By Gizie Halasz

Last September John and I ran a ‘Learn to Barefoot’ clinic at St George, a 5 hour drive directly west from the Gold Coast in Australia’s sunshine State – Queensland. The clinic was a great success and we were invited back this year.

Lou Ferguson, a mother of four from Roma and keen footer herself, is our contact. She has been the main driver and organizer for the barefoot clinics, keen for her kids and others to get further coaching and learn more. After many phone calls and shuffling of everyone’s busy schedule it was decided 16-18 March would be the next barefoot clinic. John was unable to join in so I made the trip alone.

I flew from Brisbane to Roma, which was just over an hour with Qantaslink on the Sunday afternoon. The Ferguson’s picked me up at the airport with their truck and boat in tow. St George was another 2 hour drive but the road trip seemed very quick. I had Fletcher (4), Sade (5), Molly (7) and Jackson (9) keeping me entertained. We had a barefoot DVD playing, Nintendo DS games and iPod playing, not to mention colouring and drawing – Sade is quite an artist. Needless to say everyone was excited, myself included.

There were nine kids and their parents taking timeout from work and school to go barefoot – how cool. We all stayed at the same park either in tents or cabins. There were some familiar faces from last time but also new faces. Although some seemed apprehensive, yet anxious others couldn’t wait to get wet. The next three days were going to be awesome. We were blessed with good weather and here is how the days unfolded.

 

Sally & Molly

Fletcher Ferguson (4yrs old)

Each day was an early to rise with the boat in at 5.50am and on the water at 6am. The boys were first up and the girls followed in the next crew. The water was good and whilst some needed reminding of the basics others were just working up the courage to have their first go at barefoot. A coffee break followed but this was no ordinary boiling the kettle, white and one sugar type coffee. I was spoilt with a late from the café in town delivered to the boat.
 

Cooking Breakfast

Sade, Sally & Molly

Whilst some had a second set others cooked a hot breakfast on site. There is definitely one common trait with all barefooters, no matter where you are and that is you work up a good appetite. No sooner breakfast was done and another set finished on the water lunch was being served. Our tummies were very well looked after thanks to all the parents.

We kept barefooting late into the afternoon until our energy levels were spent and no fuel left in the boat. Except for the young ones who also had tube rides behind the second boat in between barefoot sets – oh how nice it would be to be young again with all that energy.

Sally and Sade looking cool with sunnies

Rick & Sade

After dinner the group got together to review footage of the days skiing. Whilst there were some technical difficulties, modern technology won in the end passing up the TV monitor for the laptop. This was of benefit not only for the kids – who thought their arms were straight and clearly not – but also for the parents. Everyone was amazed with how much they had learned and how much fun had been had.

Day two and three were much the same but with even better water conditions and the shoe skis were left behind. Everyone’s confidence had grown and there was no need for shoes. The Mums and Dads also had a go – not allowing the kids to have all the fun.

 

Rick Ferguson

Gizie, Sally & Molly

Many had learned so much and here follows a list of achievements:
• Fletcher Ferguson(aged 4) demonstrated how the swing can be used to hang your feet on the water.
• Sade Ferguson (aged 5) showed it was just as easy on your feet as on shoes. After mastering the shoe skis in September there is no going back. It’s barefoot all the way now.
• Molly Ferguson (aged 7) mastered the one foot on the boom and is almost on the 5ft line.
• Sally Close (aged 9) surprised herself as well as Mum getting up on the 5ft line.
• Belle Tilbury (aged 14) didn’t know much about barefooting before the clinic and is now on the 5ft line.
• Al Tilbury (aged 15) had only been footing a week or so on the boom. He is now long line behind the boat and doing one foots on the 5ft line.
• Cody Close (aged 11) is also long line now after mastering the 5ft line last September.
• Sam Whiley (aged 13) was a first timer at this clinic and is now confident on the boom and keen to get up on the 5ft line.
• Jackson Ferguson (aged 9) is doing tumbleturns and one foots on the 5ft line. It won’t be long before he and Cody will be footing together on the long line.

Sue Close (Sally and Cody's Mum)

Now let’s not forget the parents. They had a go, not to be upstaged by the kids. Rick worked on his tumbleturns and had a go at a back deep. Sue Close remembered all the tips from September and progressed to the 5ft line without even a fall. Lou had been training and was keen to get her one foots on her feet. She is doing forward toes on shoe skis now looking to get them down pat before winter arrives.

Day three was cut short so I could catch my afternoon flight home and just as well because everyone was plum tuckered out. The road trip back was just as interesting with the addition of watching everyone eat ice cream in the back of the truck (or should I say wear their ice cream in the back of the truck).

Congratulations to all the footers! It’s been an absolute pleasure being in the boat and coaching you all. You have all achieved so much in a short amount of time. Thank you to the parents for making me feel welcome and looking after me so well. In particular thanks to Lou and Rick Ferguson for making the barefoot clinic possible and sharing their passion for barefooting with their kids and so many others in their region.

I’m looking forward to visiting St George again in the future and am excited at how much the kids will improve in that time. They have bought drysuits for the winter so watch out everyone we may see the St George crew at barefoot tournaments in the future.
 

Gizie Halasz - Team BarefootCentral.com.au