TOM OLDEN, from Wichita, Kansas was the June 2001 Footer of the Month.  Here's why:

The one and only, Tom Olden learned to barefoot at age 41.  I nominate this "legend" for footer of the month. I love this man! Tom is responsible for the longest running annual barefoot event in the world.  The first tournament in Wichita, KS was in 1979.  Tom told me at this past event, "I was the oldest competitor then, and here we are 22 years later and I’m still the oldest."

Tom has competed in several Nationals, and has traveled to Australia to support the US Team.  He won the National Trick title for his age group in 1980. Although he hasn’t gone to Nationals in a while, he has stayed loyal to putting on the Wichita event.  His contributions to the sport are overwhelming. He even spoke of maybe getting ready for the 2001 South Central Region Championships in Dallas.

My first memories of Tom are from 1987 and the Wichita River Festival Barefoot Tournament.  It was my first tournament.  At the time, current World Overall Champion Mike Seipel was on hand for exhibitions and autographs.  It was then that I met Tom and his friends Bob Garlick, Brad Pegg, and Ted Klein.  It was a grand experience, despite my missing a front deep.  Over the years, the Wichita event has had guest appearances by Brian Fuchs, Rick Powell, and Lane Bowers and to this day the event is known for great skiing, wild weather, and good times.

Tom is well known for his participation in the Wichita Water Ski Club’s annual New Years Day Ski and River Festival Ski Show events.  He raises $500 every year for various charities by barefooting in nothing more than a Speedo on New Years Day.  One year there was about a foot of snow and 6 inches of ice. Tom and I were out chopping ice with ropes tied around our waste! Tom had a chainsaw and I had a sledgehammer.  The ropes did come in handy and yes Tom skied in his bikini several times.  Tom says of his dip in the frigid water, "you can’t think about it (numbing, painful, freezing, ball-shrinking cold), you just do it!".  He also barefoots in the annual Wichita River Festival Ski Show each year.  He has done flying jump starts by sliding all the way up and over a full size ski jump on his butt and then deep-water up to ski away. He also does a flying bridge start. Amazingly, Tom has skied once a month since March 1979 - this is sure to be some kind of record. One month he had Bob pull him on a sitting ice start across a patch of open water behind his Rusty Eck Ford Truck.

Tom and Bob have been operating Marine World for many years.  In 1980, it started out as Ski and Barefoot Marine on the spare room floor of Tom’s house.  In the late eighties, I worked for these guys washing boats and being a gopher. Over the years, Marine World has grown into a first-class full-service marine dealership.  These guys have supported me and my skiing since the day before that first tournament when they taught me the long line front deep start.

Tom has recently sold "Olden Auto" of which he worked hard to build.  He remains involved with Marine World, and is enjoying life.  It was great to see him in such good spirits. In his own words, "This sport is like a family to me.  It’s even like a religion... It’s good for me.  I love it!" Our prayers have been answered and our foot’n friend, Tom Olden, has been cancer free for 5 years. It hit me hard this year seeing Tom, Bob, Brad, and Ted.  These same guys were my heroes, and they are responsible for my addiction to this sport.  I am now motivated to make the same impression on younger skiers.  Hats off to what Tom Olden has created.

.........Paul Stokes

Congratulations Tom, on being selected the June 2001 BarefootCentral.com Footer of the Month.   You are now eligible to win the "Mack Daddy" of all prizes.  Next January, you could be voted by your peers to be the 2001 Barefoot Central Footer of the Year.

Want to see each 2001 Footer of the Month?  Just click on each month below: