Growing Bolder Community

Valerie Shinn grew up in Redmond, Washington in the 50's. Redmond was a very rural town before Microsoft moved in. She grew up on the shores of Lake Sammamish--swimming and boating during the warm weather. Val kept busy with ballet, snow skiing, running and gymnastics. "One day my dad decided we would learn to water ski," Val recalled. "Well, I hated it-- the water was cold and those old...

When I first met Claudia Landon at the Women's Barefoot Week at the World Barefoot Center last November, I was in awe as I watched her come out of the water gracefully on her feet-- backwards. "You're pure poetry on water," I told 58-year-old Claudia as she climbed into the boat. Claudia didn't start barefoot water skiing until she was 37 years old. She spent years driving the boat while her...

When I arrived at the World Barefoot Center for Women's Barefoot Week in early November-- I had a goal plastered on my vision board: I wanted to learn to barefoot water ski-- backwards. 67-year-old Judy Myers first planted that idea in my head back in June. I had just accomplished a deep-water start (behind a jet ski!)-- something that I had not done since the summer I turned 19. Judy texted...

Barefoot water skiing is considered an extreme sport, so it might come as a surprise to find 69-year-old Judy Myers skimming across the water in Winter Haven, Florida. In the boat, 63-year-old Joann O'Connor zips up her wetsuit and gets ready for her run. Then there's 62-year-old Valerie Shinn, 60-year-old Deb Fahrenthold and the youngster, 59-year-old Claudia Landon. All five gals were featured...