Abstract: The invention relates to improved water sport footwear designed for wearing during gliding on the surface of water with the bottom of the footwear contacting the water during the gliding process. The footwear includes a boot portion and a sole assembly which is fixedly attached to the boot portion. The size of the sole assembly is not considerably greater than the boot portion itself. The sole assembly is formed from with a rigid upper plate and a soft, impact absorbing bottom plate, the bottom surface of which contacts the water. A continuous shoe portion mounting wall extends upwardly from the top plate and defines an area within which the shoe portion is secured to the top plate and the mounting plate. The mounting wall is formed unitary with the upper plate and the bottom, and upper plates and the mounting wall form a composite unitary sole assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to water sport footwear designed for placing on a foot of a wearer during gliding on the surface of water, with the bottom of the shoe sole contacting the water during the gliding process. The shoe includes a boot portion and a sole portion fixedly attached to the boot portion, while the sole portion is not considerably greater than the boot portion itself. A water channel is formed in the bottom of the sole portion, the channel extending from the heel portion to a distance towards the front portion. The sole has a composite base structure having a rigid upper plate and a softer, flexible bottom part integrally attached to each other. Alternatively, the bottom of the sole portion can be provided with a pair of channels equidistantly spaced on the opposite sides of the central water channel for increased control and maneuverability.