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KristinSherrills Ford, NC – The 34th Annual Lake Norman New Year’s Day Barefoot Challenge will be held at Lake Norman Marina on Jan. 1. The event, which is set to begin around noon, will be hosted by Lake Norman Marina and the Carolina Show Ski Team. It is one of the longest running and unique barefoot water ski tournaments in the world. Approximately 30 contestants from the Carolinas and surrounding states are expected to participate in the competition.
The tournament is again partnering with Samaritan’s Feet to raise awareness and funds for the plight of impoverished children who suffer needlessly from foot-borne diseases and infections due to a lack of shoes. Thus the slogan, “Barefooting for Bare Feet”. Samaritans Feet is a non-profit organization based in Charlotte, NC, whose 70,000 volunteers endeavor to provide shoes, compassion and hope to the nearly 300 million people who go without shoes each day.
Competitors in the tournament will earn one point for every second they stay on their bare feet, and points for their starting method and any tricks performed. The towboat pulls them in a tight circle pattern increasing the challenge and enabling spectators to keep a close eye on the action. Lake Norman Marina will donate to Samaritans Feet $.10 per point compiled by the contestants. Last year Jeff Blair of Mooresville, NC, broke the course record held since 1996 by world barefoot champion Ron Scarpa. Blair racked up 816 points by starting his run with a flying backward dock start and adding points by doing a back to front turnaround, multiple tumble turns and one foots and staying up for 151 seconds.
Concessions will be available at the site, and Carolina Show Ski Team skiers will be available to answer questions regarding most any aspect of water skiing. For more information on the tournament, please contact Tournament Chairman Justin Landers at landersjl@earthlink.net. You can also check out the Carolina’s Show Ski Team website at carolinashowski.com.
