August 19th 2008
National Championship – The Thrill of Victory
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The skier from the South had an exciting time at year’s National Championship and I wanted to take the moment to share some Southern Region historic events that took place and how your teammates performed.
Historic Events
• Jim Boyette was the first man in barefoot history to ski Men 10 at a National Championship at the tender age of 80 years young.
• Mike Holt was the oldest man in barefoot history (57) to ski an Open Men event (slalom) at a National Championship.
• Mike Holt was the oldest man in barefoot history (57) to ski the Finals in an Open Men event (slalom) at a National Championship (came in 5th out of 15 skiers).
• Mike Salber was the oldest man in barefoot history (47) to bust into Open Pro (slalom) with a run of 17.0 at a National Championship.
• Mike Salber is the oldest man in barefoot history (47) to win the Overall National “Open Men” title.
Skier Performances - http://barefoot.org/
EVERY Southern Regional skier received at least one metal at this year’s National Championship! I know the skiers from the other regions must have gotten tired of Betsy shouting ‘WHERE ARE YOU FROM’ with the customary response ‘THE SOUTH’ every time a Southern Regional skier received their metals. The following is a very short summary of our proud warriors:
• Al Hager – Wow what a close finish, probably the closets in Barefoot history. Al won the National Championship by less than 1 point out of 2000! Plus he took gold in Tricks.
• Andrea Egger – Andrea took the Overall Gold as well as Gold in Jump. Plus she’s was placed on the Senior Team for the 2008 Worlds!
• Betsy Anderson (Women 3) – Despite having an injured ankle from the jump event at Regionals, Betsy received a Silver metal in the Trick event. (Betsy, I don’t know how you did it…)
• Brian Hetherington (Open Men) – Brian received two Silver metals, Slalom and Tricks and finished second overall to Mike Salber.
• Carol Jackson (Women x) – Carol has only been Barefooting competitively for one year, but she really rose to the occasion at her first Nationals; she doubled her personal best in tricks to secure a Gold metal.
• Chris Wakefield (Men 4) – Chris received a bronze metal in Slalom.
• Jim Boyette (Men 10) – Jim is only one of two skiers that has skied every National Championship starting in 1978. Despite his injuries this year, he skied the Regionals and Nations, becoming the first man on the planet to ski in Men 10. Of course he got Gold in all events and Overall!
• Jim Forester – Jim took first place in Slalom and brought home the Gold.
• Joe Pressendo – Joe’s had a tough year with moving, running his first tournament, and training the kids but like ‘Pressendo’ he got the Gold metal in Tricks!
• John Pressendo – John had a goal to go open at Nationals and he didn’t leave disappointed; he received a Gold metal in Slalom and went Open with 14.0.
• Kay Wiseman (Women x)– Kay had lots of injuries this year and only skied one tournament before Nationals, but she still managed to get a Bronze metal Slalom.
• Keith St. Onge (Open Men Pro) – Our current World Champion didn’t disappoint us, he took Gold in all events with another National Overall Championship win. In addition, he skied a pending world record Slalom run of 20.6 (with one touch down)!
• Lisa Pressendo – Lisa our Southern darling continued to ski amazing and Gold in Slalom, Silver in Tricks, and first place overall!
• Mike Holt (Men 5) – Mike worked hard this year and the effort paid off, Mike got a Gold in Tricks, a 5th in Open Men, a bronze in jump and his 6th National Overall Gold metal.
• Mike Salber (Open Men) – Mike hasn’t had time to train this year, but it doesn’t take much training for him to get 100%. Mike thrilled us all with his performance at Nationals and secured a Gold in Slalom, Silver in Tricks, and Bronze in Jump, plus his second National Overall Championship.
• Ryan Boyd (Open Men Pro) – Ryan only skied one tournament this year but he Silver metal Jump and finished second overall to Keith.
• Tim Collette (Men x) – This year he and his family made Barefooting a priority. Result …Silver in Tricks, Bronze in Jump with a 3rd place overall finish.
• Tom Gabey (Men 5) – Tom didn’t plan on skiing this year but he closed out by gathering Gold in Jump, Bronze in both Tricks and Slalom, and finished 3rd overall.
If you didn’t attend a tournament this year as a spectator, please make it a point to attend one next year; the schedule is already posted at www.BarefootWater-Ski.com (so no excuses). I know you are busy with work and family, but just see if you can squeeze one weekend next year for us as a spectator. We just miss you… Please pledge to visit one tournament next year as a spectator.
If you skied Regionals this year but not Nationals, please plan on skiing Nationals in Waco, Texas August 4 – 8, 2009; we missed sharing the National experience with you. Please pledge to ski Nationals next year with us.
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Last Updated: August 19th 2008
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