Some HOT Braking News!

GTR 22 The Barefoot Certification test is scheduled for 2005-07-15 up in Minnesota, U.S.A..

More news about this issue comming here after the AWSA test...

The Barefoot Community is very exited about us at Gekko, trough Mark Overbye, CEO Gekko Sports Inc. getting this rocking world class ski boat tested - we can only wait and hope that everything is in our favour and gets approved so that we can get more exciting boats on the barefoot world.

Some comment; We are in the barefoot world our self and I most say, the wake and roster is asum for us barefooter behind the GTR 22 eq. with PCM ZR6 375 HP the wake is little wider but is doing the top level barefooter more agressive and also give the competiton level more justice result and give the "lucky luke" barefooter a harder time behind the boat.

Also the GTR 22 give a smooth feeling on the wake crossing all the time -

NOT this bubbly feeling that other boats gives.

That in many case disturbing the great barefoot feeling and sensation that doing this barfootcrossing to a EXTREM sport and a great TIME ON THE WATER FOR YOU AND YOUR BUDDIES...

Athour Jan S. Roman

More hot news soon...

Gekko Gtr 22 is now final approved to pull EAME in Italy;

Bulletin #1 2005-06-17

Italian Nationals Categoria
Italian Nationals Assolutti
Meridian Challenge Finals
2005 European Junior Barefoot Championships
2005 European Open Barefoot Championships

Dates:

Italian Nationals Category 15th of September

Italian Nationals Open 16th of September

Meridian Challenge Finals 17th & 18th of September

European Junior Barefoot Championships 23rd & 24th of September

European Barefoot Championships 20th - 24th of September

Training: *Training available from Monday September 5th until Wednesday September 14th, During the week of the 5th it will be with the Malibu Barefooter, During the days of the 12th it will be with the competition boat
The rate will be 200,00 Euro /hour driver included (on reservation only!)

Boats:

The comp will be run 2 identical Gekko GTR 22 2005 with an PCM ZR6 375 Hp engine and -

OJ - Prop 13x12,5 LC 1 1/8'' 3-blade XMP prop will be used…

Lake conditions:

The water we ski on is salt water that should have a temperature of 25°C at that time and we have a turn around time of 90 seconds after each run of slalom and tricks; for jumping there is no turn around time.

Drug testing: There might be a doping test at surprise!

Accommodations:

The accommodation will be in apartments at 60 € a night; group prices are available at request! Payable in Cash or Credit card (MasterCard, Visa).
Please contact me by e-mail, fax or GSM.

Ceremonies: There will an opening ceremony the evening of the first competition day (Tuesday sept 20th ) and a Closing ceremony and final party on the Saturday sept 24th .
The Opening ceremony in Team Track Suits and the Closing Ceremony in Dressed Team Suits

Road instructions:

Road:
Highway Milano-Venezia, take exit Padova Est and follow directions Chioggia-Ravenna, once passed Chioggia you will find (20 min. drive) a sign for Albarella; once you asked for your entrance permit to the Island at the gates you will follow directions Mare Vostrum.
By plane: The closest airport is Venice Marco Polo ( 1 hour drive )
Treviso (11/2 hour drive)
Bologna (13/4 hour drive)

Transportation: There will be a transportation possibility from and to the Airport or Railway stations at request and at own expense.

Entry Form deadline: The entry forms must be returned to the organizing club by e-mail or fax by September 8th!

We hope you some read this are happy to see gekko enter the barefoot world and open more fun and positive attitude to sport of barefoot...

End of News.

Athour Jan S. Roman

More hot news soon...

Storeage your equipment!

And Barefoot Instructions Tips!

Wet Suit and Drysuit Storage

For some of you, the coming of fall means great conditions and an extended waterskiing season, but for others, it may mean your time on the water is coming to an end. For the latter, this also means it is time to think about properly storing your wetsuit gear until warmer weather creeps around the corner next year. Proper storage is essential in preventing seam damage.

How To Do A Barefoot Start With A Boom

Below are tips on how to do a successful barefoot start with use of a boom connected to the side of the boat. The boom is the easiest method of learning to barefoot waterski.

Difficulty: Average

Time Required: 15 seconds

Here's How:

Attempt your first barefoot start on a calm day with glassy water.
Enter the water by holding on to the boom and walking your hands on the boom until you reach about a foot from the end of the boom.
Have the spotter hand you a wakeboard or kneeboard.
Sit on the board, center of gravity towards the back of the board, with your feet in front of you. Lean back and the tip of the board should be above the water.
With your arms straight out hold onto the boom. Your legs should be just slightly bent and above the water with your toes resting on the front of the board.
When the barefooter is ready and in position the boat should then slowly accelerate until the board planes and rides above the water, your feet still above the water. The board should plane at about 10-12 miles per hour.
Ease your way to the front of the board to prevent the board from bouncing.
As the boat speed reaches about 15 miles per hour bend your knees towards your chest and slowly place your feet onto the water. Do not attempt to stand up yet.
When the boat driver sees you have your feet on the water they should then accelerate up to your barefoot speed, which is your weight divided by ten and then add 20.
As the boat is reaching your barefoot speed slowly apply more weight to your feet and stand to a barefoot positon; arms straight in front of you, head up, feet shoulder width apart, and bend knees to a 90 degree angle.
As you stand up the board should should slide out from underneath you.
For an easier approach, attach a tow rope handle to the end of the boom, allowing the handle to act as a seat. The barefooter places thier bum on the handle for added support.

Tips:

Always lean back. This helps prevent face plants into the water.
Wear a life jacket when learning the barefoot start behind the boat.

How To Do A Barefoot Start Behind The Boat

Below are tips on how to do a successful barefoot start behind the boat using a kneeboard or wakeboard on the initial start.

Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 15 seconds

Here's How:

Attempt your first barefoot start on a calm day with glassy water.

Get in the water behind the boat and take the tow rope handle and a wakeboard or kneeboard with you.

Sit on the board with your feet towards the boat. The tip of the board should be above the water and pointing towards the boat.

With your arms straight out hold the tow rope handle between your legs. Your legs should be just slightly bent and above the water.

After the tow rope is tight and there is no slack left in the rope the boat should then slowly accelerate until the board planes and rides above the water, your feet still above the water.

Ease your way to the front of the board to prevent the board from bouncing.

As the boat speed reaches about 15 miles per hour bend your knees towards your chest and slowly place your feet onto the water. Do not attempt to stand up yet.

When the boat driver sees you have your feet on the water they should then accelerate up to your barefoot speed, which is your weight divided by ten and then add 20.

As the boat is reaching your barefoot speed slowly apply more weight to your feet and stand to a barefoot positon; arms straight in front of you, head up, feet shoulder width apart, and bend knees to a 90 degree angle.

As you stand up the board should fall down behind you.

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Below, I will give you some tips on wetsuit and drysuit storage!

Wetsuits

Wetsuits are probably the most vulnerable and sensitive waterskiing items to care for. Always thoroughly rinse your suit with water afteruse, especially those exposed to salt water. Salt water is great at corroding your suit.

Never store your wetsuit before it is completely dry. As a rule of thumb, turn it inside-out temporarily after rinsing until it is completely dry. After it is dry, turn it right-side-out to avoid stress on the seams and material.

One option is to lay the wetsuit flat and store it somewhere away from sunlight. Another option is to hang the suit on a wide hanger. These hangers may be purchased through a ski shop, or a sturdy suit hanger will do also. The thicker the hanger, the better. The thin wire hangers will cause creases and stretch the seams, which can result in cracks.

A third option is to find a thick rod or pole that runs horizontally, like ones found in your closet, and lay the suit at its waist around the pole.

Drysuits

Store your drysuit the same way as described for wetsuits. There is one exception, however. Many drysuits are made with metal or steel-like material. Drysuits with this feature should be stored with the zippers open to avoid the seal becoming set. Those suits with plastic Delrin zippers should be stored closed to avoid kinks, which could result in leaks.

Skis, wakeboards, and kneeboards require care of their own. Of course, make sure they are rinsed and dried. Store them in a cool, dark place, out of direct sunlight. Many people put them underneath a bed because it is a flat area, away from direct sunlight. If you have the facilities, such as in a garage, another option is to store them horizontally on an overhead rack. Regardless, store them out of the harm's way where they will not get knocked over and scratched. Avoid leaning them against a wall where they can tip over easily. The slightest knick or ding could result in causing the equipment to function differently. If possible, store them in the padded case the equipment came with. If that is not available, wrap them in a protective cloth, sheet, or blanket.

Proper storage and care should yield your equipment extra years of life.

Find a boat driver who has pulled barefoot skiers before.

Make sure you have a spotter that can point out obstacles (sticks, logs) in the water.

What You Need:

A boat that can hold the speed
A experience boat driver
A safe boom Kneeboard or wakeboard A spotter
Barefoot suit or shorts
The desire to be thrilled

TIP - Driving for Barefooting
How do you pull a Barefooter?
So... you're on the lake with this new friend who happens to be an avid barefooter. He grabs his barefoot handle and as he jumps in the water he shouts something about "give me a medium - fast - fast to 45, and don't hook me." So what do you do? Do you act like you know what the heck he is talking about? How do you pull a barefooter?
A barefoot pull is broken down into 3 parts or "calls:"

The first call indicates the amount of acceleration the barefooter wants out of the hole, applying until he pops up onto the surface.
The second call refers to the speed the footer wants through the stern rollers.
The third call tells you how to bring him up to his full requested speed once he's cleared the stern rollers.

So, in our example above:

The first call was medium - this means that when the barefooter says hit it you give him a medium acceleration out of the hole. (In other words don't drag him out of the water but don't give him full throttle either.)
The second call was fast - so, this guy wants you to accelerate more after the initial pull out of the water.
The third call was also fast - meaning your friend wants you to get him up to speed quickly once he's past the stern rollers. Assuming you did all this correctly, your friend has just popped up onto his feet at 45 mph.
But wait... What did that "but don't hook me" crack mean? When you pull a slalom skier it is easy to drive a straight line because you have the boat guide buoys to guide you. When you pull a barefooter you have no boat guides to keep you going straight and it is easy to drive in a curve if you're not careful. This curving or "hooking" effects the wake's shape, making it harder to cross. So, before you take off it's a good idea to pick a point on the opposite shore and drive straight to it.

So you think you have this 3-part pull down pat. You pull your buddy up with a perfect medium - fast - fast. You have picked out a spot on the far shore and you are driving a straight line towards it. Then your buddy falls, so you whip the boat around and race back to him. You are pretty proud of yourself and are shocked when your buddy is mad. He says you threw rollers down the lake and now he'll have to wait forever to take another run.

So, unless he is hurt, when a barefooter falls bring the boat to a full stop, then turn while in idle. That way you don't throw rollers down the lake.

That's it! Don't forget to have fun. If you make skiing work, it won't be long before you put that boat up for sale.

Greeze your Zipper!

Zipper and Seal Care

A zipper's life will be prolonged if you lightly lubricate the teeth of the dry zipper. A beeswax or parafin will also usually do for lubrication.

Storing Your Waterskiing and Wakeboarding Equipment Away For The Winter

Let me first talk about some general storage tips you should use on a day to day basis, during the skiing season, and after. All equipment should be stored out of direct sunlight when not in use. Sunlight can cause warping and discoloration and fading on your boards and skis, and also discoloration of your wetsuits, vests, and ropes. All equipment should also be rinsed with water and dried before tucking it away until the next use. This is especially true for equipment used in salt water. Salt can speed up the corrosion process and leave you with rust, worn down fibers on your vests and gloves, and the damaged glue on your wetsuit seams. Simple use of mild soap and water should clean the dirt off your equipment.
Now, let's discuss longer term storage during the winter. You should pay the most attention to your wetsuits and drysuits. As stated above, they too should be stored only after they have been rinsed and dried. To maintain their form, an option is to store them with stuffed newspaper inside them. This will prevent harsh creases in the folds.

Tips:

Wear a life jacket, if you not have a barefoot suit that we prefeer you to use, so you not have this "draging" when learning the barefoot start behind the boat.

Find a boat driver who has pulled barefoot skiers before.

Make sure you have a spotter that can point out obstacles (sticks, logs) in the water.

What You Need:

A boat
A driver
A spotter
Barefoot suit or shorts
Tow rope
Kneeboard or wakeboard
The desire to be thrilled

Before You Buy Slalom Water Skis.

This page article provides a wealth of important information to help you purchase the proper slalom water skis for your needs. The article is offered in .pdf format for easy printing.

Slalom Driving Tips.

Instruction on how to set your slalom skier up for a perfect tow - on and off the slalom course.
There is often a lot more to skiing slalom than guiding the ski in and out of slalom course buoys or in open water. To get that perfect run, to reach that new personal best, or to tame a course you need a driver that knows what they are doing.
Here are some slalom driving tips that will keep the skier and boat driver happy:

Be sure the driver and the skier are in sync with the same hand signals. Sign language behind the boat means nothing if those in the boat can not translate.
After the skier yells "Hit it!" give them just enough power to get them out of the water. No need to throw the throttle down and yank the skier if it's not needed. After the skier levels off quickly increase to the slalom speed.
Keep a firm grip on the wheel at the 10 o'clock position.
Keep your eyes on the horizon or on trees in open slalom driving. Just like driving a car; you don't look right in front of the car, but rather farther down the road. Pick a point on shore and drive towards it in a straight line.
At the same time be on the look out for other boats, skiers, and debris. You may want to designate someone in the boat to help you look for obstacles.
If you're driving through a course line up with the middle of the course. Try to anticipate and compensate for the skier's pull.
Gently maneuver the throttle. This is best done with the fingers, and not the whole arm. To steady the movement of your arm you may want to rest it on the arm rest, or the side of the boat.
Don't jerk the steering wheel, unless in the case of an emergency. Use only slight adjustments to the steering.
Never add throttle before the skier reaches the buoy. Wait until after the skier turns.
Pay attention to the RPM's, and not the speedometer. Reason being is that when a skiers pulls away from the boat he tends to reduce the boat speed. The RPM guage more consistent.
In open water driving, drive the boat back and forth across the same path, therefore staying in smooth water that the boat has already flattened out.
At the end of the run decrease the boat's speed slowly and make a soft turn. No need to whip the boat around. This will cause unwanted rollers.

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