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Barefoot Water Skiing

History

Quite simply, it's waterskiing without the skis, and it's the oldest of the so-called extreme sports.

It began in 1947, when waterskiing itself was quite young. Waterski pioneer Chuck Sligh had been trying smaller and smaller skis, and he came to the conclusion that it would be possible to ski, without using skis, behind a boat that was going fast enough.

Barefoot Water Skiing

A teenager, A. G. Hancock, proved Sligh's theory, but the glory went to Dick Pope Jr., who was photographed and filmed performing the feat at Cypress Gardens.

A barefoot competition was held at Cypress Gardens in 1950, but most of the participants literally dropped out. Emilio Zamudio won the prize for the longest ride, which was the only competition involved.

Although the new sport was often demonstrated in American water ski shows during the 1950s and 1960s, its most important early developments occurred in Australia, where barefoot jumping was invented about 1967.

At the first international barefoot competition, at Cypress Gardens in 1973, members of the Australian team demonstrated jumping to U. S. skiers. One of them, John Hacker, returned to the United States in 1977 to teach the technique.

In 1978, the American Barefoot Club was founded as an affiliate of the American Water Ski Association. The first U. S. Barefoot Nationals were held that year, and Australia hosted the first world championships, with competition in jumping, tricks, and wake slalom. There were 54 competitors, representing 10 countries.

The International Water Ski Federation now conducts the world championships.

The barefoot competitive events are similar to those of traditional water skiing, but there are some differences. Most notably, the boat has to travel much faster, up to 40 miles per hour, about twice as fast as in traditional water skiing.

There are no buoys in the barefoot slalom. The skier gets two passes of 15 seconds each and attempts to cross from the outside of the first wake to the outside of the second wake as many times as possible. A full crossing is worth 1 point if done on one foot, .5 point if done on two feet, and partial crossings are worth fractions of a point.

In tricks, a skier is also given two 15-second passes, performing tricks such as flips and multiple one-foot turns, which are scored by judges.

Because of the boat speed, the barefoot jump ramp is only 18 inches high, compared to 5-6 feet high in traditional water skiing. Jumpers are given three tries, with the longest jump winning.

Jumping has often stirred controversy because of its danger. John Gillette, president of the American Barefoot Club during the 1980s, tried to have the event removed from sanctioned competition. A comprehensive guide to barefoot water skiing, published in 1989, went into great detail about slalom and tricks, but never even mentioned jumping.

One of the first American jumpers, William Farrell, used a technique called bum jumping, in which the skier slides up and over the ramp on his buttocks. The method produced long but erratic jumps. Bum jumping was banned after the 1988 world championships for the sensible reason that, if a skier is not on his bare feet, it can hardly be considered barefoot water skiing.

Mike Seipel of the United States accidentally invented the "inverted" technique, in which the jumper flies through the air headfirst. He was practicing for the 1990 national championship when his feet slipped on the ramp and went out behind him. He thought at first that he was going to be killed, but he then realized it had resulted in a very long jump, so he began practicing the technique.

Seipel set a world record at the nationals and extended it at the 1990 world championships, spurring other skiers to experiment with the new technique. Then Casey Scalise, who trained with Seipel, extended the record from 76.4 feet to 86.3 feet, and virtually every barefoot jumper in the world began learning the inverted jump.

There has been some talk about banning inverted jumping as being too dangerous but, as with the "Fosbury Flop" in high jumping, it seems to have become too well established, in a relatively short time, to be banned.

The newest type of barefoot competition is the Figure 8, which is a test of endurance. In a Figure 8 tournament, pairs of competitors are towed behind the same boat, each maintaining position on the same side of the wake while the boat follows a figure 8 course, until one of them drops out through fatigue or falling.

The winner then moves on to the next round of the tournament, which continues until only the champion remains standing. Two of the major tournaments are FootFest, at Orlando, Florida, and Footstock, at Crandon, Wisconsin, where Figure 8 competition was invented.

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World Champions

Men's Slalom

YearChampionSecondThird
1978Brett Wing, AUSGreg Rees, AUSJohn Stekelenburg, AUS
1980Brett Wing, AUSJohn Stekelenburg, AUSChris Harris, GBR & Ron Scarpa, USA
1982Mike Seipel, USARon Scarpa, USABrett Wing, AUS
1985Ron Scarpa, USAMike Seipel, USADon Mixon Jr., USA
1986Ron Scarpa, USADon Mixon, USABrett Sands, USA
1988Ron Scarpa, USARick Powell, USAMike Seipel, USA
1990Brett Sands, AUSRon Scarpa, USARick Powell, USA
1992Ron Scarpa, USABrian Fuchs, USAJohn Pennay, USA
1994Brian Fuchs, USADon Mixon Jr., USAKen Derry, AUS
1996Brett Sands, AUSRon Scarpa, USAJohn Pennay, AUS
1998Keith St. Onge, USABrett Sands, AUSKen Derry Jr., AUS
2000Jason Lee, USAJon Kretchman, USARon Scarpa, USA
2002Keith St. Onge, USAJason Lee, USARon Scarpa, USA
2004Brett Sands, AUSKen Derry, AUSKeith St. Onge, USA
2006Keith St. Onge, USALane Bowers, USAWilliam Brzoza, USA
2009William Brzoza, USA & Keith St. Onge, USA--David Small, GBR

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Men's Tricks

YearChampionSecondThird
1978John Stekelenburg, AUSBrett Wing, AUSPaul Jones, AUS
1980Brett Wing, AUSJohn Stekelenburg, AUSAlan Moffat, AUS
1982Brett Wing, AUSMike Seipel, USAJohn Stekelenburg, AUS
1985Mike Seipel, USARon Scarpa, USAJohn Strasser, USA
1986Mike Seipel, USARon Scarpa, USARick Powell, USA
1988Rick Powell, USARon Scarpa, USAJohn Pennay, AUS
1990Ron Scarpa, USARick Powell, USABrett Sands, AUS
1992Ron Scarpa, USABrett Sands, AUSBrian Fuchs, USA
1994John Pennay, AUSRon Scarpa, USALane Bowers, USA
1996Ron Scarpa, USAJohn Pennay, AUSBrett Sands, AUS
1998Ron Scarpa, USAPatrick Wehner, FRALane Bowers, USA
2000Ron Scarpa, USALane Bowers, USABrett Sands, AUS
2002Patrick Wehner, FRAKeith St. Onge, USADavid Small, GBR
2004David Small, GBRAndre de Villiers, RSAKeith St. Onge, USA
2006Keith St. Onge, USADavid Small, GBRPaul McDonald, CAN
2009Heinrich Sam, RSAZande de Villiers, RSAKeith St. Onge, USA

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Men's Jump

YearChampionSecondThird
1978Greg Adams, AUSJohn Stekelenburg, AUSJohn Guthrie, NZL
1980Brett Wing, AUSMike Seipel, USAAlan Moffat, AUS
1982Ron Scarpa, USARobert Teurezbacher, FRGKelvin Weston-Green, AUS
1985Peter Wellham, AUSRussel Conoley, USAGavin O'Mahoney, AUS
1986Gavin O'Mahoney, AUSRuss Conoley, USAChris Harris, GBR
1988Rod Trevillan, AUSDodd Dwyer, AUSBrett Sands, USA
1990Mike Seipel, USARick Powell, USAPeter Fleck, USA
1992Lane Bowers, USADodd Dwyer, AUSJon Kretchman, USA
1994Brett Fritsch, AUSJohn Kretchman, USAPeter Fleck, USA
1996Mario Moser, GERJohn Kretchman, USARon Scarpa, USA
1998Evan Berger, RSABrett New, AUSPeter Fleck, USA
2000Ron Scarpa, USALane Bowers, USAMassimiliano Colosio, ITA
2002David Small, GBRMassimiliano Colosio, ITABrett New, AUS
2004David Small, GBRBrett New, AUSLane Bowers, USA
2006David Small, GBRAndre de Villiers, RSALane Bowers, USA
2009David Small, GBRKeith St. Onge, USAAndre de Villiers, RSA

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Men's Three-Event

YearChampionSecondThird
1978Brett Wing, AUSGreg Adams, AUSJohn Stekelenburg, AUS
1980Brett Wing, AUSJohn Stekelenburg, AUSRon Scarpa, USA
1982Brett Wing, AUSJohn Stekelenburg, AUSMike Seipel, AUS
1985Mike Seipel, USARon Scarpa, USAGavin O'Mahoney, AUS
1986Mike Seipel, USARon Scarpa, USAPeter Wellham, AUS
1988Rick Powell, USARon Scarpa, USADodd Dwyer, AUS
1990Rick Powell, USARon Scarpa, USABrett Sands, USA
1992Ron Scarpa, USAJohn Pennay, AUSLane Bowers, USA
1994John Pennay, AUSRon Scarpa, USALane Bowers, USA
1996Ron Scarpa, USAJohn Pennay, AUSLane Bowers, USA
1998Ron Scarpa, USAPatrick Wehner, FRAKeith St. Onge, USA
2000Ron Scarpa, USAKeith St. Onge, USALane Bowers, USA
2002David Small, GBRKeith St. Onge, USAPatrick Wehner, FRA
2004David Small, GBRKeith St. Onge, USAAndre de Villiers, RSA
2006Keith St. Onge, USADavid Small, GBRPatrick Wehner, FRA
2009Keith St. Onge, USAHeinrich Sam, RSAAndre de Villiers, RSA

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Women's Slalom

YearChampionSecondThird
1978Colleen Wilkinson, AUSBronwyn McCaskill, AUSJean Matthisen, USA
1980Kim Lampard, AUSDebbie Pugh, AUSBronwyn McCaskill, AUS
1982Debbie Pugh, AUSKim Lampard, AUSBronwyn McCaskill, AUS
1985Kim Lampard, AUSBronwyn McCaskill, AUSDebbie Pugh, AUS
1986Kim Lampard, AUSDebbie Pugh, AUSLori Powell, USA
1988Jennifer Calleri, USASharon Stekelenburg, AUSLori Powell, USA
1990Jennifer Calleri, USASharon Stekelenburg, AUSJulie Young, AUS
1992Jennifer Calleri, USASharon Stekelenburg, AUSMichelle Nutt, GBR
1994Jennifer Calleri, USASharon Stekelenburg, AUSJulie Young, AUS
1996Jennifer Calleri, USASharon Stekelenburg, AUSNadine de Villiers, RSA
1998Nadine de Villiers, RSAChristine Winslow, USASharon Dodgson, AUS
2000Nadine de Villiers, RSARachel George, USADesmene Fielding, AUS
2002Nadine de Villiers, RSARachel George, USAGizella Halasz, AUS
2004Rachel George, USAKirsten Grønvik, NORNerissa Wright, AUS
2006Nerissa Wright, AUSRachel Normand, USAEmily Goldie, GBR & Ashleigh Stebbeings, AUS
2009Ashleigh Stebbeings, AUSElaine Heller, USALaura Szwed, USA

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Women's Tricks

YearChampionSecondThird
1978Gillian Shipp, AUSBronwyn McCaskill, AUSJan Morgans, NZL
1980Gillian Shipp, AUSBronwyn McCaskill, AUSDebbie Pugh, AUS
1982Debbie Pugh, AUSKim Lampard, AUSBronwyn McCaskill, AUS
1985Debbie Pugh, AUSKim Lampard, AUSLori Powell, USA
1986Kim Lampard, AUSLori Powell, USADebbie Pugh, AUS
1988Lori Powell, USAJennifer Calleri, USASharon Stekelenburg, AUS
1990Jennifer Calleri, USAJulie Young, AUSAmy Lawler, USA
1992Jennifer Calleri, USADebbie Pugh, AUSMichelle Nutt, GBR
1994Jennifer Calleri, USASharon Stekelenburg, AUSJulie Young, AUS
1996Jennifer Calleri, USANadine de Villiers, RSASharon Stekelenburg, AUS
1998Sharon Dodgson, AUSNadine de Villiers, RSAChristine Wislow, USA
2000Nadine de Villiers, RSAGizella Halasz, AUSKatie Begell, USA
2002Nadine de Villiers, RSARachel George, USAGizella Halasz, AUS
2004Rachel George, USANerissa Wright, AUSKirsten Grønvik, NOR
2006Jody Sherwood, USARachel Normand, USALaura Szwed, USA
2009Ashleigh StebbeingsElaine Heller, USALaura Szwed, USA

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Women's Jump

YearChampionSecondThird
1986Michelle Doherty, GBRLori Powell, USAShelley May, NZL
1988Steffi Herrmann, FRGLori Powell, USAJacqueline Pfeiffer, SUI
1990Amy Lawler, USASharon Stekelenburg, AUSJennifer Calleri, USA
1992Beth Leboff, CANKaryn Scarpa, CANDebbie Pugh, AUS
1994Sharon Stekelenburg, AUSJennifer Calleri, USAKim Harding, GBR
1996Sharon Stekelenburg, AUSNadine de Villiers, RSAJennifer Calleri, USA
1998Nadine de Villiers, RSASharon Dodgson, AUSChristine Winslow, USA
2000Nadine de Villiers, RSAElisa Valerio, ITARachel George, USA
2002Nadine de Villiers, RSARachel George, USAKirsten Grønvik, NOR
2004Rachel George, USAKirsten Grønvik, NORSvenja Hempelmann, GER
2006Rachel Normand, USAAshleigh Stebbeings, AUSEmily Goldie, GBR
2009Ashleigh Stebbeings, AUSElaine Heller, USAKelly O'Donnell, NZL

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Women's Three-Event

YearChampionSecondThird
1978Colleen Wilkinson, AUSBronwyn McCaskill, AUSGillian Shipp, AUS
1980Kim Lampard, AUSDebbie Pugh, AUSBronwyn McCaskill, AUS
1982Kim Lampard, AUSDebbie Pugh, AUSBronwyn McCaskill, AUS
1985Kim Lampard, AUSDebbie Pugh, AUSBronwyn McCaskill, AUS
1986Kim Lampard, AUSLori Powell, USADebbie Pugh, AUS
1988Lori Powell, USASharon Stekelenburg, AUSJennifer Calleri, USA
1990Jennifer Calleri, USASharon Stekelenburg, AUSAmy Lawler, USA
1992Jennifer Calleri, USADebbie Pugh, AUSKaryn Scarpa, CAN
1994Jennifer Calleri, USASharon Stekelenburg, AUSJulie Young, AUS
1996Jennifer Calleri, USASharon Stekelenburg, AUSNadine de Villiers, RSA
1998Sharon Dodgson, AUSNadine de Villiers, RSAChristine Winslow, USA
2000Nadine de Villiers, RSARachel George, USAGizella Halasz, AUS
2002Nadine de Villiers, RSARachel George, USAGizella Halasz, AUS
2004Gizella Halasz, AUSRachel George, USAKirsten Grønvik, NOR
2006Rachel Normand, USAAshleigh Stebbeings, AUSEmily Goldie, GBR
2009Ashleigh Stebbeings, AUSElaine Heller, USAEmily Goldie, GBR

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Mixed Team

YearChampionSecondThird
1978AustraliaNew ZealandUSA
1980AustraliaUSANew Zealand
1982AustraliaUSANew Zealand
1985AustraliaUSANew Zealand
1986USAAustraliaGreat Britain
1988USAAustraliaGreat Britain
1990USAAustraliaGreat Britain
1992USAAustraliaCanada
1994USAAustraliaSouth Africa
1996USAAustraliaGreat Britain
1998USAAustraliaSouth Africa
2000USAAustraliaSouth Africa
2002USASouth AfricaAustralia
2004USAAustraliaFrance
2006USAAustraliaGreat Britain
2009USASouth AfricaAustralia

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This page last updated Friday, 11-Sep-2009 12:51:00 EDT
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