The Larivières: Barefoot Water Skiing at 65 km/hour.

February 2024 blog.

Barefoot skiing is water skiing behind a motorboat without the use of skis. Barefooting has the skier traveling at speeds of 50 to 70 km/hour, much faster than conventional water skiing. Three local athletes from the same family are competing in this sport, which is very taxing for the musculoskeletal system.We asked them a few questions to learn more.

Tristan Larivière

Tristan was barely 6 years old when he was introduced to barefoot water skiing. He started out using a “swing”, a prop that beginners can use to familiarize themselves with the sensation of their feet on the water. His first competition was at the age of 11,at the side of the boat (2nd stage of barefooting for beginners). In 2020, at the age of 12, he competed for the first time at the back of the boat. Tristan is currently ranked 1st in Canada in the junior category and 3rd in the under-23 category.

What do you like about this sport? The many different things that can be achieved. I also like this sport because it’s extreme and dramatic. Success motivates me to learn even more.

What are your goals for 2024?

I would like to set a new personal best in tricks and slalom. I would also like to try the jumps. You have to have a great deal of experience, and not many competitors want to take the risk.

What role does chiropractic care play in your sport?

There is a high risk of injury in barefoot skiing. The treatments help me to stay healthy and detect issues as soon as they arise.

Mathis Larivière

Mathis is a three-time Canadian junior champion, having prevailed in 2019, 2021 and 2022 (the pandemic forced the cancellation of the event in 2020). The talented skier was awarded Barefoot Junior Athlete of the Year by Water Ski and Wakeboard Canada (WSWC) for 2021 and 2022. He is currently ranked 2nd in the country in the under-23 age group.

Barefooting seems to be very hard on the body. What do you think are the most common injuries suffered by these athletes?

Given the speed at which skiers move, the impact of falls is considerable and blows to the head and whiplash often occur. Dislocated joints are also common and can cause long-term problems, especially for seasoned athletes.

What kinds of injuries have you suffered?

I have had a skin injury on my foot and a concussion. I’ve been lucky so far! But summer is short and any injury keeps us away from our training.

How does chiropractic care help you?

Chiropractic care helps me get back on my feet quickly in the event of injury or discomfort. My chiropractor advises me on what to do and what not to do so that I can heal as quickly as possible. Preventive care and regular follow-ups are also very important.

The next Under-23 World Championship will take place in Florida in October. Are you hoping to participate?

The qualifying period is from May 1 2023 to May 1 2024. At the moment, I’m 2nd in Canada and my brother Tristan is ranked 3rd. Since there are 6 places on the Canadian team and there are no competitions until May, our places are pretty much guaranteed. Let’s see whether our parents want to make the trip to Florida…

Daniel Larivière

Presently ranked 76th in the world in the senior category (aged 35 and over), Daniel Larivière is just a few points away from reaching the ‘open’ division and making the Canadian team.

How did the ”Barefooting Adventure”begin for you?

I was 18 when I first gave it a try. I didn’t know anyone who practised it, but I had heard that it was a feasible water sport. I thought it seemed cool. I tried it on my own for 2 years before I succeeded. I didn’t have Facebook or YouTube at the time, so I followed all sorts of advice: “Go faster… give more rope, start on your back… or on your stomach…”. One day I went to La Ronde and saw barefoot water skiers for the first time in a show. Two days later, at the age of 20, I finally succeeded! A few years later, I took part in an endurance barefooting competition and I beat some of the skiers who had impressed me at the La Ronde show…

Your performances in 2023 and in previous years were very impressive. In the years to come, are your goals to constantly improve, or rather to accompany your sons in this sport?

I’m 320 points away in tricks and only 3 points away in slalom from reaching the open division and making the Canadian team. It’s an important objective, because it might let me take part in a world championship with my sons. Tristan and Mathis have reached such a high level of competition that they help me to correct my technique.

Mathis, Daniel and Tristan Larivière.  Three Les Cèdres residents with a very impressive barefoot skiing career.

Over the course of all of these years of training and competing, you must have sustained a number of injuries. Did chiropractic care help you?

I had a bad fall backwards in 2008, which caused numbness in my fingers and tongue. The chiropractor’s diagnosis and care helped me to overcome these problems. I have been using chiropractic care since 2005. It helps me to recover from injuries and perform at my best during training and competitions.