The 2003 event was so cold that the MS Society decided to move the event from the first week in April to the first week in May.  The week before the event saw temperatures in Chicago reaching the mid 70s.  But there's a saying in Chicago that goes:  "If you don't like the weather in Chicago, wait 10 minutes."  And if 10 minutes can result in a temperature change of say 10-15 degrees, image what a week can do.  As I flew to Chicago on Friday morning, I read the USA Today weather predictions for Chicago, and the high temperature for the weekend was predicted to only reach 50 at best.  It also predicted overcast skis and rain throughout the weekend.  Having lived in Chicago from 1983 until 92, I was accustomed to the crazy weather changes. My bags were packed with everything from a dry suit, long johns, sweatshirts and gloves, to hats, shorts, t-shirts, and sunscreen.  

Jim Cochran

Mike Schoenke

This year I decided to get a couple extra days of skiing in before the event on Sunday.  So I called Mr Rig of the Month, Jim Cochran to inquire about his interest in skiing.  Lucky for me I found one of the most dedicated hard core footers in the area.  Jim and his close friends Mike Schoenke, Richy Hagely, and Jeff Petersen foot on the Fox River early in the mornings any chance they get.  They gave me the hook-up! Richy brought his Barefoot Sanger out of storage for the first run of the season.  We skied both Saturday and Sunday morning.  Each morning consisted of waking up at 5am to be on the water by 7am on the North end of the Fox River, just south of Fox Lake.  We put in at the Broken Oar Bar & Grill on the water.

As we put the boat in the water each morning we would argue over who was going to ski first.  The skis were overcast both days, and the air temp was around 36 degrees.  I could see my breath.  I hadn't seen my breath since January in Texas.  We've been waking up to 65 degree air temps and 70 degree water temps for at least a month.  I found myself asking questions like: "Does this boat have a heater?"  "Who has a blanket I could borrow?" 

Skiing on the Fox River those two mornings brought back a lot of memories for me.  I learned to foot 15 years ago on that very river.  My good friend Keith Greenholdt got me into waterskiing by teaching me how to ski one day up by Blarney's Island on Fox Lake.  Blarney's Island is a bar that was built right out in the middle of the lake. You can only get to it by boat.  It's a very hapnin place to hang out in the summers.  Keith convinced me to try skiing back then, and what he thought would only take a few minutes wound up being several hours of pulling me up just enough for my legs to spread and get pulled out the front.  It was so bad we had to give up on the skis and go to the kneeboard.  My first two summers of skiing was doing nothing but kneeboarding.  Then one day we saw a guy barefoot across the lake right in front of us.  It was the coolest thing we had ever seen, so we set out on a mission to figure out how we could learn to barefoot by standing up from the kneeboard.  After hundreds of attempts, and several trips to the hospital emergency room for stitches from the kneeboard hitting us in the head, Keith finally got up and footed about 100 feet.  We were hooked and went on a mission to foot all the way around the lake. 

By the time I moved to Texas in 1992, I could comfortably foot around the lake, but I didn't know any tricks.  Once in Texas, I met footers of all levels and began learning as many tricks as I my body could handle.  Keith's passions led him in other sporting directions and we had not seen each other for at least 6 years.  I called him up and invited him out with us that Sunday morning.  He showed up with video camera in hand and excited to be out on the water again.  The only bad thing about him actually showing up was that it meant I was going to have to get in the water and ski for him.

We skied all morning.  Between sets, we would rinse our feet with the hot water shower Richy had in his boat.  It is such a weird feeling to be footing but not be able to feel your feet.  I was guessing that the water temp was around 50 degrees.  The guys from Chicago had no problems with it, but for this thin blooded Texan, it was like skiing in ice water.

Click Here to see a short video of Schoenke Foot'n

Mike Schoenke and Chuck Gleason	Jim Cochran having lunch at the Broken Oar

Tom Hart started the Jan's Fans event to give his friends an idea of what his wife experiences on a daily basis.  A common symptom of MS is numbness in the limbs.  Having his friends foot in the cold water for a day lets them all experience what Jan fights with in her daily life.

We skied that morning until about 10:30am, pulled the boat out of the water and drove an hour south to St. Charles.  The event was scheduled to start at Noon.  When we arrived, Tom already had all the boats in the water and was skiing away on the first run.  Jan was on the shoreline talking to a reporter from the local TV news channel.  

Tom Hart skiing for the crowd and ducks.  The ducks didn't seem to be very impressed by the skiers.

Mike Schoenke and Jim Cochran attended Jan's Fan with me.  They had never attended and wanted to meet some new footers in the area.  Mike Schoenke is the Midwest Regional director for ABC.  He's always on the hunt for new footers to get involved in tournament footing.  The American Barefoot Club hosts several events in the Midwest every year and has some of the finest and best organized events in the nation. 

As we walked up, the reporter noticed our matching BarefootCentral.com hats and made a comment that she had seen quite a few of the hats at the event.  Jan began telling her all about the site and that I come up from Texas each year just to attend and cover the event.  The next thing we know, we're in a boat getting geared up and being interviewed.  The reporter wanted to know what made us want to get in the cold water, and why we found barefoot waterskiing to be so fun.

We explained that most barefooters are a bit crazy, but they all have a love for skiing fast and showing off for their friends.  The sport is small enough that you feel you can get to know almost everyone in it.  It's like having an extended family.  It's also a sport that you can do your entire life and never seem learn everything.  It's just great to hang out and ski with people from all walks of life that have a single common interest that brings them together.  Once you're on the water, what you do for a living, how much you make, how old you are, whether you're male or female doesn't matter.  It's all about how good you are at gliding on the water with nothing but your feet, your desire to overcome your fear of falling, and the drive to accomplish something you never imaged you could ever do.

The weather for the event this year was much better than last year.  By noon, the air temperature was a balmy 52 degrees and the sun had broken through the clouds resulting in a very pleasant Sunday afternoon.  Barefooters from all over the area were in attendance, along with a few slalom skiers and wake-boarders.  Jan and Tom were extremely thankful for everyone's help and participation.  Fun was had by all.  Maybe next year they'll move it out another 30 days to June 1 and the temp will be 60 degrees. 

Here are some pictures from the event:

Kevin O'Connell	Kevin O'Connell
The Starting dock	Tom Hart and Mark Melsa look on as the skier disappears
Mike Schoenke and Chuck Gleason ham it up on shoe skis
A few slalom skiers showed up to strut their stuff.
Wakeboards were given the chance to ski behind the new Mastercraft	Tom Hart, Mark Vogel and Ken Fox
Mark Melsa, John Satala, Mike Hark, Mark Vogel, Ken Fox and the photographer	Mike Schoenke and Chuck Gleason ski through some nasty water.
Mike Slife and John Satala lookin good for the camera crew.	Rob Kadansky showing he can ski rough water.
Mark Vogel	Mark Vogel "Piece"
The view out my airplane window as I leave Chicago.  Until next year!

It was a pleasure handing Janice Hart a check from donations made on BarefootCentral.com.  For those of you who would still like to make a donation, it's not too late, click here to donate online.