Tales from the Foot’s west coast correspondent SacFooter sent us a video that he produced exclusively for Tales from the Foot.
SacFooter has the privilege to ski with Willie Farrell fairly regularly and has posted about his experiences before (link). While those of us in the midwest were suffering through a cold, windy and rainy October, they were blessed with blue skies and calm water in the Sacramento area. On one of those days SacFooter took his camera along and he’s put together a little video for us to…
Watch Willie Farrell rip up the Port of Sacramento as he puts on a clinic on how to barefoot trick and slalom.
Everyone loves to see the really cool tricks and new barefoot moves that are out there. When done correctly, they are pretty awesome. When not done right, they are a completely different type of awesome, as in awesome crashes.
Sacfooter, a friend of the Tales from the Foot website, put together quiet the crash video and forwarded to me. It features Roy (aka SacFooter), Andy, Dave, Willie (Farrell), Zack and Craig. They are all pretty good footers, and this video shows the attempts at some of the really cool moves and tricks that didn’t go quite right, proving that 1) they aren’t easy to do and 2) learning them requires a lot of dedication. Here’s his description of the video from YouTube:
Ouch! That’s what you’ll say after you see this video! This video was compiled by popular demand. You out there in youtube land demanded the crashes, and here they are. OK, so SacFooter has been holding out on you. That’s right, it is not always smooth and easy in barefoot land. Here are the wipeouts, the footage that did not make it into the videos.
Here’s a video I found on BallOfSpray.com that was originally done for CorrectCraftFan.com of some people out barefooting just having fun. Basically, footing to have fun and show off to their friends. It also features some nice Correct Crafts, which I always like to see since I own one myself too. Enjoy the video…
This video has been slowly circulating through the interwebs (curious about what the interwebs are, check out the CRB for furth explanations.) Anywho, one of the first things that jumps out you in this video is the voice of Ed McMahon and he’s announcing a TV segment about barefooting.
He makes a big deal about the skiers at Cypress Gardens trying to stay dry, but the despite hat odd bit of announcing, the story features some classic footage of some old school barefooting. No barefoot suits, no padded shorts, nothing but a swim trunks and a yellowish life vest. The vid features Jerry Atkinson barefooting in less than most people would consider doing it today. What made me laugh is the footage of the “tumble turn”. It was anything but clean, kinda looked like me trying one, but the difference waws he made it back around. Me, not so much.
Enjoy the footing, the steller music and the voice of Ed McMahon.
…and all of us over the age of 12 are now officially depressed. Who are we talking about and why? We are talking of one Georgia Groen, age 12, of the New Zealand Barefoot Team. At the wee age of 12, she’s already competing internationally. She just took part in Junior Worlds and her trick run was good enough to place 6th in tricks. She was also just named the BFC Footer of the Month for February 2009
Now you might be wondering why that makes us over the age of 12 depressed? Well, just take a look at the BFC video that they released showing her barefoot tricks. She’s already jumping out of boats and doing side slides. Enough with build up now and on to the video…
You can find the video on Barefoot Central’s video page here. It’s called “I’m a Believer”.
A group of footers from around the world gathered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin this past summer to some serous footers. The list of footer includes the De Villiers, Chris Morrison, and Keith St. Onge. In addition to the names you’d know, the video also features Brady Guth, Kyle Erickson and Luke Dallagrana.
Here’s another video from SacFooter on YouTube. Looking at the water conditions these guys ski on is pure torture. It’s sooo glassy it’s boarderline ridulous. But anyways…
The video has some pretty good footing it and at roughly the 1:35 mark, there is even a nice little crash sequence.
And now for a video that isn’t related to the cold… it just shows 4 friends out having a blast on their little slice of heaven. They do a bit more than barefooting, but it is very evident that they love to spend a whole lot of time on the water. Enjoy this little distraction from the winter doldrums…
I’d start off by saying the Chetek Boys (link to their first video) have gone to far with their latest video that shows them watching Chetek Girls video that was done, but I don’t think I can in good concious say that. I can’t say it because they make good videos.
First, the video quality is great. The production quality is great too. They take time editting their videos together and put a good soundtrack on them. Finally, the footing video is outstanding. Now, they aren’t doing tricks like the DV boys, but good solid footing, a couple good comments here and there and they usually have a nice little crash sequence. All elements of a good footing video, at least in my opinion.
In their latest video, 2 of the Chetek Boys take “Keith” out for some barefooting on November 1st. For those that don’t know, Chetek is is northern Wisconsin. On November 1st, it’s cold, and the water is cold even in southern Wisconsin. Toss in the fact that it didn’t look like a bright and sunny day and you have a very brisk footing set. And they have fun doing it.
Enough commentary, here’s the video that they submitted to BFC for the Show Ski Challenge. That makes 3 entries for Chetek by my count.
You can find their video on BFC Show Ski Challenge Page here. It’s titled “Fake It”.
One last thing, stick around to the very end. One of them makes a funny comment after a bad fall.
The Carolina Show Ski Team organized a little barefooting challenge this past January 1st. The challenge? 46 degrees out of the water and 44 degrees in the water. Believe me, both of those add up to it is very, very cold. It’s no Winter Waterland with snow in the air and ice in the water, but yeah, it’s cold.
After looking at their website, it looks like they actually did try to keep scores with the time they stayed up on the water and how many tricks they did to come up with winners, but I contend the real challenge is just getting in the water. Yes, it’s mind over matter, and you can convince yourself to get in, but matter is something you study in physics, and the physics of a person at 98.6 degrees getting into the 44 degree water means the heat is going to get sucked right out. Then you need to add in the wind chill factor. Your face is wet with very cold water and then you start going at speeds in excess of 40 MPH, which means a 40 MPH windchill. It all adds up to being very cold.
Anyways, they put together a nice little video to commorate the event. So without further ado, here it is…
I’m not sure if this was a team only event, or if they opened it up to all skiers, but hopefully, they’ll spread the word a bit more next year.
Anytime anyone has a barefoot event, please send me the details at wedge [at] talesfromthefoot.com. I’m more than happy to spread the word to my many readers. Just about all of them love to barefoot.
Mad-City Wedge 