Mike Holt  Click on a video below to view Mike in action! Back-Deep-To-OneHoltzy.wmv   [ 7604 KB ] About this Skier [ Visit Skier's Website ]       [ Contact Mike via Email ]   Name: Mike Holt Nickname: Holtzy     Hails From: Groveland, FL USA     Interview   What got you into barefooting? At the tender age of 31, a friend asked me to go water-skiing. Having never done that, I took him up on the offer. I learned to get up on two skis after a few tries and I was somewhat proud of the “old guy” (I was 10 years older than everybody else). Naturally, they were all skiing on one ski and I was amazed and wanted to try, but they suggested otherwise. Then late in the day when the water calmed down, they started barefooting. I was just amazed. I never heard of such a thing. This was in 1981.   How did you learn to barefoot? The following Monday morning, I called a local “water-ski” school in Pompano, Florida and attended one ski lesson class. I took about 20 face plants as I attempted to barefoot by stepping out of a “single” ski on a 6 ft pigtail from the boom. On the last attempt, I finally barefooted for the first time for about 100 ft. Then, with a smile on my face, I took the final face plant of the day. Lesson 1 – Learn to barefoot from a “barefoot-ski” school, not a “water-ski” school! Within a week I purchased a 13 ft boat with a 70 hp outboard motor but for some reason, when I attempted to barefoot from a kneeboard, all I got was spray on my face… but no barefooting. Since I only weighed 140 lb, I finally learned to barefoot from the kneeboard. Lesson 2 – Get the right boat for barefooting!   Who was your first barefoot instructor? After a month of barefooting at home, I learned that there were actually barefoot competitions. What is this sport? Do people actually compete? What do they do? What are the events? So many questions, but no one had the answers. I got a lead that a World Champion barefooter lived just an hour away and his name was Mike Seiple, so I contacted him immediately and scheduled a lesson that week. If you know Mike, he’s a pusher and within a few weeks he had me doing or attempting to do all kinds of things like starts, tumbles, crossing the wake, and even backward skiing. Within a month I was registered for my first barefoot tournament and I was committed to winning the “Novice” division. Oh yea, I won’t go into the details about the early 1980s at Seipel’. All I can say is that what happened at Seipels stays at Seipels. Some of you reading this will know what I’m talking about.   Tell us about your first tournament Okay, six months of training and I’m ready for my first tournament at Melbourne, Florida. I called the tournament director and made a prediction that I’ll win the Overall Novice Division! Short version, at Brian Fuchs first tournament, he and I had a runoff and I beat him by five points to win the Novice Overall title!   How did you feel the first time you barefooted? I remember the first time I barefooted forward and backward, like it was yesterday. I remember the water, the ski, the sun, and the special feeling I felt inside. I just can’t explain it. If you’ve been there, you know…   Why do you continue to barefoot? There is something special about this sport and the people that participate in it. I’ve found that almost all barefooters have a positive attitude. They take care of their body, and are willing to share their knowledge. I continue to barefoot because it helps me stay in shape, makes me feel great, and helps relieve stress. When I’m not skiing, I feel tight, stiff, and just not as relaxed.   Who has inspired you in this sport? Without question it was George Blair. As a matter of fact, when I won my first National title, I sent him (and Mike Seiple) a letter thanking him for his inspiration. What I respected about George was his character, his commitment to the sport and to the people he skied with. George was always bigger than life to me – but he took the time to speak to me at the tournaments and he cared enough to get to know me and my family.   What were your barefooting goals and results last year? Slalom – Go Open by skiing a 14.0 – Achieved at Nationals (14.0). Tricks – Ski above my personal best score of 2700– Achieved at National’s (2760). Jump – Ski above my personal best jump of 7.2 meters– Achieved at Regional’s (10.1). Nationals – Take first place in all events and become a five time National Overall Champion. Achieved.   What are your barefooting goals for this year? Qualify in all events for the 2008 World Championships in New Zealand. Slalom a personal best 14.4, trick 2750, and jump a personal best 12.1. Win the National Overall Championship for a sixth time. Not get injured...   Have you won any events or tournaments? Yes, so many I could not begin to list. A total of at least 18 National Gold Metals in all three events, five of which are National Overall Gold Metals. The most memorable Gold metal was my first National Title at Houston, Texas in 1988. It just felt so special to stand up before my peers to receive my first of four National Overall Titles. The second best feeling was a Gold metal at the 2007 National Championship by going Open with a score of 14.0, at the age of 56 (and willing my 5th National Overall Championship!   What skiers have you enjoyed watching and why? I was blessed to ski with or see all of the world’s greatest skiers. For just beauty, it was Rick Powell for tricks; Mike Seiple the first inverted jumper (I was there the first time he did it in a tournament); Ron Scarpa because of his raw skiing style and determination to win, and he’s still an amazing skier (the best barefooter of all time); Billy Nichols just because he skied for almost three hours (I’m still in awe of that accomplishment); Keith St. Onge because of his beautiful line 360’s (I was there the first time he did it in a tournament); Brian Fuchs backward slalom pass (he actually did his transition in the air); and George Blair because at the age of 75, he would do better front toes in a tournament than I could at the age of 40!   How often do you train ski? When I first started, I skied every day I could and sometimes twice a day, but over the years with kids, work, and other distractions, I now only ski between the months of April through September, about three to four times a week.   Do you have a nickname and how did you get it? Yes, “Holtzy.” It was given to me by Mike Seipel the first year I trained under him.   What other activities do you participate in? I race ½ scale NASCAR in Central Florida. The series is called the “Florida Minicup Association” and the Website address is www.FloridaMiniCup.com. I’ve been doing this for about three years because I had to get out of motocross racing (way too many broken bones).   What do you do for a living? I’m a writer and publisher of electrical publications, Mike Holt Enterprises, Inc. www.MikeHolt.com. I’m considered one of the top experts in the world on the National Electrical Code.   How did the last barefoot season go for you? Well 2007Ski a PB in every event, set a new record in Tricks, win the Overall National Title for a sixth time, and qualify to ski the 2008 World Championship to be held in New Zealand., it was a great year. I skied above the National record in wakes or tricks at every tournament. Skied a personal best in every event, set two national records, took Goal in every event at Nationals and became a five time National Overall Champion. A local magazine did a large four-page feature article about my activity and the local newspaper did a featured article about my accomplishment.   What can we expect from you in the coming season? Ski a PB in every event, set a new record in Tricks, win the Overall National Title for a sixth time, and qualify to ski the 2008 World Championship to be held in New Zealand.   What is your motto? “Set your goals and do your best at all times to achieve them. Don’t worry about the results.”   When did you first start barefooting? 1982   What is your Personal Best Score in Wakes? 14.0   and what year 2007   What is your Personal Best Score in Tricks? 2760   and what year 2007   What is your Personal Best Score in Jumping? 10.1   and what year 2007

Site Map