I would like to nominate my 10 year old son Nicholas Ruchti (The Nickster) for November's Barefooter of the month. Nick started footing about the middle of last summer 2006 and within a years time has mastered deep-water starts, step-offs and flyers, can cross back and forth over the wake and is now doing one foots and tumble turns!!!  He tried back footing-but I think he will have to wait until next year for that!  This year he even entered his first figure eight competition-FacePlant Fest 2007 in Long Lake Minnesota. He placed 5th out of 10 in the Juniors Division!  Not bad for being the youngest competitor in his first competition.  He works hard, practices hard and is very determined.  He is out footing almost every day regardless of the weather, sometimes at 6:00am before school!  He is still footing now in November...without a drysuit...they don't make them small enough for him!  He is pretty bummed that the boat will have to come out of the water any day now...unfortunately it is soon to be ice!  He wants to keep practicing as he is planning on entering three competitions next year!!  He is very passionate about this sport and fun to watch in action...and if I may say so..he is amazing...and I am very proud to be his Mom!

P.S. His birthday is November 27th...being awarded November's Barefooter of the month would be an awesome birthday present!

Thank You!

Lisa Ruchti
St. Cloud, Minnesota

Lisa:

Thanks for taking the time to nominate Nicholas.  Chris Van Zeeland has also been telling me stories about the Nickster and how great a skier he has become in such a short period.  Congratulations Nicholas!!  You're now an official BFC Footer of the Month.  Keep up the good work and we'll be seeing you at Footstock next season.  You're now eligible to become the 2007 BFC Footer of the Year, so start telling all your classmates about it. 

Chuck Gleason
BarefootCentral.com

Check out the other Footer's Of the Month