NZ RECORDS AND PENDING WORLD RECORDS FROM WELLINGTON REGIONALS

A total of 28 skiers hit the water at Lake Inspiration for the first regional tournament of the season. Despite the temperatures being rather cool, the wind stayed away in the main, and allowed for excellent skiing and top results, with many skiers setting personal bests.

This was a great start to the season, in which New Zealand will select a junior, senior and open team to represent the country at the world tournament in Texas in August.

Outstanding performances were... 

• Georgia Groen who broke every New Zealand record in both junior girls and womens open, scoring 5030 in tricks, 13.6 in slalom, and jumping 13.4 metres.
• Ben Groen pushing the New Zealand open mens jump record out to 25.4 metres and coming within .1 of a crossing of breaking the New Zealand open mens slalom record, held by Jason McArthur, which has stood for 15 years.
• Our international skier, Ashleigh Stebbeings, set a pending world, AAO and Australian record in tricks of 5220. 

Georgia's trick score will also go forward as a pending world record in both womens open and junior girls. Cick here for the full results of the Wellington Regionals 2012.

All in all, two days of good skiing, and it was good to see some new people trying their hand at official tasks to help make the tournament run smoothly.

Below: The 'youngies' and the 'oldies' - Junior boys prizewinners, from left, Sam Binns, Tom Mathis, Hugo Shaw, and Sam Mathis. At right, the old SOPE contestants - Gary O'Donnell, and Warren Herbert.

 

 
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WBC latest video is out and it is "Hot to Watch"

Click on the link below and see some of the best in the world at work training and also keep up with whats new from our very own Kiwi Ben Groen  http://www.vimeo.com/24857154

 

 
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Independent entries to the 2012 World Barefoot Championships are out.

The following minimum performances for each division and event are required for independent entries to the 2012 World Barefoot Championships.

MENS                                      WOMENS       

SLALOM          16                    SLALOM          11

TRICKS           6000                TRICKS           2000

JUMP               24                    JUMP               10

BOYS                                      GIRLS

SLALOM          11                    SLALOM          6

TRICKS           1700                TRICKS           1000

JUMP               10                    JUMP               9

GENTLEMEN                          LADIES          

SLALOM          14                    SLALOM          5

TRICKS           2400                TRICKS           500

JUMP               12                    JUMP               8

Qualifying scores must be achieved in an IWWF / WBC Homologated Tournament (Rankings List or Record Capability) during the qualification period: March 1, 2011 – July 30, 2012

The 2012 World Barefoot Championships will take place August 27 - September 2, 2012 at the Barefoot Ski Ranch in Waco Texas.

www.BarefootSkiRanch.com

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http://worldbarefootcouncil.com/newsletterregister.php

 
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Waikato Regionals annual polar bear Tournament

Don't miss this years Polar Bear tournament on Saturday 12th June at Mine Lake, Starts 10.00am at a cost of $40 including lunch.See you all there for a top old cold day.Contact Teresa Old for lunch number and  directions to the lake, the-olds@xtra.co.nz

 

 
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WORLD BAREFOOT CHAMPIONSHIPS, WACO TEXAS, August-Sept 2012

The International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation and the World Barefoot Council have announced that the 2012 World Barefoot Championships have been awarded to Stuart Parsons and Barefoot Ski Ranch of Waco, Texas. The opening ceremony will be on August 26 and competition will run from August 27 to September 2, 2012.

Familiarisation will be available on the competuition site for the two weeks prior to the start of the event. The site includes a 3500' (over 1000M) man made lake specifically designed for world class barefoot waterskiing. The lakes sit on a 400+ acre privately owned ranch just outside Waco, Texas.

The official website is now operational. For some photos, videos and information about the club and site go to: www.BarefootSkiRanch.com   Over the next few months, more details regarding the championships will be available at www.WorldBarefootCouncil.com  under the world championships link.

Richard Gray - President, IWWF World Barefoot Council

 
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Kiwi breaks open mens trick record.

Kiwi boy Ben Groen has a confirmed New Zealand Trick record of 8200 in the US at the PGA Challenge. Well done Ben and we look forward to the rest of your season.

Read the full story from Mike Holt ...

Wow, PGA Challenge was an historic event, so many personal bests, a pending USA National and New Zealand record or two and a pending world trick record.

Carol Jackson had personal best in tricks and slalom and has pending national record in tricks, Al Hager personal best tricks with pending National Record. Ben Groen of New Zealand shattered his previous national trick record with 8,200, Chandler, a first time skier from Valdosta George tricked 900 points, ‘Frenchy’ from Canada improved his trick PB from 2600 to 5600 (that’s what full time training at WBC does!), AJ set a PB trick score of over 10,000 points (only the 5th person to have skied above 10k).

Oh yea, KSO tricked 13,100 for a pending world record; after watching the video many times, I’m confident that it’s going to break David Small’s record of 12,150.

What is really cool is that David and KSO both have the EXACT trick runs. Saturday was KSO's day, but we all know David's not going to let his best friend have all of the glory for too long. (Remember David took the record from KSO last year almost to the day).

I have to tell you that it’s great being an official in the boat and getting to watch KSO, David Small, AJ, Brian Hetherington, Ben Groen, and all of the other skiers in ‘real time.’

If you really want to enjoy the sport, be sure to become a judge and have the best seat of the house. Also the next tournament is limited to 20 skiers, so be sure to register online ASAP - visit www.BarefootWater-Ski.com.

Holtzy, AKA Mike Holt..

 
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William is a winner on the water, says Matamata Chronicle

Young barefooter William Lee had a moment of fame this week when the Matamata Chronicle published an article about his success at the recent National Championships.

Click here to open the newspaper article... and then right click your mouse and select rotate clockwise for easier reading.

 
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2011 NATIONALS RUN TO TIME DESPITE THE LESS THAN PERFECT WEATHER!

The weather wasn’t perfect but we did get the 2011 Nationals through on schedule, only missing a final round of  jumps. The programme ran smoothly, although we did use Forrest Lakes for one day only to keep the event on schedule.

A good turnout of entries  gave us nearly 50 starters, including rookies, and some good personal bests were recorded. 

The full results are listed on our results page, but highlights included…

*    A good turn out of rookies showed that there are youngsters coming through…

*    Bevan Kelly ( senior men’s ) and Kathy Duxfield ( senior women’s) continued on their winning way.

*    Still plenty of Groens in the overall men’s open, with ‘Team Groen’ taking the four major places.…

*    Good results for the youngsters in sub junior boys, and  the junior boys and girls.

*     The SOPE team again provided plenty of entertainment AND a generous cheque to subsidise the evening meal  expenses.  The funding came from the successful sales of the 2011 barefoot calendar, managed by Warren Herbert.

 The prize giving took place as usual on the Saturday night, and although Ben Groen was not a dominant force in the events, (and in the dancing), there were plenty of other winners, some of whom are shown here….

Top right: All the rookies take centre stage … On the rostrum are Meg, April and Cameron. Standing are Jack, Holly, Toby and Jack.

At right: Men’s open –from left,  Tyler, Mitch, Ryan and Fred Groen!

At right lower: Women’s Open – from left, Kelly O’Donnell, Georgia Groen, Sarah Linton, and Shannon O’Donnell.

Below left: Bevan Kelly receives his commemoriative award for winning the senior mens world championship at Brandenburg, Germany, last yuear.

Below right: The 2011 junior squad- from left, William Leigh, Georgia Groen, Sam Binns,  Marguerite Scott, Michael Gardner,  Tom Mathis,  Brooke Fitch and Jaz Hickling.

Watch for more pictures on the 2011 Nationals gallery.

 

 

 
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VAUGHAN WILSON TROPHY FOR WARREN HERBERT

The Vaughan Wilson Memorial Trophy – “ The right spirit award” - for 2010-11 was awarded to Warren Herbert, in recognition of special sevices to barefoot waterskiing in both competition, and administration of the sport.

The presentation to Warren was made at the conclsuion of the 2011 Nationals at Lake Inspiration.  Eddie Wilson made the presentation on behalf of the NZBWSC, and Warren replied with an impromptu speech from his heart.

PS: Warren and fellow SOPE founder Noel Binns were preparing for their part of the evening's entertainment when he was called to the stage to receive this award, hence the yellow suit and the hat!  Enough said.

For details of the citation wording, please read more....

 

Read more...
 
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LIFE MEMBERSHIP FOR ALAN CLARE

The citation for Alan Clare reads: It gives me much pleasure to announce that the NZBWSC executive have named Alan Clare as a Honorary Life member of the NZBWSC for his outstanding service to the club over some 30 plus years.

Alan joined the club in 1977 when he was awarded his life time badge # 374 for skiing for one minute on 2 bare feet. Alan attended his first Nationals in 1979 at Piarere and never missed a Nationals in the next 26 years. Since then Alan has served the club as its president, and as its junior and open team coach and examiner.  All of Alan’s family, that is his wife Jane and two children Steve and Melissa all are NZBWSC badge holders.   

During the past 30 years Alan has been a dedicated club member and has done his utmost to support the club and his region of Waikato.  He is held in high regard by many whom he has coached and is well known throughout New Zealand and indeed internationally in his coaching role.

Honorary Life Membership is an honour rarely bestowed – the NZBWSC has only 3 other Honorary Life Members, Lester Sowry, Brian Carroll and Barry Dixon.  Alan Clare, you are our 4^th Honorary Life Member and it is my honour and privilege to announce this to the club.  

 
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