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BLAKE &  JANELL HELLER
from Alma Center, Wisconsin 
have been selected as the 
April 2005 
Footers of the Month

Here's why:

Every once in a while, a month goes by an we don't get any Footer of the Month nominees.  It's always surprising to me to think that we have so many footers around the world doing great things and having fun skiing, but so few of us take the time to recognize our skiing buds for even the simplest of accomplishments.  We set the BFC FOM section up to do just that, so don't hesitate to submit a friend.  We get over 2,000 visitors a day to BFC, and that equates to instant barefoot fame.  And if your friends are like most barefooters, they'll like being in the spotlight.

There is one good thing about not have a nominee.  It gives me time to think and write about some people that I think should be recognized for their efforts and contributions to the sport.  I get to meet and interact with a lot of people associated the sport at all levels. 

This month, I would like to turn the spotlight onto a father and mother that I think need a bit of recognizing.  Blake and his wife Janell Heller live in Alma Center, Wisconsin and own and run a dairy farm.  They have 4 children (Cody, Elaine, Shane, and Shannon).  Most of us know their kids because we see them competing in barefoot events all over the country throughout the year.  Their family has become famous in Figure-8 tournaments and have recently been competing in more 3-Event barefoot tournaments.  One of their kids, Shane, who's the twin brother of Elaine, likes to wakeboard over barefoot.  So you may not here about him much, but he's right in the thick of things at the Heller household.

Now imagine you're a parent and have 4 kids, with 3 wanting to compete in barefoot tournaments of all kinds.  The Heller kids are now competing in Figure-8, 3-Event, Show Ski, and Endurance Racing.  Their daughter Elaine even qualified for the Junior Worlds in South Africa.  What I'm getting at is that it takes a boat load of commitment on Blake and Janell's part to provide their kids the opportunity to participate in the sport at the level and quantity they are doing it.  Blake & Janell not only make sure their kids have the opportunity to compete in the events they are excited about, but you'll always find them on the shoreline cheering them on.  Even though they have a large farm to run, they make the time to be there for their kids.

Recently, my wife Michele asked Blake's daughters, Elaine and Shannon, to participate in the BFC Racing Cup Series and ski for the Whippin Crew all girls team.  After speaking to their dad, they called back to inform Michele that they were in 100%.  Blake made a follow-up call and assured Michele that the girls would be at the events and would even make sure they had a SkiPro to ski behind.  Then about 2 weeks later, I get another call from Blake telling me that his son Cody. not wanting to be out-done by his sisters, now wants to have a team in the Cup Series.  He wanted to put together a team of Figure-8 champions and wanted to know if I'd let Aaron Schoelzel ski with Cody and Chris Van Zeeland.  I agreed and within a few days, Blake called back signing up a team by the name of "Cows Are Us".  I came to find out that Blake not only bought the team, but he's covering the cost of all the team members.  Having owned Team Barefoot Central in the 2004 Cup Series, I knew exactly what that financial commitment was going to be.  So he's not only making sure his kids are participating, he's also providing Paul Stokes, Aaron Schoelzel, and Chris Van Zeeland the same opportunity.  That's Huge.  

In 2005 don't be surprised to see a lot of the Heller family competing in all kinds of barefoot waterki events.  The Heller family will be setting records on the water and will no doubt set a record for the most cross discipline events attended and miles traveled in a single year.  It all gets kick started with Elaine competing in South Africa at the Junior/Senior Worlds.  Look for Elaine, Shannon and Cody out on the water, and for Blake and Janell pacing on the shorelines.  If you see Blake sweatin, know you know why.

I just wanted to say thanks to Blake and Janell for taking the time, making the financial commitment, and being there for their kids.  We look forward to seeing you on the shorelines.

Chuck Gleason