Join the Celebration as Banana George Blair is inducted into IWWF Hall of Fame at the 2026 Barefoot World Championships

January 22, 2026

Happy Birthday Banana George!

Today would have been Banana George Blair’s 111th Birthday. He may be gone… but he is not forgotten. His legacy lives on in hearts and minds, but also in the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation’s Banana George Blair Ambassador College Scholarship.

George’s family has created this scholarship to give student-athletes an opportunity to earn a college education while pursuing their water sports dreams. This scholarship is open to all water sports disciplines. Applications are open for 2026! APPLY HERE

We raise money for this scholarship with the Banana George Blairfoot Bananza Figure 8 & Endurance Barefoot Tournament which is held in Winter Haven, Florida every October. For details go to BananaGeorge.org

But this 111th year of Banana George is going to be extra special!

IWWF Hall of Fame Induction at 2026 Barefoot Worlds

We will NOT be holding the Banana George Blairfoot Bananza in 2026 but will instead have a Banana George Celebration & IWWF Induction Ceremony at the 2026 World Barefoot Water Ski Championships in Auburndale, Florida. We are inviting Banana George’s friends and family from around the country and the world to attend!

Banana George is being inducted as a “Legend”

The ceremony and celebration will be held at Camp Margaritaville on Thursday, October 22, 6-10pm. It will feature a DJ Davie Dance Party, drinks, food and a Banana George Memorabilia Auction. Free t-shirts to first 25 attendees. A $20 donation to the Banana George Scholarship is requested and will be collected at the door to attend the event. But if you can’t make a very large donation… come anyway to celebrate the Bananaman!

AND WEAR YELLOW!

The Induction Ceremony will be held at 7pm with the Blair Family on hand to accept the Hall of Fame Award on George’s behalf.

The Banana George Blairfoot Bananza Tournament will return to Lake Silver in Winter Haven, Florida on October 23-24, 2027! Sign up HERE

Banana George Blairfoot Bananza Tournament

The Southern Region of the American Barefoot Club is very proud to be the main fundraiser for the Banana George Scholarship. We have raised $31,957 since we restarted the tournament in 2020. We have awarded $13,200 ($2200 a year to students.) Our goal is to try to raise double what we give out each year at the tournament.

Kelly Blank outlasting another competitor (Photo by Greg Adams)

In 2025, We had 40 barefooters attend the Blairfoot Tournament from ages 7 to 85 and raised $4550. We even had 22 members of the Blair Family in attendance!

The Blair Family in this year’s tournament shirts

In case you missed it… Here are the results and some photos. ALL ENTRY FEES go to the Scholarship Fund.

2025 Blairfoot Figure 8 Results

Owen and Lance battle it out to get the Flamingo at the middle of the 8 (Photo By Greg Adams)

PRO (Sponsored by LD Smith Plumbing )
1) Owen Schattsschneider
2) Lance Smith
3) Wayne King

Schatty claims Victory (photo by Greg Adams)

Terry Ryan holding tough in Open Division (Photo by Greg Adams)

OPEN (Sponsored by The Southern Region)
1) Bryson Mace
2) Felix DeLauniere
3) Terry Ryan

Kelly finished 4th in men… Betsy managed to take a few faceplants before getting eliminated.

WOMEN (Sponsored by Cheri Miller)
1) Kelly Blank
2) Betsy Gilman

JUNIOR (Sponsored by The Jersey Boys)
1) Reid Lawson
2) Logan Harrington
3) Mason Bataille
4) Lydia Harrington

Sparky and Paul battle it out in the Senior Division (Photo by Greg Adams)

SENIOR
1) Danny “Sparky” Wicks
2) Paul Miller
3) Marty Levine

BOOM DIVISION WINNERS
Seven kids hit the water in honor of George in our largest BOOM division EVER!!!!
Here are the skiers and their awards!!!
Meika – Most style
Zyla – Hardest tricks (one foot stand ups AND one foot one hand!)
Cyrus – Smoothest one-foot stand-ups
Miles – Roughest water!
John – Longest rope (full longline!)
Lydia – Longest run
Liam – Longest one-footer

2025 Blairfoot Endurance Results

Pro Endurance Winners with members of Blair Family

PRO
1) Lance Smith 8:23
2) Owen Schattsschneider 7:17
3) Wayne King 3:20

OPEN
1) Bryan Bercik 3:05
2) Court Harrington 2:24
3) Mitch Rush 1:08
TOP WOMEN
1) Betsy Gilman :45
2) Deanna Dean :22

JUNIOR
1) Logan Harrington 11:15
2) Reid Lawson 1:54
3) Mason Bataille 1:31
4) Lydia Harrington :54

SENIOR
1) Terry Ryan 5:05
2) Paul Miller 3:53
3) Marty Levine 2:38

THANKS TO OUR 2025 BLAIRFOOT SPONSORS!!!

Payton Groen representing Banana and all of the sponsors!

The George Blair Family – Huston Cadillac – LD Smith Plumbing – World Barefoot Center – Hobe Lake Ski Club – John & Carolyn Cornish Barefoot’n Bourbon – The Jersey Boys – Dave Dershimer – Just Add Water Media – Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team – ABC Southern Region – Cheri Miller – Lance’s Mom – Deanna Dean – John Garrity – Karen Douglas – Terry Ryan

And we could not do it without our amazing volunteers:

Chief Judge: Justin Landers

Bracket Assistants: Mark Schatty, Court Harrington

Boat Judges: Carol Jackson, Megan Adams, Rob Scott

Dock Starters: Rhonda Bate, Hayleigh Blair, Megan Adams

Drivers: Bruce Walter, Ryan Gilman

Chief Safety: Chuck Bender

So Region Boat Keeper/Gas Wrangler: Ben Groen, Trey Edwards

Announcers: Ben Groen, Swampy Bouchard, JOHN CORNISH

Registration & Merch sales: Dawn Schatty, Payton Groen

FOR MORE PHOTOS AND DETAILS GO TO BANANAGEORGE.ORG

SEE YOU IN OCTOBER! For questions email: betsybarefoots@aol.com