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Figure 8 Series Conclusion
Well folks, its all over. The WBC last man standing ended with a little shack up. What was expected to happen did not turn out as thought. As mentioned in the previous article, Ron Blouw had a commanding lead with 125 pts, Mark Donahue in second with 105 pts and Keith St. Onge (KSO) in third with 80 pts. The morning began with a slightly overcastted sky and light winds out of the northeast. Chilly for the Floridians at 60 degrees but the waters were calm (which was not what the Yankees wanted). The morning had 32 registered footers from all over the world; men and women, young and old. At 9:00 the first two footers were in the water behind the outboard Sangers. Pair after pair they footed, sending people into the loser’s bracket and ultimately home, thus hearing the dreaded words “thank you for your 60 bucks”.
As the day started winding down Ron Blouw found himself in the loser’s bracket sooner than expected, while mark Donahue and KSO were still in the winner’s bracket. It was not long after Blouw found himself in the loser’s bracket Donahue did as well. Meanwhile, KSO kept plugging along, as did David Small. Both Ron Blouw and Mark Donahue found themselves watching from the breaker wall wondering where they were going to fall to in the points standing, each having a silent cheer for last years champ David Small in order to maintain their current standing. KSO was able to take down David Small for his first loss. At this point, KSO and Ron Blouw were tied for first place in the overall standings at 125 points, and Donahue remaining at 105 points. After a brief break the event continued to find out who was going to be crowned the last man standing for the overall series as well as who was going to win the day’s event. After a short figure 8, David Small was able to nudge out KSO and win the days event. This left the series with a tie for first place of both Ron Blouw and KSO at 125 points. 3rd place went to Mark Donahue. The WBC last man standing title went to now 2-time winner, David Small, followed by KSO. 3rd place went to Ben Dieser for the second year in a row.
The event this year had a unique turnout. We had two married couples competing but never facing each other. Carol and Rob Scott from Winter Haven Florida and Kristen and Doug Smith from ST. Louis Missouri. The overall series was a success; we had on average an increase of 8 footers to each site and we were able to meet new people from Chippewa Ohio and Cedar Rapids Iowa.
We would like to thank all of those that came and participated in the events and supported the series. Also, we would like to send a special thanks to our sponsors like Reef Safe sun care, US gear, and World Barefoot Center. We look forward to seeing everyone next year and, hopefully, new faces next year. We also expect to see some minor changes, for example, quicker results and articles with more pictures. We will be releasing the schedule for next year after the beginning of the New Year. One day has been secured already and the site is reserved for the weekend after Fathers Day in La Porte Indiana at Silver Lake. Chris McWatters will be sending out more specifics. Thank you again and, remember, bring out your friends and family and no footer will be left on the beach.
Figure 8 Series Finale
Alright, endurance fans! There is only one more figure 8 event left in the series. A quick update, Ron Blouw holds a commanding lead with 125 points, Mark Donahue with 105 points and KSO with 80 points. Both Mark and Ron are able to replace one of their lesser outings with a good showing at the “last man standing” event this coming weekend at the WBC in Winter Haven, FL KSO, on the other hand, is hoping for a large turn out of barefooters and a double out from both Ron, and Mark so he can add a good third score and try to over take Mark and/or Ron and add to is overall earnings for the 2011 barefoot year. The top 20 for the series can be seen at www.barefootski.com
The series this year has been an overall success. We have gained approximately 10 additional footers at each event from last year’s totals and we are hoping for the same here in Winter Haven. We have had the privilege of meeting new people from places like Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Chippewa Falls Lake, Ohio. Additionally, with the motto: No footer left on the beach, we have had skiers that have never competed in the past come out and participate.
It is always good to see old friends and catch up, but it is also nice to meet new people that are passionate about barefooting.
Another quick update for this weekend, if you haven’t heard, we will be live streaming the event from Lake Conine in Winter Haven. All one has to do is to go to the WBC website (www.worldbarefootcenter.com) and hit the play button in the center of the viewing screen on the right side of the web page. Friends and family from around the world will be able to see the action from the center of the figure 8. The rollers always seem to entertain. After the figure 8 is over we will be heading back to the WBC for beverages, music and stories. The next day after the event (Sunday, Oct. 23rd), there will be a barefoot BBQ properly named “Blairfoot Reunion”. The site for the reunion has changed. It will be held at Banana George’s home. Please come out to have a great time, tell old stories and pay tribute to a great advocate for the sport. Also, please bring something from Banana’s past events if you have any. We would love to take a heap of pictures and see some of the memories and make new ones. We look forward to seeing everyone this weekend. So, travel safe and bring your suit.
Footapalooza 2011
Its official! The WBC Figure 8 Barefoot Series is underway. The first event of the year took place in the cozy
little town of Rolling Prairie, IN. This small lake is tucked away behind an Apostolic church, surround by trees and lily
pads with a grassy knoll for spectators to bear witness to the difficult 8 that lay before the footers. The weather forecast
was typical for this time of year in the Midwest; chance of rain and partly cloudy with variable winds, but fortunately,
it was anything but. The weather was perfect; low 80’s, light winds and not a cloud in the sky.
As the morning wore on, barefooters and spectators began to show to stake their claims for the best possible
view. After the morning registration was completed, it was time for the twenty-six registered footers to meet for the
rules, regulations, prayer and the coin toss. It was not long into the event before we saw our second pair of footers,
Ronald Coonse and Chris McWatters, complete the first 8. As the event progressed, we were able to see some unique
match-ups. This year, Lauren Lindeman registered and, for her first opponent, she faced off against legendary footer
Don Simon. She was able to take him down and progress until suffering her first
loss to Mike Netzer and then finally being knocked out of the event by her big
brother, Bill Lindeman.
As the day wore on, the top
Figure 8 footers in the world were
making it apparent that they
would be among the top finishers
on this day at Footapalooza. From
the likes of JJ Link; last year's
Figure 8 Series winner, defending
2010 Footapalooza champ
Freddie Deiser, 2010 Foot Stock
Champ Marc Donahue, 2009 Foot Stock Champ Ron Blouw, or two-time 3-event world champion Keith St. Onge, the field was packed with
legitimate competition as well as some "unknowns" like Ben Deiser of the Freeman Funk Footers, or first time
competitor, Paul Miller of Indianapolis, all of which made their way through the field as 'footers to be reckoned with'.
Paul Miller had a decent showing for his first time at a Figure 8, beating the likes of last year's Footapalooza
Champ, Freddie Deiser. Chris McWatters, the main event organizer, had a decent showing, taking out Mike
Hynes and Brad Bocke before falling to KSO. In the end, it came down to 4 footers. Ben Deiser, JJ Link, Keith St.
Onge and Marc Donahue. These 4 guys skied all day as if they were on a mission. St. Onge had to march back
through the losers bracket after getting a bye in the first round, but then losing his second run to Mike Netzer.
Ben Deiser had a strong run on Saturday as he took out footer after footer. After beating Paul Miller and avenging
his brother Freddie, Ben took out Bill Lindeman and then Mike Netzer before falling to KSO, as many others
seemed to do on Saturday.
Marc Donahue had a rather quiet day as he took out his competition and appeared to look steady and on pace
even after suffering a rather serious injury to his right foot after he hit a log on his local lake a few weeks
previously. It seems to me, the more this guy gets hurt, the better he gets. The year before last he hit a log
while barefooting, as some of you know, and broke his left heel. Since then he has been a Figure 8 Footing
machine, winning Footstock 2010 and finishing in at least the top 3 of almost every Figure 8 he has competed in.
As Marc took out Eric DeVries and then JJ Link, KSO marched through the losers bracket, taking out
McWatters, Freddie, Ben Deiser and then JJ. The competition finally boiled down to two. Marc Donahue vs Keith
St. Onge. Keith needed two wins against Marc in order to claim the #1 spot and become the 2011 Footapalooza
Champ. Marc and Keith took to the water and skied a masterful 3 1/2 8's before Marc finally fell for the first time
all day. Keith felt good about the win but knew he still had to take Marc down one more time. When asked if
they needed 5-10 minutes for a rest, the usual reply from Marc was "I'm ready whenever he is". The level of
competitive friction between these two was so thick you could cut it with a knife, however the camaraderie, moral
support, friendship, and laughs were there as well. Once again the two took to the water. This time however, 2
1/2 eights into the run, KSO was taken down by Marc Donahue. It was a great day for a Figure 8 tournament.
A special thanks to our sponsors WBC, KSO Wetsuits, US Gear, Reef Safe, Bomber Eyewear, Vemma, Jennie Rae’s,
Nowhere Bar and Grill, and to Bill Wolfe and crew for allowing us to use this wonderful site. Thank you to all for
showing up and supporting the WBC figure 8 Barefoot Series. See y’all in Lake St. Louis, Mo for stop number 2.
Letter to Scarpa
Ron Scarpa,
All of us at the World Barefoot Center would like to congratulate you on your recent achievement of being inducted into the U.S.A Water-ski Hall of Fame. Being a Thirteen-time U.S. National Champion and a Four-time World Champion, the continued success you have seen is undeniable. Your career has had a profound influence on the development of the sport of Barefoot Waterskiing. We would like to thank you for all of the efforts you have poured into the sport and wish you the best of luck in all of your future endeavors.
Kindest regards,
The WBC Team
Figure 8 2011
Finally, winter seems to be coming to an end, at least in the mid-west. For most of us it has been a long, cold and snowy winter. As the winter winds down we can start thinking about getting our boats out, dusting off our suits, and conditioning our feet, body and soul for the quick approaching season.
As many already know, the “Figure-8 barefoot series” from last year has been renamed and now is called the “WBC Figure-8 barefoot series”. The World Barefoot Center has graciously sponsored the series with $4,000 in cash to the top 3 footers in the series, and $1,000 in gift certificates to be used at the WBC pro-shop for the top 5 footers in the series. The series sites will remain the same; the dates are what have changed. The first stop in the series will be Footapalooza in La Porte, IN on June 25th. This will be followed up by the Glen Mueller Memorial Figure-8 challenge on July 30th in Lake St. Louis, MO. Then, its off to Madison, WI on August 27th for the Mad City Duel at the Clean Lakes Festival, finally ending the series at Lake Conine in Winter Haven FL on October 22nd for the WBC Figure-8 series championship. Following the event there will be a post-party at the WBC where we will be handing out cash prizes and crowning the “last man standing”.
This year during the October 22nd event in Winter Haven, FL the World Barefoot Center will, for the first time in Figure-8 barefooting history, be live streaming the action to your computer from the towboat. This, of course, will allow family and friends back home see each competitor battling head to head for the crown from the comfort of the their homes.
On Sunday, October 23rd we will be holding the famous Blairfoot Endurance race. It is currently planned to be held on Lake Silver in Winter Haven, FL. For those that are unfamiliar with this race, it is NOT a team event; this is man versus clock, he or she that lasts the longest wins. The event site is subject to change based on lake availability.
Here at WBC, we are excited about the up-coming season this year. We are hoping to expand outward and have more competitors than last year. If you were unable to get out to attend any of last year’s events we would like everyone to know the events are friendly and family oriented. We try to make every effort possible to get a footer on his feet. Whether you deep up or step off, we do not care. As long as one can barefoot long line, he will have the opportunity to barefoot against the best Figure-8 barefooters in the world. Our motto: No Footer Left on the Beach”, will remain unchanged. We look forward to seeing everyone this year on the water. Please keep up to date with the Figure-8 events and results by checking out www.barefootski.com, www.worldbarefootcenter.com, or the Facebook website for the results and dates and times.
Barefoot Racing 2011
As the winter comes to an end, we all can start letting our feet thaw and begin to heat them up for another race season. There will soon be a conference call generated by Team Top Gun. We will begin to plan out the race season sites and dates. Thus far, we have some dates and locations. On August 13th in Maumee, OH the Buckethead Barefoot Endurance Race will be held. This race has, at this time, a 12 boat maximum so, if there are teams out there interested, please register early, as spots will go quickly. We will also have the Mississippi River Challenge on September 17th in Lake St. Louis, MO, The Stewart Bieber Memorial Barefoot Endurance Challenge on October 1st in Montgomery, AL, and then on November 6th we round the season out with the Dam to Dam in Austin, TX. As the year progresses, there will phone numbers and email addresses for the site organizers available for questions and early registration.
The race community will be happy to know that a couple of our racing brothers have returned after a few years away and have formed a new team. Team “Hot Shots” will be racing behind BBiii, comprised of Tony B. (too hard to spell your last name, Tony. Sorry), John Skrobak, JJ Link, Mark Donahue, and Chris McWatters. This team is hoping to knock Team Top Gun off of the pedestal and interrupt their undefeated streak.
We are always looking for new racers and teams, so please help spread the news and encourage footers to come out and compete with us. If you do not have a team or a boat, please contact me or any of the organizers and we will do our very best to get you on a team. We are in the business of barefooting and we continue to try to get more competitors on the water. The motto: “No Footer left on the beach”, will remain. Please continue to check out www.barefootski.com, www.worldbarefootcenter.com, or Facebook for updates and general information. Hope to see everyone on the water this year. Be safe and foot safe!
Chris McWatters
David Small Awarded IWWF Male Athlete of the Year 2010!
After a phenomenal year including world records and another world title under his name, Winter Haven resident David Small has now made the history books again as the second ever person to win the IWWF’s Male Athlete of the Year award as a barefoot water-skier, finishing his year off with a bang. This year has been a big year for Small, or as his skiing peers would say, “Small’z”. This is the most prestigious award out in the world of professional skiing and Small is now the second ever barefooter to win it – along side personal friend and business partner down at the World Barefoot Center, Keith St Onge.
Earlier in the season, Small attained the World Trick record twice, the second of which adding up to an approved 12,150 points. In addition, who could forget the performance he put on for every one at the World Championships in Germany this August in the jump event! Proving his rightful spot at the top of the barefoot jumping world, he jumped a full 2.5m past his own personal best and Ex-World record with a final awe-inspiring score of 29.9m. After wrapping up the Jump event for the tenth year running, Small went on to finish the competition and win the Overall event, making this his third Open World title.
At only 27 years old, and with many years left in the sport, who knows where this young Brit’s skiing will go, and how many more limits he will push along the way? Keep your eyes peeled for next season!
St. Onge and Small Ski Into the History Books Again!
With the World Barefoot Center’s David Small being announced 2010’s Athlete of the Year, the St. Onge/Small duo makes another mark in the history books as the only two barefoot water-skiers in the history of water-skiing to be awarded with this title-another achievement on top of an already incredible list of combined accolades.
In 2006, Keith St. Onge was announced the IWWF Male Athlete of the Year, a huge achievement, as he was the first barefoot water-skier in history to earn this title - something he continued on to claim again in 2009. Now, David Small has been announced as the second-ever barefooter to be given this title. These two World Champions also currently hold all three World records! Keith has a strong grip on the Slalom, David is fast tracking to becoming the “King” of jump, and the two of them continue to toss the Trick record back and forth over the last two seasons.
However, this is simply the tip of the iceberg for this dynamic duo. In the last ten years of the sport, which includes five World Championships (2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010), and three World Games (2001, 2005, 2009), these two athletes have ruled the sport with an iron fist as Overall Champions;
• In 2002 Keith picked up the Slalom title, while David took the Jump event and his first Overall title, with Patrick Wehner winning the Tricks event.
• In 2004, David returned and won the Tricks, Jump, and, his second Overall title. Brett Sands claimed the World Slalom title.
• In 2006 David once again picked up his gold in Jump, while Keith was awarded with the Slalom and Tricks gold, along with his first Overall title.
• In 2009, David won his gold in Jump, with Keith Winning the Slalom, and his own second World Overall title, and Heinrich Sam picked up his first gold medal in the Tricks event.
This past year in Germany, Keith won the Slalom and Tricks, while David won the Jump event again, (making an on-going, ten year winning streak for the 27 year old in this event) as well as winning his third Overall title.
This means that in the last ten years of our sport, there have been twenty World Championships gold medals awarded (Tricks, Slalom, Jump and Overall per Worlds), and out of these possible twenty medals up for grabs, Keith St. Onge and David Small have won seventeen. In ten years they have missed out on a gold medal only three times. Adding to all of this the other three Overall titles from the last three World Games (2001-Keith St. Onge, 2005-David Small, and 2009-Keith St. Onge), there is no doubt that these two fierce Competitors have made it into the IWWF history books as some the top Athletes of water-skiing to this day, and we all look forward to seeing how much more these two Champions can do in the future!
WBC to Host/Sponsor US Open Invitational Tournament
This October the World Barefoot Center is going to be hosting and sponsoring an all-new world-class tournament in Winter Haven, Florida, a tournament that consists of a head-to-head elimination format, immediate scores being posted, and big cash payouts to those who can make it to the podium.
The way the invitational process will work is, the top twelve overall skiers in the world, as well as the top twenty skiers in each individual event, will be sent an invitation to attend this major event. If one of these skiers cannot make it, the next best skier will then be invited until we have all available spots in that event filled.
Once the skiers have been chosen, there will be a qualifying round in each event where the competition will cut down to eight skiers. From there, it becomes a one-on-one, winner moves forward, competition. From eight skiers you will then have four, from four down to two, and from two you then find your champion in that event. For this to work efficiently, scores will have to constantly be coming out of the boat and will be announced real-time.
In total, the combined cash pool for this tournament is US$20,500. This will be divided up as follows:
$5,000-First place Overall
$2,500-Second place Overall
$1,000-Third place Overall
$2,500-First place in each event
$1,000-Second place in each event
$500-Third place in each event
Now, with 3 events and an overall placing available, that gives any one person the chance to win up to $12,500, this is one tournament you DO NOT want to miss!!
The whole event will also be broadcast live to the world via www.worldbarefootcenter.com. This gives you the opportunity to be a part of the action, even if you are not able to attend!
WBC Figure 8 Series 2011
Next year, the World Barefoot Center will be sponsoring the Barefoot Figure 8 series, an event that was a huge success this year. Over the course of the ski season, there will be four separate tournaments that you can enter, which will consist of sites in; Rolling Prairie, Indiana (June 25th), Lake St. Louis, Missouri (August 6th), Madison, Wisconsin (August 27th), and-for the last leg of the series-Winter Haven, Florida (October 22nd). For the last tournament we are also looking at having a live broadcast of the skiing-so even of you can’t make it, you can still be a part of the action!
Though we strongly encourage it, you do not have to enter all four races. This way if you cannot make a weekend out of the four you can still be in the running, but you must post positive scores in 3 tournaments if you want to be in the hunts for the overall title. Start marking down those dates on your calendar now! The way the scoring and placing works is based on a points system, and each round you progress (excluding the first round) you earn points which add up to a final score for that tournament, which then combine with your other tournament scores for the overall. If you can commit to all four tournaments however, your worst score will be erased.
The overall payout in cash prizes for the series is $4,000 and will be divided as follows; $2,500 for 1st place, $1,000 for 2nd, and $500 for 3rd. On top of this, there will be prize money up for grabs at each tournament, the value of which will be exclusive to each tournament.
Once the last tournament in Winter Haven is complete, there will be an after party held at the World Barefoot Center the night of the 22nd. That night, the three Overall Champions will be announced and awarded with the Overall payouts-so don’t miss your chance to be on the podium!
WBC Program Updates
WBC Customer Loyalty Program:
The WBC Customer Loyalty Program is a way for us to recognize and reward our loyal customers and supporters. Join the crew for a small membership fee to receive a 15% discount on all pro shop items AND SKIING. This is now the only place in the world where a membership can earn you deals on the cost of training. Call the school at (863)877-0039, or drop us an E-Mail at wbcbarefoot@gmail.com in order to find out more.
WBC Sponsorship Program:
The World Barefoot Center is still adding to the members of Team WBC. Team Heads David Small, Keith St. Onge, and Gary “Swampy” Bouchard are selecting its members. The program includes an Elite Team WBC, and a group of WBC Sponsored Athletes. We want to build world-class skiers by giving them an opportunity to train with the best skiers and coaches in the world, and elevate their skiing to the highest level. These individuals become a part of a very special group.
WBC Sponsored Athletes:
In order to reach our goals, we need to be sure that we have members who want to go all the way and are completely committed to improving and doing things the right way. The WBC Sponsored Athlete qualifications include:
-attending all major tournaments
-willingness to help in all aspects of Barefooting (such as helping out during tournaments, taking pictures/videos, and writing articles)
-commitment to the school and spending time there
-courtesy
-openness to teamwork
-professionalism/class both on and off the water
-ability to represent the school and sport in an exceptional way
-and most importantly a burning desire to be among the best.
There will be no set qualification scores. All athletes will be expected to spend at least 10 skiing days per year at the school, and must be dedicated to learning and progressing in the sport. All WBC Sponsored Athletes will receive a 25% discount on all equipment, pro shop items, and lessons, as well as a deep discount on room/board and a new KSO suit. In addition to this deal, for those out there who are planning to stay and ski longer than just the required 10 days per year, anyone who wants to commit to spending more than 30 skiing days at the school each year can contact the school, and receive a 30% discount on skiing and gear.
Elite Team WBC:
The Elite Team will also be expected to have all of the same qualities and ambitions as the WBC Sponsored Athletes but, on top of this, the Elite Team is meant to be made of truly Elite skiers. We want skiers who are well rounded and who stand out in ALL 3 events. To qualify, the applicant must meet at least one of the following scores. Boys: 17.2 in slalom, 7,000 in tricks, and a 24-meter jump. Girls: 14 in slalom, 2,500 in tricks, and a 14-meter jump. The remaining two events must meet the following. Boys: A 14 in slalom, 5,000 in tricks, and a 20.5-meter jump. Girls: A 10.2 in slalom, 2,100 in tricks, and an 11-meter jump. Again, any interested skiers can notify Swampy of their intentions at the school E-Mail, wbcbarefoot@gmail.com, and provide him with: a bio including current PB’s and accomplishments (see worldbarefootcenter.com for examples) your future goals/ambitions both short and long-term, and a small description of what you believe you can bring to the table and what you will be willing to do for the team. If chosen, the skier is a part of the Elite Team WBC, and will be expected to honor all above statements.
Team WBC Explanation and Application Info
Our goal in this endeavor is to make a win/win scenario, and to build world-class skiers by giving them an opportunity to train with the best skiers and coaches in the world, and elevate their skiing to the highest level. These individuals will become a part of a very special group.
In order to reach our goals, we need to be sure that we have members who want to go all the way and are completely committed to improving and doing things the right way. The qualifications include: willingness to help in all aspects of Barefooting (such as helping out during tournaments, taking pictures/videos, and writing articles), commitment to the school and spending time there, courtesy, openness to teamwork, professionalism/class both on and off the water, ability to represent the school and sport in an exceptional way, and most importantly a burning desire to be among the best. Any interested skiers can notify Swampy of their intentions at the school E-Mail, wbcbarefoot@gmail.com, and provide him with: a bio including current PB’s and accomplishments (see worldbarefootcenter.com for examples) your future goals/ambitions both short and long-term, an application form (found on the Team WBC section), and a small description of what you believe you can bring to the table and what you will be willing to do for the team. If chosen, the skier is a part of The WBC Sponsored Athletes Program, and will be expected to honor all above statements.
The WBC Figure 8 Barefoot Championship
Just a reminder that this season, The WBC will be hosting its own tournament in the 2010 Figure 8 Barefoot Series. The event will be held on Saturday, October 16th, on Lake Conine in Winter Haven, Florida. There will also be a party afterwards at the WBC Ski School Headquarters for anyone who would like to attend. Start building up that endurance! We can't wait to see you all there!
-The WBC Team
Southern Glass!!!
This Saturday was a big day for WBC!!! Many PB's and world qualifications were acheived. Keith St. Onge put up a PB and pending World Record trick score of 12,900, A.J. Porreca made a tricks PB of 9,400, Ben Groen tricked a PB of 5,500 to set a pending New Zealand National Record, Lauren Lindeman qualified for the worlds in slalom with a PB of 8.8, Conner Findlay qualified for the worlds in tricks with a PB of 1,960, Brian Hetherington posted trick scores of 5,300, and 5,700 points, and Travis Godfrey from Canada slalomed an 11.3 for a PB. Everyone skied well at the Southern Glass tournament, and we had a great time. We would like to thank the Pressendo family for opening up their home, Dale Stevens and Mike Holt for judging, and all who were involved in making this event happen!!!
-The WBC Team
Footapalooza!!!
On June 11th in La Porte, IN, figure 8 barefooters began to congregate for the first tournament in the inaugural barefoot figure 8 series: Footapalooza. In traditional fashion we started the weekend off with a Friday night supper with drinks and catching up at the No Where Bar and Grill. The night ended fairly early and we all returned to our tents and hotels rooms for some much-needed sleep for the next day’s festivities.
The morning began with some clouds and mist, but warm and the water was smooth. Footers began trickling in for the 0900 footer time start, aka 1000. The tournament started off with Greg Wilkinson versus Chris McWatters attempting to navigate the rollers with the Devils Lake Watersports sponsored MasterCraft X14. After what seemed to be a Figure 8 Tournament decided by who could make it through the first set of rollers, the footers were able to quickly adjust to the larger than normal rollers and started to complete more and more eights. However, even after minor adjustments the rollers from the X14 still swallowed up many of the footers in the first eight.
After the first round was completed footers were able to put together longer figure 8 runs. Some of the longer runs were put together by Jim (J.J.) Link, Freddie Deiser, Chad Meitz, Mike Miller, and Paul Stokes to mention a few for there were a few others that were able to tough out a pair of eights.
The day progressed well with no hang ups or boat problems. The weather cleared up nicely and the sun came out, thus creating a nice hot and humid day. Many footers and spectators were seen putting on Reef Safe SunCare, the awesome biodegradable sunscreen product that sponsors the tournament and the series.
Thanks to the spectacular driving provided by Chris Rising, the footers were able to navigate around the figure eight course battling the rollers and corners slowly eliminating each other.
As the tournament wore on and more and more footers were returned to the beach, we were able to get down to the final four footers. The fight was between Jim (J.J.) link, Chad Meitz, Mike Miller and Freddie Deiser.
After Mike Miller was sent to the beach by Chad Meitz, Chad had to quickly return to the water to face-off with J.J Link. J.J. was able to hold on and advance to the semi-finals where he faced off with Freddie Deiser who had not been knocked off his feet all day. As the other footers watched to see who would be the last man standing at the Footapalooza tournament, J.J. Link was unable to hold off Freddie Deiser in the rollers and thus Freddie was crowned the 2010 Footapalooza champion.
3Rd place was awarded to Chad Meitz, 2nd place awarded to Jim (J.J.) Link, and 1st was awarded to Freddie Deiser.
The tournament was a success in that everyone had a good time and nobody got hurt. We would like to thank all of our sponsors for the tournament: Reef Safe SunCare, WBC, Devils Lake Watersports, Jennie Rae’s, No Where Bar and Grill, Barefoot International, and Barefoot Graphics and Promotions. Hope to see everyone at Lake St. Louis in July.
THANK YOU ALL!!!
Elite Team WBC Member Makes a Splash
This May, an Article about Elite WBC team member, A.J. Porreca was published in "The Waterskier"! His picture was also put on the cover! A.J. is 18 years old, and is a member of the U.S. Elite Team, as well as the Elite Team WBC. This is a big honor for him. Congratulations A.J., we are proud of your success!
-The WBC Team
The Records Keep On Coming!
At a recent tournament this May, David Small and Keith St. Onge tricked up some major points, setting three different pending world records! Keith scored 12,750 and 12,400 points in two separate runs, and David scored 12,500 points, becoming the second person to ever break 12 thousand! Keep it up guys, we are all excited for you!!!
-The WBC Team
New Junior Girls World Trick Record!
On April 8, 2010, at the Australian National Championships, Megan Roberts broke the Junior Girls World Trick record that was set by Ashleigh Stebbeings just a short time ago. Megan racked up a total of 3,500 points, utilizing all four surface turns and a Toe-turn! Roberts still has a few more tricks up her sleeve, so look for another break in this record soon. Congratulations on your success, Megan!!!!
-The WBC Team
The WBC Figure 8 Barefoot Championship
This season, The WBC will be hosting its own tournament in the 2010 Figure 8 Barefoot Series. The event will be held on Saturday, October 16th, on Lake Conine in Winter Haven, Florida. There will also be a party afterwards at the WBC Ski School Headquarters for anyone who would like to attend. Start building up that endurance!
-The WBC Team
WBC Skier Makes a Clean Sweep!
At the New Zealand 2010 Nationals this past week, WBC Sponsored Athlete, Ben Groen, has just secured the Open Men’s Overall title, along with the gold medal in all three events! He matched his personal best in tricks at 4,750 points, Slalomed 16.4, and jumped 23.3 meters. We are extremely proud of his accomplishments this season. Congratulations Ben!!!
Things Are Really Moving for the WBC
As a lot of you already know we have had a lot going on down here at the WBC. This past month especially has been the busiest month we have ever had in the history of the school. A lot of the juniors have been coming down to train for this coming season, and we have had many people coming from all over the world to ski. We have been running three boats constantly throughout the days, and are soon planning on rigging up a fourth. Between all of the new additions to our sponsorship programs, all of the great business and skiing that has been going on, and the release of the new products from KSO Wetsuits, this looks like an extremely promising and productive season ahead. Keep checking the website and our Facebook page to stay updated with everything that is going on.
Thanks,
-The WBC Team
WBC Sponsored Athlete Wins Award!
Mark Niebuhr is a Team WBC Sponsored Athlete from Germany. He is a very dedicated skier that always does his best to learn something new whenever he is on the water to develop his skills. This March, he was chosen as the German Barefooter of the Year for 2009 during the Federation meeting in Berlin. He also received 5th place in Open Tricks and 4th place in Junior Jump at the EAME Championships this year. We are extremely proud of Mark and all of his accomplishments, and we are glad to have him on our team. Congratulations Mark!!!
Another E-TEC and Adding a Third Boat to the Fleet!!!
In anticipation of another busy season, the WBC has just ordered a 250 HO Evinrude E-TEC, and it is expected to come sometime next week!!! This will put a third boat into operation for the WBC fleet. Like our others, this boat will be comletetly rigged up with B.I. equipment including a tower, Super Fly High Tower Extension, and Training Boom. It will also be sporting GPS speedometers for reliabilty, and a jack plate to shape a perfect wake. Things are really moving along!
Keith St. Onge and David Small at the Top of the World!
As many of you have already seen, the new world rankings list has been posted online (available for download here). First of all, we would like to give our congratulations to all of the skiers that have achieved lofty rankings on this list. On top of this list are Keith St. Onge and David Small, securing the 1st and 2nd slots respectively. The two of them have been masters of the sport for years and continue to amaze and perform at the highest level. Amidst these skiers are WBC’s own A.J. Porreca at 11th, Ben Groen at 19th, and Adin Daneker at 22nd in the Men’s Overall division. In the Overall Women’s division, there also stands Nicole Blackmore in 8th, and Betsy Anderson in 26th. Congratulations again to all of these skiers!
Though the competition in this sport is already fierce as it is, our goal should always be to constantly push the skiing to new levels. This is our focus at WBC. We not only want to increase the abilities of the top skiers, but we also want to help other skiers achieve these levels of skiing. WBC already has been building some young skiers into new up-and-comers, and wants to continue to grow the sport by bringing more and more people up into the top rankings on the world, making the competition more interesting and the sport much stronger. Hopefully our goals can be realized and this great sport can go on in the future better than ever!
ATTENTION ALL JUNIOR SKIERS!!!!
In pursuit of giving back to the sport, WBC will be opening up the school for the entire month of June to all junior skiers qualifying or trying to qualify for the worlds. We will be donating the Winter Haven facility/equipment. US Junior coach, Swampy Bouchard and Elite WBC skier, A.J. Porreca will be donating time to help and instruct. During this event, it will only cost $60/day for EVERYTHING including room and board! As we only have room for a certain number of skiers, it will be first come first serve so reserve your spot as soon as possible!
Mens Fitness Interview
Just recently, Mens Fitness has done an interview with KSO! Click on the link below to check it out and see what it's all about!
Click Here for KSO's Interview
Hello From Hilmar
Hello WBC:
Dear Swampy, David, and Keith,
There is a saying in Germany that means: HONESTY LASTS THE LONGEST
I began my coaching because there was no one else in Germany (Europe) to take that role under the given circumstances. Obviously, I am not a perfect coach, but I never planned on teaching big tricks to anyone. At first, I only wanted to teach skiers strong basics to begin with, and then send them to the “Pro`s” afterwards. The only reason that I started to teach jumping and the higher-level tricks was because of the lack of alternatives for the skiers to learn by. This is why, during these three weeks, I have felt more guilty than ever before. Without insuring myself of what I did, I taught some techniques that, years ago, were the accepted “correct” methods. The problem is that these techniques do not measure up to the top techniques now taught by you. During the last weeks, I have learned more than I have in the last couple of years. It is a shame that I will not be able to use this new knowledge for much longer, as I plan to step back from my role soon. Before this happens, I promise that I will organize a successor because we have all agreed on the fact that we need someone in Europe to teach all of the techniques in order to keep that sport alive.
It makes me very happy to feel that you are not only looking for the fast business, but that you have realized that the sport can only get bigger after the opportunity to progress is made more attainable. We need new kids, like Lavinia, who can learn things like the front and back deep starts, the line-step position, front toe-holds, and back-to-fronts within two weeks. I also must say that I really did not expect the other things that were provided, such as daily video analysis, dry land practice, and work with the skiers’ mindsets.
Thank you very much for welcoming me into the boat every day and being willing to answer every question that I had in the process. I would also like to say thank you to the parents who gave their kids to you and, of course, all barefooters in Germany, who are all glad to ski in the new Team Germany suit by KSO Wetsuits.
-Hilmar
IWWF Athlete of the Year for 2009!
For the second time in the history of the IWWF Athlete of the Year Awards a Barefoot athlete has been honored with the “Overall” Title.
Keith St. Onge – USA is the IWWF Athlete of the year for 2009. This award encompasses all disciplines of towed water sports under the IWWF umbrella (Tournament, Cable Ski, Cable Wakeboard, Wakeboard, Adaptive, Barefoot, Racing) Keith was also the very first barefoot recipient of this award in 2006, making him the only Barefoot athlete to ever win this award. Congratulations KSO!
KSO Wetsuits
Keith St. Onge, current World Barefoot Waterski Champion is excited to announce the launch of KSO Wetsuits!
KSO Wetsuits has a product line consisting of barefoot suits, padded shorts & heater shirts. All products have been tested and designed by Keith St. Onge and David Small.
Check out the Pro Shop to view the new gear, and reserve your spot on our pre-order list today! KSO Wetsuit product will be available at the end of February.
All gear includes sizes XS to 2Xl, and the KSO Suits include the following colors:
K-Pro: Blue, Grey, and Red
David Small Signature Series: Unique Orange, Green, and Black mix
Click Here for KSO Wetsuit Sizing Chart
IWWF Male Barefoot Athlete of the Year 2009
Keith St. Onge
St. Onge is once again proving he is the most dominant international force in Barefoot
Waterskiing. He turned in another unbelievable performance in 2009, repeating as the World
Overall Champion in New Zealand. He once again reset the world trick record, this time at an
amazing 11,250 and he retains a stranglehold on the world record in Wake Slalom.
St. Onge also turned in an incredible performance at the World Games in Taiwan helping
bring the U.S. team to victory, as well as winning the individual Gold Overall medal on the
international stage.Stateside, he completed “barefooting’s triple crown” by capturing the U.S. National Championship
for the tenth time in 12 years. This year, he not only won the overall championship but also the
gold in tricks and slalom. Just weeks after his Nationals success, KSO switched gears and
finished second in the endurance figure eight championship, “Footstock.”
St. Onge’s participation in all forms of barefooting makes him a respected ambassador of the
sport, recognized around the world. He is now turning his attention to growing the sport by training
the next generation of Barefooters.
KSO recently joined forces with former World Champion David Small to create the World Barefoot
Center in Winter Haven, Florida. The WBC is nurturing young barefooters to rise to the top of the
competitive world by offering sponsorship programs and all levels of training. St. Onge is also
inventing new equipment and training techniques to give his students the edge. Everyone will
soon want to be on Team WBC.
Throughout all of his success, St. Onge has developed a loyal following of fans because of his
humble and kind nature. The best barefoot water skier in the world still pitches in to help at
tournaments and even drive the pick up boat.
And St. Onge is showing no signs of slowing down.
“I am staying motivated and looking ahead to Germany in 2010. I want to raise the bar on the
record and the world,” says St. Onge.
World Barefoot Center
August ’09 News Update
The ski school has been very busy, as the students pile in to ski with last years Developmental Coach of the year, Gary (Swampy) Bouchard. People from all over have spent time here, including skiers from Ohio, Illinois, North Carolina, Missouri, Florida, Canada, and Holland. U.S. Junior Team Member, A.J. Porreca, has also spent this summer down in Florida, training with Swampy and helping out with the school. Students seeking quality instruction and training are also tuned into the school’s state of the art Pro Shop, featuring the WBC shoe-skis (formerly known as the KSO Shoe-skis), which have been flying off the racks, along with all other products on sale at the pro shop, soon to include a new line of KSO brand wetsuits. These items are endorsed and used by Keith and David. Be sure to call or order through wbcbarefoot@gmail.com.
After a relentless search for the perfect tow boat set-up, we have been using an Evinrude outboard motor this past month, and have completely fallen in love with the new E-TEC HO. We are skiing two of these fantastic machines on a pair of (dated, well preserved) Sangers. The wake table is as good, if not better, than the any other outboard we have skied behind. These motors are as smooth and powerful as they come, and are awesome on fuel consumption. We cannot thank Evinrude enough for the sponsorship.
If interested, all WBC E-TECs will be available for sale after 6 months. They are the 2010, 200 horsepower HO models. One is available around Thanksgiving, and the other in December. To inquire, please call the ski school.
As was anticipated, the ski season is well under way, and Keith and David are busy traveling worldwide to conduct various clinics. KSO’s tour includes stops at Georgia, Kansas, South Dakota, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, and several locations in Wisconsin. David’s busy schedule includes stops in Wisconsin, California, a few locations in British Columbia, and even a few in Sweden, Great Britain, and Austria. As if that were not enough, both athletes have just taken a trip all the way to Taiwan to compete in the 2009 World Games. The tournament included many of the top skiers from all over the world, and provided the expected fierce competition. Keith took home the gold and David followed close behind, taking the bronze. Both athletes have now continued on their trips, and are expected back in Florida by this October.
In other news, a special mention must go out to Episode #3 of the MSN.COM Subway Sandwich “Fit to Boom” video, starring our very own WBC teammate, Judy Myers. MSN had a production crew come all the way from Hollywood just to video her doing her thing, on and off the water. Click the link above, and jump to number 3 (on the right hand side) to check it out. Judy will also be a guest on the “Today Show” on August 6th, so be sure to tune in during her appearance on National television. Congratulations on your big Hollywood moment Judy!
Keep footin’ and enjoy your ski season!
World Barefoot Center
June ’09 News Update
The ski school has been very busy as we head toward the mid-year mark of the 2009 season. The students are piling in, each to get a chance to ski with 'Developmental Coach Of The Year', Gary (Swampy) Bouchard. Students worldwide have been spending time at the school, including skiers from Ohio, Illinois, North Carolina, Missouri, Florida, Canada, and Holland. U.S. Junior Team Member, A.J. Porreca, is spending his summer months at the school pushing his skills both as student and teacher. Students seeking quality instruction and training are also tuned into to the school's State Of The Art Pro-Shop featuring the WBC shoe-skis (formerly known as the KSO Shoe-skis).These as well as a host of other products are endorsed and used by Keith and David for training and competing. For all your barefoot needs please inquire via telephone or order through HYPERLINK "mailto:wbcbarefoot@gmail.com"wbcbarefoot@gmail.com.
After a relentless search for the perfect 'school savvy' and 'training competent' tow boat set-up. We have completely fallen in love with the new Evinrude E-TEC. We are driving a single E-TEC behind a (dated, well preserved) Sanger. We currently have an order out to drive a second similar towboat set-up . These outboards are Fast, Powerful, Smooth Driving, Quiet and awesome on gas consumption. We cannot thank Evinrude enough for taking a part in sponsoring the WBC's efforts.
If interested, all WBC E-TECs will be available for sale after 6 months. They are the 2010, 200 horsepower HO models. One is available around Thanksgiving, and the other in December. To inquire, please call the ski school.
As was anticipated, the ski season is well under way, and Keith and David are busy traveling worldwide to conduct various clinics. KSO’s tour includes stops at Georgia, Kansas, South Dakota, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, and several locations in Wisconsin. David’s busy schedule includes stops in Wisconsin, California, British Columbia, and even Sweden, Great Britain, and Austria. If that is not busy enough, both athletes will be competing in Taiwan for the 2009 World Games.
A special mention must go out to Episode #3 of the HYPERLINK "http://fittoboom.msnbc.msn.com/"Fit to Boom video, starring our very own Judy Myers. MSN had a production crew come all the way from Hollywood just to video her doing her thing, on and off the water. Click the link above, and 'jump to number 3' (on the right hand side) to check it out. Congratulations on your big moment Judy!
In other news, Marketing VP/Artist, Jay McCarthy has been collaborating with web-designer, Shauna Pasanen, to get HYPERLINK "http://www.WORLDBAREFOOTCENTER.com"worldbarefootcenter.com up and running. The new website / pro shop should be finished in one to two months. Also, late this fall, we will be introducing the new line of KSO brand wetsuits.
Keep footin’ and enjoy your ski season!