For more details about the event, be sure to check out the team’s website for more pictures and videos from the show.

Cold Feet [video]

The air on this day was in the 40s while the water was dangerously close to freezing. Be sure to watch all the way to the end where you see why you don’t go out on thin ice.

Thanks for the video Tommy!

More Cold Water Footing [video]

What I think would be interesting to see is someone that can do the sick freestyle tricks strap one of these cameras to their chest and give us a first person perspective of jumping out boats, side slides, dolphin starts (that could be really challenging with a camera on your chest, overhead 360′s, etc. I’ve got a feeling that those videos would like induce motion sickness in a lot of people… still be fun to watch though. Someone out there needs to make that happen.

Cold Water Footing 1st Person Perspective [video]

I couldn’t find a website for the Freeman Funk Footers, but did find this t-shirt that gives their top 5 excuses for why they didn’t make it…

1. Forgot to cinch my straps
2. Had to poop
3. Bolt in the Clinchers
4. Boat Driver
5. Train Wreck

Next, 30 years ago a town in California decided they needed a way to boost business on New Years. They settled on the Bun Run. It’s naked water skiing on New Year’s Day. Read the story here for more details.

Finally, there are a group of wild and crazy guys up near Montreal, Canada that like to do some water skiing in the winter. It sounds like it’s an annual tradition and they have a lot of fun in the process. Watch the video below…

Winter Water Skiing in Canada [video]

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.

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…

2009 New Years Day Barefoot Challenge [video]

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.

Winter Waterland 2001 [video]

We may not have the weather to ski year round up north, but that won’t stop us.