Jess Caserta is all about commitment.
The Eastern Regional Barefooter has competed in a tournament every year since 1983… and this year, he wasn’t going to let a back injury break his streak.
Jess waited until the back was better… and then traveled from New Jersey to Florida in November to take on the 2018 Turkey Tumble at Action Water Sports, in Polk City, Florida.
And yes… he didn’t just keep his streak. Jess won Mens C Slalom with a 6.9, finished second in Tricks with a 440 and brought home the Mens C Overall Champion Award for the 2018 Turkey Tumble!
Woohoooo!
Jess was just one of the 16 barefooters and four barefoot jumpers who came from all over the country and the world to take on the warm, glass-calm water of Lake Grew.
Ben Groen of the World Barefoot Center organized this tournament as a last chance for barefooters before the holidays.
“I always like a fall tournament to keep people excited for barefooting and the next season. And this was a great opportunity to get some 2020 worlds qualifying scores,” says Ben who was the Tournament’s Chief Driver and Homologator.
2018 U.S. Junior Team Member and Boys B competitor Brett “Slalom” Swanbom came off the dock hot with a 12.4 in slalom, a 2150 in tricks and an 8.9 in jump.
In the Boom division, 10-year-old Silas Walliser, Grandson of Rob Scott, kicked butt… scoring 260 points in a tumbleturn clinic. Safety Director Char Portman returned to the water after a year and a half and didn’t miss a start.
In the competitive Mens C Division, we mentioned Jess Caserta, won slalom and overall, Mark Wilson won Tricks with 450 and finished 4th in Slalom, “Grandpa” Rob Scott finished 2nd in slalom and 4th in tricks, John “Beast of the East” Garrity finished 3rd in slalom and tricks “Oh Yeah!”
In the Mens B Division, North Georgia’s Eric Coryer brought it home with 1st in slalom, tricks, jump and overall. He says he loves the warm water of Florida so much, he might start cheering for the Gators. Close behind Eric was Texas Outlaw Chad Sullivan with 2nd place in tricks and slalom.
In the golden-age divisions, 78-year-old Frat Boy, Don Simon won Tricks and Slalom in Super Veteran Men’s and Rock Star Al Hager won tricks and slalom in the Veteran Men Division.
The International Women were well represented by Matilde Gasparini who obliterated her personal best score in slalom of 4 with a 7.2 and made her toe-up to score 1850 in tricks in the bonus round!
In the International Men Division, Italy’s Andrea Emma won Tricks and Slalom, followed by France’s Dylan “Oui, I just learned a line back at 43 years old” Tellier and Germany’s Peter “Ja, Nein Scheisse” Jorissen finished third.
Full Results are listed below!
Massive thanks to Bruce Walter for driving, Logan Walter for scoring and taking care of the dogs, Ryan Gilman for video-taping, jump buoy diving and rope wrangling, Chad Sullivan for video and trying his hand at judging, John Garrity and Eric Coryer for jump course buoy installation and Ben Groen for making it all happen!
The next tournament will be April at the PGA Canal in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida… stay tuned for the date!
Gobble Gobble.
American Barefoot Club 