RICHARD GRAY, a Canadian now living in Winter Haven, Florida was selected as the
May 2002 Footer of the Month

I have many reasons for selecting Richard as a Barefoot Central Footer of the Month.  I've known Richard for several years.  I first met him over the phone as I was placing equipment orders with the Barefoot Company.  Not so many years ago, Richard bought the Barefoot Company at a time when everyone had thought that it had gone out of business.  Richard spent the next several years turning the company around and re-establishing it's brand in the marketplace.  He set up partnerships with guys like Lane Bowers to help promote the company, while at the same time helping Lane establish a successful ski school of his own.  When you would call to book ski lessons with Lane, it would be Richard who answered the phone and sometimes spent hours talking to the students about why they should attend and how much he looked forward to meeting them.  I was once one of those students.

Last year Richard sold the Barefoot Company to Lake Elmo Sports, located in Minnesota.  He still helps promote the company, but realized that he alone could no longer manage the growing business, and still have time to spend doing the sport he loves so much.  So he picked a dealer he could trust to maintain the quality and service, and handed the reigns to them.  Lane Bowers went on to establish The Footer's Edge Ski School which he continues to run out of Winter Haven. 

These days you'll find Richard in Winter Haven working as a Computer Systems Technician, Software Engineer, and Barefoot Enthusiast.  When not working, you'll may find him being a Senior Judge at a barefoot tournament on the weekend, skiing with the Canadian Barefoot Team, or participating in World Barefoot Council meetings.  Richard is the first to review any new world records and Keith St. Onge has been keeping him pretty busy lately.  He also travels to Canada and Europe each year for several weeks to put on Barefoot Clinics and barefoot exhibitions at ski shows.

Two weeks ago during our visit to Florida to do our Barefoot Ski School Review (which we'll publish shortly), I was scheduled to do a review on Barefoot Etc.  At the last minute, I found out that Barefoot Etc had decided they weren't going to pull students that day, so I was left high and dry while my buddy Stuart was about to go off skiing with Ron Scarpa.  Richard heard me telling Stuart my problem, and to my surprise, he asked me to spend the day with him hanging out and skiing on his boat.

We spent the day either hanging out at Richards house drinking beer and talking about barefooting, or on the water doing some footing.  Richard already had some friends staying with him from Vancouver, so he made a point to introduce me to the gang.  We had a great time skiing and goofing around.  Here's some photos of Richard doing some barefoot slalom through the alligator infested reeds near the shoreline.  He's a nut to put it bluntly.

I can't thank Richard enough for his hospitality.  Everyone who meets Richard knows immediately how much he loves the sport of barefoot and loves life and people in general.  He always has a positive attitude and is always there to offer words of encouragement.  Some people live to work, others work to live.  Richard works to barefoot, and that's why I'm making him the May 2002 Barefooter of the Month.

Congratulations Richard!!  You are now eligible to become the 2002 Footer of the Year.

Chuck Gleason