the other foot so what are you waiting for? Start practicing!
