I was sitting around this month wondering who to choose as Footer of the Month.  I'm always looking for something inspirational in the nominations we get.  I was at a loss until I got a call from my good friend Scott Pellaton a few weeks ago.  Many of you may have enjoyed our article in the "Where Are They Now?" section on Scott.  Click Here if you missed it.

I've known Scott several years now.  And to this day, I've never been able to get him to barefoot.  He just tells me he beat his body up too much during his speed barefoot days and is happy just slalom skiing to stay fit these days.  What I've come to enjoy the most about Scott is all the crazy stories he has about his life in speed skiing and speed barefooting.  He made his living touring the country "barn storm style" demonstrating his speed barefooting to drag boat crowds, show ski events, barefoot tournaments, pro slalom events, and various festivals across the US.  He became the act everyone came out to see.  People would come out as much to see him do a successful run as much as they would in hopes he might survive a fall beyond all imagination.  Scott did all this with equipment he made or modified himself.  He helped wetsuit, handle and rope manufacturers develop products that would withstand the wear and tear of barefoot waterskiing.

To date, my only experience seeing Scott barefoot has been the same as yours, through the videos we've shown here on BarefootCentral.com.  When Scott and I spoke a few weeks ago, he surprised me with the news that he had been barefooting a little lately.  When I asked why, he went on to tell me that since he was turning 50 this year, he had decided to come out of a 16 year retirement to promote the fact that his generation was still the most active.  "Think about it" he said.  "What age group always has a lot of skiers at the barefoot and waterski tournaments?  Go run a 10K and see who the competition is.  I would rather run against the 25-35 age group because I would place higher.  I'm here to show we old farts are still more focused (when we want to be) than any other age group." 

So Scott's chasing the speed gun again.  He had been out barefooting the day he decided to go back at it and his feet were so tender he could hardly walk on them.  He explained that he had only footed for about 30 seconds at 45mph and his feet were smokin.  He couldn't believe we were able to ski 15-20 minutes at 50mph during our races.  He knew it would be a while before he was even able to think of going close to 100mph, but he sounded like a little kid who had just footed for the first time.  I could tell he couldn't wait to get back out on the water.  I told him to make sure his insurance was up-to-date, and kidded him that he was just going through a mid-life crisis. 

To give you a perspective on what Scott is attempting, I went back through some video I shot of him during on of my trips to California during our 2005 Cup Series Race season.  Tony Buoniauto and I got a glimpse into the past as Scott showed us where he keeps all his old speed gear.  So click on the link below to launch the video:

Click Here to watch video

Scott has decided to train this year and make a demonstration run at the 2006 Barefoot World Championships in Adna, Washington on Sept 16.  So if you're planning to attend the Worlds, you're in for a special treat.  You'll have the best barefooters in the world all in one place and you'll find them all focused on the water when Scott cranks up the drag boat to pull him down their 3000 ft ski lake over 100mph.

I called Scott this evening before writing this to ask him how things were going.  He had just come off the water after making his first "fully suited" run.  He had run 82mph and that was as fast as the boat pulling him would go.  He felt great and was looking forward to going over 100mph in the week or so.  I asked him if his old body would hold up long enough, and he replied; "You tell all those young pups to bring it on!  I'll take on all comers.  I have the cash to put up and the skill to back it up, with or without my AARP card...I'm back baby!!!!"  LOL

So now you understand why I'm making Scott Pellaton the June 2006 Footer of the Month.  If what he's doing doesn't inspire you, nothing will...

Congratulations Scott!  You're now eligible to be voted BFC Footer of the Year.  Start your campaigning now. 

Check out the other Footer's Of the Month