Date: 10/1/01
Reviewed by: David Williams

Anybody who has ever ridden with me knows that when I wakeskate, I do it barefoot. To me, wakeskating is all about freedom and relaxation. It's about going out there without the encumbrance of things on my feet. I like jumping in the water with nothing but a board and my shorts. Well…I think I changed my mind.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm no wakeskating prodigy. You probably won't see me pulling anything that Byerly's whipping out in the latest videos. Perhaps it's my relative newness to the sport that's allowed me to overlook the possible advantages that wakeskate shoes could provide. Having received a pair of Cypress Wakeskate Shoes from Epik Footwear and giving them a whirl atop my wakeskate, I think I'm beginning to see the light.

The Cypress is a pretty unique shoe. It's made of neoprene and closed cell foam so that it doesn't soak up water and it dries out quickly. You can even pull the insole out to speed the drying process. The shoes are very well constructed and seem like they would last an awful long time, considering wakeskating doesn't exactly put a lot of wear and tear on a pair of shoes.

These shoes look and feel like regular skate shoes. So much in fact that the first night I got them, I wore them out to dinner and found them to be just as comfortable as my Vans. I probably wouldn't make it a habit of skateboarding in them, but it's nice to know that they're durable and comfortable enough for that kind of activity.

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On the water, the Epik wakeskate shoes delivered. They gave me way more traction than I was getting with my bare feet. That pretty much goes without saying. This allowed me to control the board more precisely and keep from falling in several off-balance situations that would have normally put me in the drink.

However, the best part about these shoes is that they provide confidence. I didn't notice it before, but I was hesitant to try certain moves for fear of landing improperly on the board and banging up my feet or legs in the process. The Epik shoes allow me to be more aggressive with the peace of mind that my feet are protected and will stick to the board if I land a little off.

Since I've gotten the shoes, I've improved every aspect of my wakeskating and I'm pretty confident that I won't be going back to barefoot wakeskating any time soon. I'd highly recommend the Epik Cypress for anybody who wants to progress on a wakeskate.

A pair of Epik Cypress wakeskate shoes retails for about $75 and are available through your local dealer. If your dealer doesn't carry them, give my local dealer, Wakesports Unlimited, a call at (858) 277-5757. I know they carry them for a great price and they'll get a pair shipped right out to you ASAP.

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