Barefooters from at least seven states and five countries gathered over the weekend to tear up the glassy waters of Championship Ski Lake in Auburndale, Florida. And the 2024 Barefoot World Championships site did not disappoint.
New technology, new world records, new barefooters, and a new attitude were the norm for the three-day combined Southern and Eastern Regional tournament.
“What a great weekend for barefooting! We can’t wait to welcome the world in October,” says 2024 Barefoot Worlds Organizer and Hall of Famer John Cornish.
John and Ginette Garrity produced the tournament’s live stream with the creative assistance of Payton Groen. Payton decided not to compete at this tournament because she is teething. Team Livestream put on one amazing show. Check it out HERE: https://www.youtube.com/@americanbarefootclub Thanks, John and Ginette! We can’t wait to see all the World Championships live!
The clear video feed from the boat allowed Tournament Director Ben Groen to run boats with a driver, a video operator, and one judge. Three judges were in the air-conditioned video trailer, keeping them out of the sun and heat of the boat. No word on when the boats will go on remote control.
“The judges were able to stay focused and fresh for all of the three days. This is how is should be done,” says Ben Groen, barefoot water ski innovator, ABC Southern Regional Director and current World Barefoot Tricks Champion.
World-class officiating, calm water, technology, and the world’s best barefooters created a perfect storm of great performances at the Lake Myrtle Sports Park.
For complete results, go HERE: http://iwwfed-ea.org/barefoot/competitions/2024
The Open Pro Mens Division ended up being the largest division of the tournament, and the American Young Guns learned some barefoot history in real-time.
Bill Brzoza last skied a world championship in 2009 and last went over the barefoot ramp at the 2012 Barefoot Nationals. But 12 years is nothing if your nickname is “The Beast of the East.” Bill’s first jump on Friday was 22.5 meters. Enough to top the 22.4 meter independent elite qualifying score for the 2024 Barefoot World Championships. And then, Bill flew 22.9 meters setting a pending world record for 45-54 year olds.
All of a sudden, the rest of the open pro competitors were paying attention.
Bill went out and slalomed a 16 to also qualify for the worlds in that event. Yes, Bill is back. Look out, world!
Local barefoot hero and the hardest working barefooter in Polk County, Brett Swanbom, turned in a dominant performance, winning the overall In Open Pro Mens.
Ironically, the overall trophy featured a sick photo of Brett slaloming! Brett also set pending Mens I national records in jump and slalom. Way to go, Brett!
Brody Meskers won Open Pro Mens Jump with a 23.3 and Slalom with a 19 and Noah Kinnaman won the Open Pro Mens Tricks with a 10,850 followed closely by Brett with a 10,550 Brett’s first trick score over 10K… and feat less than 15 barefooters in history have achieved!
In the Open Womens Division, a very strong statement from Megan Adams. After turning in a dominate jumping performance, Megan went out and hit all four turns, scoring 3000 points in tricks and setting a new Under 23 World Record. Megan won open women tricks, slalom and the overall and looks forward to making her mark at the world championships in October. Go ahead and underestimate Megan… she will prove you wrong every time!
In the Open Men’s Division, Michael “Berry” Yoder is no longer “Stuck in Ohio.” He’s hoping to fly his way to the world championships, landing a beautiful 22.3-meter jump that put him in the open pro men’s division from here on out. Michael also won the open men’s tricks, slalom, and overall.
The large International Divisions made the Southeast Showdown seem like a world tournament. For the women, Winter Haven’s and Australia’s Ash Stebbeings Groen showed off her world championship form, scoring 9000 points in tricks and an 18 in wake slalom, all while being the tournament’s chief judge. Oh yeah. She’s Ready.
Fellow Australian Kelly Blank handed in some great performances… tying her personal best scores in tricks and slalom and winning the overall. As always, the Aussies came to play!
For the International Men, Winter Haven’s and New Zealand’s Ben Groen set a pending AO Record in tricks with 12,230 points, plus a 17.6 in slalom and 24.9 meters in jump. Ben won the overall, followed by Canada’s flying lumberjack Brem Allen and Duane “Captain Intensity” Godfrey.
Duane added a flying toe-up from the tower to add a few points to his trick run. And everyone’s favorite German, Sascha Baeyens put on some personal bests on the board in tricks and slalom!
The 2024 Southeast Showdown had its share of junior skiers climbing their way up in barefoot water skiing. In the Boys B Division 11-year-old Logan Harrington was silent but deadly in tricks scoring 1400 and qualifying for the 2024 Junior World Championships. Logan won tricks, slalom, and overall, followed by 6-year-old Max Dubs.
Meanwhile, Logan’s fierce little sister Lydia Harrington won the Boom Division with more tricks than we can count. Lydia vows to compete in the Junior World Championships one day or at least rule the world.
In Boys A, Owen Schattschneider tore up all events and is qualified for the worlds in slalom and Tricks! This young man is tearing it up!
AJ Clark, competing in his first tournament, scored 3.1 in slalom and 550 in tricks! He decided to turn in his Indiana card and grab a Southern Region Sun hat! Welcome to the south AJ!
In Girls A, USA Junior Barefoot Team member Brooke Gunderson scored 1510 points in tricks, earning her spot to compete in the Elite worlds! Brooke won tricks, slalom, and overall and is spending the next few weeks barefoot training at the World Barefoot Center.
For the oldie-but-goodie divisions, some blasts from the past landed on the podium. Al Hager won Super Veteran Mens Tricks, Slalom, and Overall. John Cornish won Veteran Mens Tricks, Slalom and Overall. Matt Ellis won Senior Men’s Tricks, Slalom, and Overall, followed closely by Sparky Wicks, and Carol Jackson won Senior Women’s Tricks, slalom, and Overall.
In Master Men, Jess Caserta won tricks, slalom and the overall while competing in his 41st year of tournament skiing!
The competition in the alphabet divisions was fierce and fun! In Mens A, Trey Edwards cleaned up with 13 in slalom, 1650 in tricks and a 12.7 in jump followed closely by Todd Fipps. Deanna Dean won Womens B Tricks, slalom and overall.
In Mens B, Tennessee’s Billy Wood won slalom with a 10.3, Jason Blackburn won tricks with a 910, John Garrity won Jump, and the overall. Heidi and Hayley Krehling cheered on their favorite barefooter Derek “Dad” Krehling as he killed it on the ramp and the water!
In Mens C, Longtime Eastern Barefooter Denny Dietz, won slalom, tricks and the overall. In his secnd round of tricks, Denny made a back deep and a back one-foot. Denny was followed closely by Court Harrington.
Massive thanks to the H. Frye Safety Crew for keeping us safe and moving. And winning the award for having the most stuff in the back of his truck.
Thanks to 2024 Official Worlds Photog Greg Adams for taking some fantastic photos. He has a new website where you can download your favorites! gregnfocus.com (Select Browse, Select Galleries, Select 2024 Barefoot Southern Regionals)
Thanks also to Chief Driver Ronnie Meeks, plus Scott Jones and Duane Godfrey for driving.
Huge thanks to Scorers Payton Groen, Kelly Blank, Deanna Dean, and Megan Adams. Chief Judge Ash Stebbeings Groen. Thanks to Ben Groen, Duane Godfrey, Trey Edwards, Deanna Dean, Dale Stevens, Carter Boerman for judging. The Gunderson family for all of their help and support. Trey Edwards for staying ahead of gas, water and ice.
Special thanks to Polk County Sports Marketing and Visit Central Florida Sports for providing the lake, garbage service and portalets. And the World Barefoot Center for providing the setup and clean-up muscle.
And what would we have done without Payton?
American Barefoot Club 
That offshore judge was brilliant. Could we potentially see offsite judging?
LikeLike