The World Barefoot Council has released new qualifying scores for independent barefoot water skiers who plan to compete in the 2012 Barefoot Worlds. The Worlds will be held at the Barefoot Ski Ranch in Waco, Texas from August 26 (Opening ceremony) to September 2, 2012.
From the IWWF website: Qualifying scores must be achieved in an IWWF / WBC Homologated Tournament (Rankings List or Record Capability) during the qualification period: March 1, 2011 – July 30, 2012 Here are the new qualifying scores:
Qualifying Scores for Independent Entries – 2012 World Championships
The following minimum performances for each division and event are required for independent entries to the 2012 World Barefoot Championships.
*** NOTE: These scores were revised on March 27th, 2012 to reflect the standards set on the 2012 World Ranking List (lower)
Turns are a BIG part of barefoot water skiing. Before you can even begin to learn turns, you must learn all of the basics. I had to have all of my one foots and toe holds down. Swampy told me I had to be able to trick over 2000 points without doing turns. My trick run would be toe up, toe hold, toe hold, 360 tumble to 1, 360 tumble to 1, one foot, one foot, hop, sit down stand up to 1, sit down stand up to 1, sit down stand up to 2, then I would do a back deep, get into line step position and do one foot, one foot, hop, (get out of line step) back toe hold, back toe hold. All of the basics really help with turns, especially the front and back toe holds. Once you have mastered the basics and are solid with it all, you are ready for turns. The reason you must learn the basics first is so that you do not pick up any bad habits, because bad habits are very hard to break. It’ll be easier if you just learn the right way.
My first front-to-back came as a real shock. About four days before I did it, I had worked nothing but back toe-holds and line step position. I was already solid on my front one foots and toe holds. After finally getting my line step, one, one, hop, back toe, back toe, I was able to start learning turns. I had done turns on the WBC shoe skis before, but it was a long time ago, and they weren’t consistent. One morning, A.J. and Ben took me out for a set of turns on the WBC shoe skis, and it went very well. My basic front to back was my best turn out of all four of them. For the rest of that day I had just kept working turns on the shoe skies.
The next day, Swampy and A.J. took me out to try a couple turns on my feet; just to get the feel of them. As I jumped in the water, A.J. told me that turning on your feet and turning on the shoe skis are not much different. He also told me not to over think it, because once you start to think about it, you’re not going to make it. So I got up and just pictured myself on the shoe skis. I turned with my pivot foot and made my first front to back. I had made it on my first attempt. I was so shocked and didn’t know what to think, say or do, so I just floated in the water laughing. I was SPEECHLESS and EXCITED!! As soon as I made that turn, I was so surprised that I looked at the camera, as I was skiing backwards, and said something I probably shouldn’t have. Once I had made the first one, I tried a few more, but failed the rest. Two days later, I went out with Ben and Brody Meskers and made two more front to backs and my first back to front. One of the main things that help THE MOST is to just not think about it; just do it. I want to thank Swampy, A.J., Ben, Keith and Dave for a fun week and teaching me all that they did!
Those who attended the 2011 Barefoot Nationals at the Barefoot Ski Ranch were greeted by a beautiful quilt hung up in the pavilion–a quilt made by Vicki Klein. The quilt was raffled off and Andrea Eggert was the lucky winner. Vicki also made a second quilt for the silent auction. “Several skiers fell into several different categories, but most people got picked to be on the quilt because they are top skiers,” said Vicki. “Others are on there because they are the oldest and youngest competitors (Boyette, Meyers, Meskers,Youngblood). Two have been to every nationals (Boyette, Knapp). Some were picked for their service to our sport (Cummings, Koch, Heeney, Swampy), and (Parsons) for hosting us. For some, I just liked their pictures– and maybe I was looking for a certain pose. Some skiers were just easier to find pictures than others!”
Vicki is now working on a quilt for the 2012 Worlds and is looking for skier pictures. If you plan to attend the Worlds, send a clear, close up photo to Vicki at: bareftrz@cox.net with “World’s Quilt” in the subject line. Include your name, state/province/country and an interesting tidbit about you. And thank you, Vicki, for the hours of work you put into the quilts and giving back to the sport!
Skiers in order left to right: David Small & Charlie, Brody Meskers, Jerry Kanawyer, A.J. Porreca, Adin Daneker, Elaine Heller, Joe Knapp, Keith St. Onge, Taylor True, Derek Koch, Royal Wiseman, Judy Meyers, Ariana Koehler, William Farrell, Laura Szwed, Landen Ehlers, Alexandria Youngblood, Jim Rollins, Jackie Kumlien, Dan Cummings, Kailey Koehler, Swampy, Wilson Schkade, Karen Putz, Brian Heeney, Doug Jordan, Stuart Parsons, Jim Boyette.
At the PGA Tournament in Port St. Lucie earlier this year, Keith St. Onge received a score of 13,100 for his trick runs, but upon video review, the score was downgraded to 12,050.
