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In June, 2007, we invited Heinrich Sam to the US to stay with us for a month
at our new home here in Houston. Eugene Sam, Heinrich's dad, is
planning to move their family to Houston in early 2008, so we thought it
would be a good chance for Heinrich to get to know the area before moving
over. After returning home, Heinrich was asked to give a presentation
to his entire school about his trip. This is his story. We held
this story back a few months until we knew the outcome of Heinrich's
illness. Soon after returning to S. Africa, Heinrich was diagnosed
with Cancer and had to under major surgery and go through several months of
recovery. For the latest information on his status,
click here. |
 I
have just come back from a 4 week stay with Chuck and Michele in the USA
(Houston) and I can only describe it in two words FREAKING AWESOME.
I left South Africa on the 20th of June and had a connection flight
via Paris and then on to Houston and this 24hour flight was the worst of the
whole trip at least on the flight to Paris I had some spare seats so I could
sleep most of that part.
So I finally arrived in Houston and Chuck was there to collect me and it was
another 40 minute drive to Chucks house. This was
to me one of the most awesome sites I have ever seen. This
was really one of the most beautiful homes I have ever seen.
It felt like I have booked into a 5 star hotel this place had it all
a gym, basketball court on the 2nd floor and you should have seen my room
and this house had a awesome view of the lake. As
we walked in we were welcomed by Michelle and Kathryn.
They took me on a tour of the house.
After all this it was time to eat and Michelle had prepared a great meal.
After super it was off to my room to get some
sleep on the softest bed I have ever slept on. The next morning I just heard
this loud voice HEINRICHHHHHHHHHHH its time to get up (boy she does not need
a loud speaker with a voice like that LOL ) I had
some cereal and was on the water by 6h45 this was the best medicine for jet
lag.
So I had to start with my
Masters Challenge and with a lot of
chirping and fun on the boat I went to 5000 points on the 1st morning.
I felt good about my skiing as I had not skied in since the Nationals back
in April . The best of all it was good to ski in
warm water and I am sure I could have gone to 8000 points on the 1st morning
I felt so good , but Chuck had only printed up to 5000 points.
This was a lot of fun. Chuck went for
a few runs and then it was off to Houston to the
EAGLE factory. Boy this was a big place.
I met all the people. I helped in whatever
Chuck needed me with the printing on t-shirts and suits and gave my ideas on
the new Eagle logo and check it out they used
them.
Michelle took me and Kathryn to the movies and
shopping we just did so many cool things including
basketball, darts and I so badly wanted to beat
Chuck, but I just could not do it. Now
that I'm back home, I
will be practicing so when we meet again I will up to the challenge.
I have never skied on shoe skies in my life.
I was introduced to shoe ski battle with Chuck and Bill and still managed to
beat them (HA HA HA)
In the next few days I did a lot of practicing on my steps as this is the
trick that I have not perfected yet as I love to turn and just spin , but I
still wanted the $3000 that was up for grabs in the Masters Challenge.
My reverse front to back is my killer as I took a lot of
big smack downs. I did something I had
never done before train on shoe skis (My dad would have killed me as he does
not believe in them so don't say anything to him LOL )
We did a lot of cool things at night and I was just soiled rotten. On the
4th of July we watched fire works. Chuck had some
friends over the fireworks was impressive as it is not very big in South
Africa and this was great to watch. One of Chuck's
neighbors almost had an accident
as some fireworks hit a girl and injured her leg.
Then I was introduced to poison ivy. We
don't have this back home and this was all over my back , but mother HEN
herself (Michelle) was there and sorted me out and get me better.
Chuck had arranged for the whole BFC team
to visit while I was there. BFC Team members
arrived and it was just a great vibe with all the
guys there (Chris ,Keith ,Salber ,Theresa, Joe).
We went to Swampy's Cajun Restaurant after
we arrived I realized this is a seafood joint and I just don't eat seafood.
But the waiter paid me $5 to just try a crawfish
and boy it did not taste good.
The next day it was Keith on the water to do his Masters
Challenge and also ended up on 9000 points. So
the challenge is really on for the $3000. My
reverse line-step is keeping me away from this as
I can do a 12000 run without step , but
Chuck won't let me skip those damn
steps.
We then started the shoe ski
battle and was a lot of fun (go to BFC and have a
look at the videos).
 We
all got names and I was the GREEN MACHINE. We
were still busy with this when we heard the helicopter arrive it landed in
Chucks driveway. The pilot and Chuck
discussed how they were going to do this and then the fun started.
This was one of the scariest things that I have ever done,
but once you got started, it was just so
awesome and I can tell you the ADRENALIN was pumping.
Chuck told us he was going to do a BFC video on the helicopter footage.
Keith and I skied together and we did some
side slides and the next moment he was down with a big crash.
Doing all this was just super cool. Ryan
Boyd and Joe Erickson
went jumping and the helicopter was in the air next to them.
There was some great shots taken. We all
went for a flip in the chopper. What a day.
The next day the shoe battle went on and I'll tell
you, this was crazy. Oh
yah Keith, my dad saw the video
and you are going to get it (LOL) THIS WAS JUST A
LOT OF FUN . Chuck and Ryan ended up in the final and
Ryan came out the winner.
All the team guys started leaving again and went back home,
only Theresa and Chris stayed and joined us on the trip to
Dallas, a 5 hour trip. We
watched some DVDs on the way and stayed over at some of Chucks friends
Kyle & Debbie Fahrenthold. They were really
great people. The next
morning, we were off to camp Grady
Spruce.
We got to Camp Grady and met the
guys and then had to do a ski show in really bad water.
We had a lot of kids watching us and even
with the conditions not good,
we still had a great show. After the show we
mixed with the crowds and had to answer a lot of questions and sign
autographs. The next morning at 05h25, we got up
and had to teach the camp supervisors to barefoot ski we did another show
after this, in really bad water again.
But barefooters are not soft
and we can handle things like
that. We then took some kids that wanted to
learn and all my kids got to barefoot except one.
We left for Houston that evening and it felt good to be home again. The next
day Theresa went home so all that was left was me and Chris.
We took on Chuck in basketball, but was beaten badly as we
really suck at basketball.
The next couple of days we did a lot of fun
skiing and I started thinking about going home and this made me really
sad as I was just having such a great time.
But I was going to make the most of the
last few days. Me and Chris went dancing with some
friends we made at the lake. We got in trouble with
Chuck as we were home a minute late, as punishment we had to wash his
truck and we sure did a good job.
Then it was time to leave and I was really sad to leave Chuck and Michele as
this was the best time that I have ever had in my
life meeting some great people and making a lot of new friends.
Michele you were my mom away from home you are just great great great just
great in everything like Chuck said you are the whole deal.
Chuck for inviting me and paying my whole trip a million thank-yous.
It was super-cool and super-fun!
All I can say is a AWESOME THANKYOU. You
guys are the best.
All the best!
Heinrich "Green Machine"
Sam
Thank-you to all my sponsors Masterline,
Eagle, and BFC
 
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