By Megan Adams
The 2019 Tri-State Barefoot Championships is the first of three tournaments at the site of this year’s Barefoot Nationals. The high temperatures in the Wisconsin countryside was matched only by some incredibly cool skiing on the water. The state tournament between Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois took place at Blue Moo Lake in Alma Center, Wisconsin on June 29th. A total of 16 skiers competed from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Georgia. It was a hot weekend with the temperatures close to 100 degrees.
Six of the skiers were from Minnesota, seven skiers were from Wisconsin, and two skiers from Georgia, and one skier was from Illinois. There was a great turnout for the Tri-State and everyone survived the heat, but leaving with some sunburn.
The Cyr Twins had a very successful tournament with Martin putting up a new PB of 760 points and Orval qualifying for the 2020 worlds, scoring 1500 points. Orval need 1500 points to qualify and he pulled it together and got exactly that to qualify. Both of the boys were extremely excited with their results and can wait for the Midwest Regionals.
Carter Boerman also competed at the Tri-State, which was his second tournament ever, and did an amazing job scoring 4.9 in slalom and 700 points in tricks. Megan Adams scored 1280 points in tricks and a 7.3 in slalom. Paul Stokes also showed up to “Pass the Stoke” in the slalom event scoring 16.0. Cody Heller made a come back in jump reaching 22.4 meters and scoring 14.0 in slalom.
Paul Oman set a pending Men’s 7 Record, jumping 7.1 meters! The only person from Illinois was 77-year-old Ben Hough, scoring 0.98 in slalom and 180 points in tricks.
Eric Coryer came all the way from Georgia to ski in Tri-State and he scored 11.4 in slalom, 1700 points in tricks, and 10.6 meters in jump, winning the Men’s B age group. Sean Qualey scored 8.6 in slalom and 1330 points in tricks, nailing his back tumble up start. Brody Meskers scored 16.2 in slalom, 17.1 meters in jump, and 4300 points in tricks. Betsy Gilman scored 1200 points in tricks, 7.1 meters in jump, and 8.2 in slalom. Joe Knapp scored 13.4 in slalom, 6.5 meters in jump, and 1310 points in tricks.
Huge thanks to everyone who helped out to make this tournament possible. Thanks to Chief Judge Joe Knapp, Chief Scorer Betsy Gilman, Drivers Mike Schoenke and Scott Stouffer, Chief Safety and Homo Paul Adams, and Tournament Director Sean Qualey.
Thanks to Martin and Orval for Videotaping in the boat and Dewey Cyr for helping out with safety for jumping. Everyone had a blast at the Tri-State and can’t wait for the next tournament!
Check out all of the scores here.
American Barefoot Club 