JASON sHATEK, from Central Iowa, was selected as the October 2002 Footer of the Month.

Chuck,
Here is the information for my nomination of Jason Shatek for Footer of the Month.

First, some history of Jason:
Jason started skiing when he was ten. He grew up with a large family who also loves waterskiing. There are over fifteen boats among his family and friends. In 1998 Jason joined the Mississippi Blackhawks Water Ski Show Team. He loves show skiing, but quickly found that barefooting is his true love. He initially took barefoot lessons with Ron Scarpa and Mike Siepel, in Florida. There was interest in the sport of barefooting in our area of the Mid West, so in 2001 Jason hosted the first annual barefoot clinic on the Mississippi River. Twenty-four people, in five days, learned how to barefoot. Jason would like to compete in tournaments someday, but unfortunately there are not many tournaments close to central Iowa. He has a goal to host the first Iowa barefoot tournament. He is building a web site to show his love for the sport.

"It's one way for me to promote barefooting and my love of waterskiing. The reason why I am doing all of this is because it truly makes me happy. I want to be able to say that I am good at something. I have family and friends tell me, 'See what you got us into.' I love barefooting."

Jason is now teaching waterski and barefoot lessons.  He got started by teaching family and friends what he knows for the past couple of years. Word-of-mouth spread until people started coming to him for lessons.  Jason is moving to Florida for the winter this year to train with Ron Scarpa. When he moves back from Florida, April 1, he plans to continue teaching in Iowa. He is looking forward to moving on November 1, to train with Ron Scarpa and learn new tricks.

The reason I think Jason should be Footer of the Month:
Jason's enthusiasm for the sport of barefooting is incredible.  It goes beyond just loving the sport.  He gets people on the water to learn barefooting for the first time and to learn new skills.  He has hosted a barefoot clinic on the Mississippi two years now, bringing Paul MacDonald up to Iowa from Ron Scarpa's ski school to teach.  Outside the clinic, I have seen Jason teach first time barefooters to ski every time I have been on the water with him.  He has encouraged improvement in experienced barefooters, helping them strive to do new things and to be stronger and more confident on the water.  His love and enthusiasm for barefooting is contagious!

I met Jason through the BarefootCentral.com Locate a Footer feature.  He called me late last fall after seeing my name on your site.  We talked via email a few times over the winter and we skied together for the first time at his spring barefoot clinic with Paul MacDonald.  For many years I have wanted to attend a barefoot ski school, but probably wouldn't have gotten around to it without Jason's encouragement.  The clinic with Paul MacDonald and skiing with Jason this summer have taken my barefooting well beyond where I thought I could go.  Now I have goals for the future that include tricks I never thought I would ever do.  I am just one person that Jason has
encouraged.  There are many others.  He is expanding the sport of barefooting.

Jason is sending me a picture which I will scan and email to you as soon as possible.  Let me know if there is anything else I need to do.

Thanks,

Dennis Lee