Tag: barefooting

A Whack on the Head

Yesterday was just one of those freak things. I was attempting to barefoot water ski on one foot and tripped.  I took a nice little tumble on the water and rolled to a stop.  “Wow, that was a heck of a fall,” I said to myself.  I rubbed my head and shrugged it off. As... Read more »
By Karen Putz,
November 3, 2011 at 11:45 am • 

Extreme Sports at a "Mature" Age

Recently, I went barefoot water skiing on the Fox river in St. Charles with Kevin O’Connell and Tom Hart.  Kevin is a Naperville cop and Tom is a local realtor.  These two men are die-hard barefooters– they once barefooted on the Rock River for a charity event, in weather that registered only two degrees on... Read more »
By Karen Putz,
October 20, 2011 at 8:16 am • 

A Week of Barefooting Just for Women

In three weeks, the World Barefoot Center will host the second annual Women’s Barefoot Week.  I’ll be down in Winter Haven, Florida for this event on October 29 to November 6th.  If you’re a gal who loves water sports and have always been curious about learning to barefoot water ski, then this is the week... Read more »
By Karen Putz,
October 5, 2011 at 9:53 am • 
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Don't Like Your Life? Make Different Choices

At a recent party, a friend was unloading about life.  “Man, I envy you– you’re really living the life!  You’re traveling, you’re out on the boat barefooting, you’re having fun!  I wish I could do that.” My friend went on to tell me how miserable his life had become.  How he wished he could enjoy... Read more »
By Karen Putz,
October 3, 2011 at 1:23 pm • 

Patience, Persistence and Perseverance

  Patience,  persistence and perseverance.  How often do you see all three of those in action? Joann O’Connor is 62 years old, but you’d never guess it.  She’s legendary on Lake Lucerne up in Crandon, Wisconsin: she’s known for water skiing up and down the lake– on her bare feet.    Joann was the first woman to... Read more »
By Karen Putz,
August 22, 2011 at 12:59 pm • 

Keith St. Onge, Barefooting Across America

If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to water ski on your bare feet, this is the summer to do it!Two-time World Barefoot Champion, Keith St. Onge is doing a “Barefooting Across America” tour with clinics in many cities.  Keith and his fiance, Lauren Lindeman, have been on the road since May.  They are sharing... Read more »
By Karen Putz,
June 18, 2011 at 1:28 pm • 
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Jeff Ferreira: Go Big or Go Home

Go big!
Jeff Ferreira lives his life by this simple motto:  “Go big, or go home.”  At the age of sixteen, Jeff nearly lost his life as a passenger in a car accident.  The car he was riding in rolled over nine times, skidding 602 feet before coming to an abrupt stop on the other side of... Read more »
By Karen Putz,
April 27, 2011 at 10:31 am • 

Lauren Lindeman, Show Skier and Barefoot Water Skier

Eight-year-old Lauren Lindeman barefoot water skiing   Lauren Lindeman (Willowbrook, IL/ Winter Haven, FL) started out water skiing at three-and-half years old, hanging on to the boom with her older sister skiing behind her on Lake Chetek in Wisconsin.  “I don’t remember being scared or anything,” said Lauren.  “My entire family water skied, so I learned... Read more »
By Karen Putz,
March 27, 2011 at 9:02 am • 

You Can't Move Forward Until You Move Through Your Fear

I woke up this morning thinking about fears. A teacher came up to me yesterday at a booth that I was working at and asked me a question.  It’s a question that has popped up often in the last year:  “Aren’t you afraid you’re going to lose the little bit of hearing that you have... Read more »
By Karen Putz,
March 6, 2011 at 10:44 am • 
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Going Deaf Was a Blessing

I was born with hearing in the so-called “normal” range.  I started losing my hearing in elementary school and received my first hearing aid when I was nine.  I hated the thing.  No one ever saw it, because I kept it hidden under my long hair, or stuffed in my pocket.  The hearing aid didn’t... Read more »
By Karen Putz,
January 17, 2011 at 4:07 pm •