The Canadian National Barefoot Championships
	by

	Steve Thompson


As you know, the Ontario Barefoot Championships were again held in
Cambridge on the Grand River on July 8 & 9, 1995.

The Flightcraft Barefooter, sponsored by Sun and Ski, Ontario's
distributer of Malibu Boats, arrived on Saturday morning and everyone
took a few familiarization runs before commencing with the
competition.

Competition started late due to few setbacks, but we got running none
the less, and started up with wakes, then tricks.  Although a lot of
our veteran skiers weren't present this year, we had a number of new
competitors come and take their places, while showing a large amount of
enthusiasm, along with a lot of interest in the sport.  This year's
competitors ranged in age from 8 to 40 years and all skied very well
the first day of their events, showing off all their skills in both
wake crossings and tricks, such as tumble turns up to surface turns.

Saturday's events ended around 6 p.m. and some people had other places
to be, but for those that stayed, there was a Beef Bar-B-Que at the
site for all the competitors and their families.  Everyone that stayed
enjoyed their supper and headed off to rest up for the next day's
gruelling competition.

Sunday, everyone arrived to start skiing at 9 a.m.   Skiing started
with Tricks, then wakes; allowing the skiers to use the glassy water to
the best advantage.  Both Saturday and Sunday were nice days and
conditions couldn't get much better for skiers or spectators.  Skiing
went very well and finished around 3 p.m. thus allowing for the scorers
time to tally up the points and place everyone for medals.

The medals were then handed out for the respective divisions.  Once
everyone had their medals, they posed for a group photo around the
Flightcraft, said their goodbyes, exchanged numbers and some veterans
gave the 'rookies' some tips and wished them luck for the future
tournaments.  Most comments about the tournament heard by the
organizers were positive and the Beef Bar-B-Que was a nice change from
the previous years.

On behalf of Brock Cromwell and myself, I would like to thank the
following for all their help and donations towards this tournament:

Martin and Cassandra at Sun and Ski for the use of the Flightcraft;
Jeff and Sherron at McClintock's Ski School; John Tripp from Tripp
Cycle & Barefooting; Gary from Gary's Custom Marine; Mel & Sherri from
Priebbe Engineering; Ron Hall at Dominos Pizza in Kitchener; Team
Vincent for the use of Sea Doos as pick-up boats and Norval Meat
Packers for their part in the Bar-B-Que.

Last, but not the least, I would like to thank all of the skiers.
Without you, this tournament wouldn't happen at all.  Special thanks to
Frank Valle, Rob Doherty, Brent MacDonald, Mike Terry, Brock Cromwell,
Lee Spalding and Mike Spence.  If I missed anyone, I'm sorry, but
Thanks to everyone that helped out with anything at the tournament.

At this time, I would also like to thank and congratulate Dave and
Brent MacDonald, along with their organizing committee, for putting on
a classy, well-organized, and well-publicized Canadian National
Barefoot Championships.  'Barefoot in Bala' was a lot of fun for the
competitors and especially the spectators, of which they were a lot.
The ultimate Jump Competition was something that most of us had never
seen before, especially the Inverted Style Jumping, LIVE, here in
Canada, just feet from shore.  As well, the Head to Head Tricks & Wakes
competition, with the International Skiers in the Canadian Open, was
superbly run and enjoyed by one and all.

Thanks again to one and all who had anything to do with the Barefooting
Tournaments in Ontario.  I'm sure your help was greatly appreciated.

At this time, I would like to inform the Barefooting Community that I
will be abdicating my position on the OWSA Board of Directors, to allow
myself time to pursue other interests and to inject some new blood into
the Organization.  Bye for now.