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Footstock
2006 |
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Van Zeeland Last Man
Standing at National Endurance Barefoot Championships.
Crandon, Wisconsin – Footstock 2006 was supposed to be the crown jewel of Aaron Schoelzel’s already storied endurance barefoot career. Going for a record fifth National Figure Eight Barefoot Championship, the 26-year old Schoelzel did the unimaginable on the tournament’s second last run by tossing the rope after only a single eight. As he lay in the water exhausted in front of a stunned and completely silent standing room only crowd, his response to announcer Dave Mueller’s question of “why did you let go?” was simple. “I’m just tired,” Schoelzel statement summed up what many of the day’s final competitors at Footstock felt like as they one by one succumbed to the pain of blistered feet and aching arms and backs delivered by Peshtigo Lake’s punishing mile and a half figure eight course. The scene was just one of many unexpected plot twists that took place in Crandon last weekend as 182 barefooters from 11 states and three country’s took to the waters of Peshtigo Lake to vie for the country’s most coveted barefoot water skiing crown. The National Figure Eight Barefoot Championships. Of course, Schoelzel’s surprising exit left the door open for Paul Stokes to make a run at his first national figure eight title. But after becoming the first open pair in Footstock history (along with Chris Van Zeeland) to complete three eights earlier in the day, the Former US World Team Captain simply couldn’t out duel former champ Chris Van Zeeland. After two and a half figure eights and almost going down twice on the final set of boat waves, the day belonged to Van Zeeland who gutted it out to take home $3,000 and his second National Figure Eight Championship. “It was the best Footstock ever,” pronounced 3rd place finisher Aaron Schoelzel over the blare of fireworks at the awards ceremony Sunday night outside the Barefootcentral.com tent. It was a sentiment shared by virtually all the competitors who stayed until sunset to watch the ending celebration. “Just an awesome, awesome championship,“ noted surprise 8th place finisher John Hill of Arizona. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I know I have to train even harder next year. I’ll definitely be back.”
Another of the weekend surprises was the strong return of past Footstock champion, Russ Swallish and former top five finisher and 2006 National Show Skier of the Year, Jon DeBelak. DeBelak put on an amazing display of endurance by turning in over a dozen figure eights Saturday to win a hotly contested Senior division. DeBelak turned back 52-year old iron man Mike Netzer, who completed more eights over the weekend than any other competitor between two division.
The tournament also saw the continued emergence of the young Heller sisters (Shannon and Elaine) who handed the Open men almost a dozen losses en route to their Top 32 finishes. Their brother Cody rounded out the family’s strong showing by capturing 7th overall.
The women’s division saw Shannon Heller repeat as women’s National Figure Eight Champion. Heller bested hometown favorite, Katie Frank. Local show skier, Jenny Maloney took third.
Janesville Rock Aqua Jay barefooter, Jamie Kumlein took home the Junior Division crown by besting Casey Roser of Minnesota. The juniors turned in several long runs en route to the final. Walker Judd took third.
In all, over 360 runs were pulled by Sanger Boats and US Gear, with more than 60 of the runs going for over a full figure eight, and more than 20 going for two, a record for the two-day event.
“The conditions were perfect,” noted past champion and Tournament Organizer Buck Dailey. “The weather cooperated, the crowd was great and the town did a great job in pulling off what most in the water ski community consider to be the best barefoot tournament in the world.”
And as the sun set on another successful Footstock and as the Barefoot champagne flowed over reigning endurance king Chris Van Zeeland’s head, the two-time champ, although sore, could not stop smiling. “This one is sweet. Very sweet.”
Official Results
Juniors
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