Footstock Sets Date for 2011 National Championship

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/BREAKING NEWS
CONTACT: Gary Mueller, 414-899-6118 (cell)

Footstock Sets Date for 2011 National Championship. Tournament to Allow Duct Tape.
Adds New Division for Seniors.

Crandon, Wisconsin – Significant changes are underway at Footstock, the National Championship of Endurance Barefooting. The tournament, to be held August 20 and 21 on Peshtigo Lake in Crandon, has decided to allow duct tape. Concerned with the potential for significant foot damage to the event’s top skiers due to the increasing number of long runs, event officials decided to again to allow duct tape to be used.

“For safety reasons, Footstock will allow the use of duct tape in 2011,” announced Tournament Founder Gary Mueller. “After last year’s record setting number of eight’s, we decided that it was in the best interest of the competitors to allow them to protect their feet against possible permanent damage.”

According to Mueller, foot damage has become an increasing problem on the endurance barefooting scene. Perennial top 10 Figure Eight barefooter Chad Mietz and 4-time Footstock Champ Pete Fleck, both burned holes in their feet in 2010. Mueller also cited the increasing average length of runs as a factor.

“The first four years of Footstock (on Lake Lucerne and Clear Lake), no one ever made a single eight,” explains Mueller. “We never imagined the runs being as long as they are today.”

Mueller also acknowledged that to some barefoot purists, the addition of duct tape will be controversial. But just as the event banned the use of Clincher Gloves after the severe injury of two competitors in the 90’s, Footstock will again to what’s best to ensue the safety of its skiers.

Event organizers also announce the addition of a new division. The Master’s Division is open to men or women over the age of 50.

“With the explosion of the Senior Division the past 5 years, it just made sense to give the older skiers a division of their own,” announced Tournament Official, Jakob Weber. “Not only will this create room in the Senior Division to accommodate the influx of new skiers, but it will allow the older skiers the chance to be more competitive.

Early entry fees are due by August 1. Tournament officials encourage skiers to go online to the new website, footstock2015.com for more information and to download an entry fee.