Letter about Blairfoot Article

Feedback on article about Blairfoot Bonanza
2nd Email from Dan Lundt - 11/09	2nd Respond from Chuck to Dan Lundt 11/11	Tim Tanis 11/13	Rod Negus 11/14	Gary Mueller Footstock Co-Founder 11/22	Richard Gray IWSF Member 11/28
11/09/2005 Chuck, First, I would like to thank you for posting that email on your website. I have received a number of emails from people giving me credit for finally noting to you that you sure make it seem like the world must revolve around you at any cost - and it seems like that doesn't go unnoticed. On the other hand, you are right...when I sent that email, I should have held off for a day or two. Did I put too much emotion into it right away? Probably. However, I just don't understand how you can write an article so bluntly claiming that the Blairfoot is not a worthy event for the ability to hand out the World Champion crown. And then, to top it off, directly underneath that is an article about Footstock and the racing series as the only true endurance competition. (A similar format is run at the Blairfoot) Don't get me wrong, I think everything about Footstock makes it a great tournament and the best skiers are there. I am not talking down about Footstock in any respect. But, very infrequently is that a worldwide event. (Am I correct?) Most years, the Blairfoot does have skiers from around the world competing. I can't state for sure what countries were represented this year, but there was more than just Canada. To go along with that, Banana George put his heart and soul into working with the I.W.S.F to make this happen. Behind the scenes, tournament organizers and officials helped out as well. I respect your right to post anything on your website, however, I find that move was a bit immature because you wanted to show me as a person who would be "crushed" by BFC. In that respect, it isn't working for you. My bottom line is, it would be nice that you could use what you have built to better the sport, and not tear it down - regardless if it is an event sponsored by BFC or not. Mike Salber (a BFC skier!), won the tournament, and is deserving to be on the top of the world, but you make it seem like it was absolutley nothing and give him little credit for the title. No matter what, he was crowned the World Champion whether it was at a BFC sponsored tournament or not. If you noticed the names of competitors in the Blairfoot, many are from Wisconsin, and skiers in Footstock. I may have poured an unjust amount of emotion into that email, but you seemingly attack a target that is a pillar of the sport. Am I standing up for George, no. If you knew him well enough, you would know he can surley do that himself. However, I am representing the fact that you gave disrespect to an event and person that was desrving in every right. As for my opinion of BFC, I believe what you have built is the e-gathering place for barefooters. I would just caution that you don't sway it too much towards only your events and the racing series. I have been a visitor of your site since the beginning, and it has taken a heck of a swing since then. There are a lot of skiers out there that still find barefooting fun, and not something that needs to have people bashing each other about - am I right? I have always looked at barefooting as a sport where the worst skier is the best, and the best skier is the best - nobody judges anyone or anything. I would hope you can help continue that ideal through your website. However, articles that demean other events do not in anyway show that respect of other athletes and event organizers. I know THIS email won't make it to your website, but I stand confident and feel just in my previous email. As much as it is great to have people look up to you, it isn't worth sacraficing the ideals of a sport. Sincerely, Dan Lundt PS: Have you ever approached the I.W.S.F about working on making a barefoot racing "World Champion" sanctioned event? Maybe this is one way you can fulfill, what you think true endurance barefooting is. I, for one, think that better distinguishes the events. Like you say, there is a different aspect in barefoot racing and endurance and figure-8. You're not off on that in my mind. Maybe something can be done to sanction an event and distinguish a "World-Championship" team each year? An after effect is that this might gain more popularity from around the world and actually have international teams compete. If this happened, you wouldn't be worried about events you call non-worthy, from stealing the glory away from BFC sponsored barefoot racing events. Good, bad or indifferent. Everyone is happy and a new "World Champion" can be selected for a different event. - Dan Lundt
11/11/2005 Dan: You keep missing the mark. Me sponsoring an event has nothing to do with my opinions. The winner of Footstock can not call himself (or herself) the World Champion either. The message is no SINGLE tournament can call itself the World Championship without some sort of playoff or run-off system among other tournaments in the same sport to qualify to be able to compete in a World Championship. Mike Salber does not deserve such a title for that fact alone. Sanctioning a tournament for the sole purpose of saying it's sanctioned doesn't magically make it worthy. It takes coordination within the sport itself. I don't care if it was Banana, myself, Scarpa, or whoever that put on the Blairfoot. Without the buy in from the rest of the Figure-8 competitors and a consorted world-wide effort to create some sort of World qualification system, it's just a local tournament. As for what we cover on BFC, we cover what's hot throughout the year. We cover 3-event and figure-8 during their seasons, and now we are covering racing during it's season. Racing is a new aspect of the sport and it's getting a lot of attention right now because Sept-Dec is the meat of their season and it's growing rapidly. We are working with them to organize the league in a way so we can collect data on the skiers, develop ranking systems, and have a point system that will determine a best of class winner over a series of events. Exactly what I'm telling you Figure-8 needs. The organizers are working together, and we have established a Board of Advisors for the league. If skiers in other countries see what we are doing and wish to some day put together a World-wide effort to determine a World Champion, we will work with them to do it. Until, then, it will remain the Cup Series Championship. Sanctioning of any kind should only be the result of proper upfront organization and collaboration. A title with no structure, or participation from all the event organizers is worthless. You've obviously formed an opinion of me that you are satisfied with. As for promoting this sport. Nobody on this planet has promoted this sport more than BarefootCentral.com in the last 5 years. That's not hearsay, it's fact. We have the content to prove it. An NO, I don't agree with your skiing with Rose colored glasses attitude. There is a lot of good going on that we promote, and there is also a lot of bad things going on that has devastated this sport financially and ethically. When we see a wrong being done, we point it out. When we see greatness take place, we talk about that as well. I have a deep belief that this sport can continue to grow and even get back on TV some day. Racing is hands down the best bet for TV coverage. But, even with a lot of effort, barefooting will never be as big as wake-boarding and slalom. And the sponsorship money won't be as big either. What that equates to is we as a sport need to be that much more diligent in working together to make sure everyone is working in the same direction not just from a promotion standpoint, but from a budgeting and financial standpoint. Today, that is not happening. Everyone seems to be going in 15 different directions. If you think about it, BFC is the only site in the world that has been able to bring all the disciplines together. That has never been done. You seem to have an image of me as someone that just sits at home and thinks up bad things to say about the sport. You forget that I'm also a skier. I've been in the sport for over 15 years and compete in all aspects (3-event, Fig-8, and Racing). The results of all my traveling is that is I get to meet a lot of barefooters. I know more about this sport and what issues surround it than you give me credit for. As for doing things for my own financial benefit. I challenge you to spend 6-8 hours each day doing something you don't make a penny from. Every dime we've made on BFC in the last 5 years has been funneled back into the sport to build it financially, cover costs of running events, and cover costs of promoting it on the web. I have never sought out to be a sponsor of any event. The organizers contact us because they don't have the funds from local sponsors to cover their costs. It's hard to convince local sponsors to fund events when they are so focussed on wake-boarding. But we approach the major sponsors from a National and worldwide level. We select the events that we feel are run professionally and are in line with our abilities to promote them. For your info, I have a full time job just like everybody else. I've been fortunate enough in life to establish a very successful printing sales and product fulfillment business. So I challenge you to go out there and create an e-magazine like BFC and an e-commerce site. Then take your profits and give them back to the sport while people like you are accusing me of doing it for my own self interest. Get to know who really runs this sport and then select the partners you feel will get you where you want to go. Then call me in 4 years and we'll compare notes on what you've experienced and the opinions you've formed. I've spent nearly $75K per year over the last 4 years on this sport. I don't do it because I want the attention. You rarely see pictures of me footing on the website. I do it because I love the sport itself and I know what its going to take to make it successful. It's one thing to work your ass off for a single tournament. But try doing it from a world-wide perspective across all aspects of the sport. You try making the decisions on who gets what funds and why. I have no problems posting your last email to me. It's just another opinion of what I'm doing. If you really want to make a difference. Take off the rose colored glasses, and start trying to figure out how you can make this sport better both from a fun aspect and competitive aspect. You figure out how to get major sponsors to give even a 1/4 of what I give each year and then stay in year after year. You try to figure out how to get the sport seen by as many people as possible and even grow it by a measly 5% next year. You try to figure out how to keep the manufacturers involved when there is not real cooperation in our sport. Or you can take the easy way out and keep complaining about me and doing your armchair quarterbacking. Bottom-line, if you want to have a debate with me, educate yourself. The best way to do that is get involved. When was the last time you took the time to take pics and write an article about an event you attended? Organizing the Bonanza is one thing. Try doing all that, writing the check to cover all the costs, and competing in it while taking over 1000 pics, then writing a full blown article about your experience. Try doing that simple task one time and let me know how you do. Then try doing it once a month, then once a week, then every day. I can already hear the excuses why you can't. Oh yeh, try not to piss anyone off in the meantime. Good luck!! Chuck
From: Tim Tanis [mailto:turbotanis@t-online.de] Sent: Sunday, November 13, 2005 4:21 AM To: cg@barefootcentral.com; mcbarefoot57@yahoo.com Subject: Hate Mail Guys, go and get your testosterone checked. Hate mail achieves no positive objective so take that hate energy and promote the sport instead; 2006 Blairfoot Bonanaza vs Footstock ??? I do not know and have never met Chuck Gleason, Dan Lundt or Banana George so I trust my opinion is netrual. Speaking for myself and not the barefooters from around the world, I enjoy the BarefootCentral.com web site and thank all those that contribute to making it so guys, keep it real and when it becomes personal, take it out back. Tim Tanis Turbotanis@t-online.de
From: Rod Negus [mailto:rdn@ahpcrc.org] Sent: Monday, November 14, 2005 6:58 AM To: Chuck Gleason Subject: ...bridge over troubled waters.... Hi Chuck, I've been on the sidelines following along on the discussion of the "World Figure 8 Barefoot Championships". Its really unfortunate that things have gone in the direction that they have with the criticism and animosity thats being dished out. First of all....I want to say that I haven't lost sight of all the hard work BareFoot Central has put forward to grow the sport of barefooting since its inception. At a time when I heard nothing but complaints about how Waterski Magazine ignored the sport of barefooting, you were there to bring daily coverage of the sport of barefooting. You grew interest in the sport through your interesting articles, live coverage of US Nationals and World tournaments, sponsorship of junior team members, your Locate-A-Footer has allowed me to travel all over and meet new skiers and make friendships that will endure for eternity, and not to mention the good deeds you have done through Jan's Fans, traveling to Regional and other tournaments outside your region and donating piles of prizes for raffles, your Footer of the Month and Footer of the Year awards and the many more things you've so unselfishly taken the time to do. Its unfortunate, that you've received criticism for your recent questioning of the validity of the "World Figure 8 Championships. Those of us who have known you for a long time, know that your intentions are sincere and that you mean to do well for the sport of barefooting. I am not a part of the Figure 8 world so I feel I am in a position to be objective. I will say that I have to agree with you. It seems like defining a tournament as a "World Championship" is something that should have been decided upon and agreed to by committee, probably amongst all nationwide who run Figure 8 tournaments. Since the Figure 8 crowd seems to be so large these days, I'm wondering if Figure 8 needs to have its own division outside of ABC within USA Waterski...or maybe be established as a sub-division of ABC. It appears that there is a need for some type of oversight committee that can make decisions such as which tournament gets appointed as the "World Figure 8 Championship" and also regulate other controversial aspects of Figure 8, such as the taping of feet other issues I've heard arise in the past. Most importantly, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you once again for all you've given to the sport of barefooting. You have been an outstanding ambassador! Sincerely, Rod Negus American Barefoot Club (ABC) - Minnesota Representative If you have an opinion of your own, please feel free to email me at cg@barefootcentral.com. Please remember that we do reserve the right to post any email we receive.
From: Gary Mueller [mailto:GMUELLER7@wi.rr.com] Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2005 1:50 AM To: cg@barefootcentral.com Subject: Can't we all get along? I have read with great interest the discussion that has taken place about Barefoot George's Blairfoot Bonanza and about Chuck Gleason's editorial on the subject. I must say, as a casual observer, I am surprised by the level of animosity shown towards Chuck and his comments. As someone, who has personally worked with the Gleasons (Chuck and Michelle) for the past two years, I can say, without reservation that Chuck has single-handedly helped return Footstock and Figure Eight barefooting back to the level it was at in the late 90's when it was at it's heyday. Without Barefoot Central's support (both financially and more importantly from a promotion standpoint) Footstock wouldn't be the premiere event that it is today. The Gleason's support of our sport has also directly impacted the rise in success of the other figure eight tournaments in the midwest. And, despite the warnings of a handful of people within the industry, they have been a joy to work with. Neither making unreasonable demands on our event or attempting to run things. If anything, I am constantly amazed by BFC's continued passionate and unwavering support of our crazy little sport. I don't think Chuck's comments were in any way meant to minimize the efforts of George Blair. Personally, I applaud George for having the hutzpah to attempt to organize a national championship for Figure Eight Barefooting, and I believe Chuck would share that viewpoint. Every figure eight event that is well-organized and well-run anywhere is a good for the sport. I think Chuck was merely pointing out the fact that anybody who knows anything about figure eight barefooting understands that Footstock is considered the granddaddy of all Figure Eight Championships. I think despite the fact that BFC is a major sponsor of Footstock, that considering the size and quality of the field at our event, that's a reasonable assertion to make. I do, however, think we all benefit from the Banana Man's efforts, especially at bringing a major Figure Eight tournament to the south. George helped promote our tournament and even competed at Footstock in the 90's and we appreciate his efforts. The sport of barefooting needs more visionaries like George Blair, as well as more visionaries like Chuck and Michele Gleason. People may not always agree with what they say. But I believe it's hard to argue with their intent or their impact on the sport of barefooting. I think it's great that Dan Lundt is very supportive of and even defensive of Blairfest and what they accomplished. He should be. George has done a great job. But I don't think it's necessary to bludgeon Chuck or his intentions in the process. I look forward to us all working together to make Figure Eight barefooting even better in 2006. Sincerely, Gary Mueller Co-founder- Footstock
Chuck et al, I managed to read through all the comments about the Bananza. Here are a few of my own: Gary Mueller. I don't believe I have ever met you. Great words for everyone to digest and try to follow. IWSA?? The correct acronym is IWSF, International Water Ski Federation Foot Stock vs World Championships. I liken this to many events we have in the world of sports, not just water skiing, but here is a Water Ski example. "The Masters" This is an event of its own. It carries a prestige that no other event holds, not even the World Championships. It would do nothing for the event to call it anything but The Masters. Winning a Masters title is sought after by Water Skiers as much, if not more than the World Title. Other names that come to mind are: Wimbledon, The Daytona 500, The Indianapolis 500, The America's Cup, The US Open (golf), The Stanley Cup ......and of course....The Olympics. I think Foot Stock is an event of its own and requires no other distinction, just as the examples I have given. To be the "Footstock" Champion carries a level of accomplishment that defines an athlete and an event. There are many "World Championships" that are not the biggest events of the sport. I think that is one way sports are able to grow and develop to on their own. Many great advancements happen at these events that are then brought to the World or Olympic level. Thanks for continuing to support all aspects of Barefoot Water Skiing, and for allowing everyone to join in the discussions. Richard Gray Footer of the Month May 2002 :)
Richard, I could go along with your theory if the sport of barefooting was big enough. But in all the sports you mention, all of them have a qualification system to even be able to compete in the "Title" events. Even events such as the US Open in golf and Tennis have very competitive qualification rounds just to get into the tournaments. That's what makes them so prestigious. Everyone knows you have to beat the best of the best to win them. Just showing up and paying your entry fee as qualification doesn't bring the same prestige. I think the IWSF needs to rethink their decision, then send some of it's members, like yourself, to the events like Footstock to learn more about that aspect of barefooting before they decide whether a World Championship is really warranted, or even possible at this time. Just because these guys don't do surface turns, toe turns, and front flips doesn't mean their discipline isn't as serious and important to them as 3-event is to the IWSF members. They deserve just as much knowledge based decision making as the IWSF gives the 3-event side. Here's some questions for the IWSF? 1. How many current IWSF members have ever competed in a Figure-8 competition? 2. If this sport is truly evolving into 3 separate disciplines (3-Event, Figure-8, and Racing). Wouldn't it make sense that the IWSF should have representation from each of those disciplines before they start making sanctioning decisions that could affect the future of either Figure-8 or barefoot endurance racing for that matter? I personally don't trust any panel to make fair and informed decisions if they don't have the experience and knowledge of the sport itself. Chuck