Debelak wins 6th National Open Title. Australians dominate Women’s Championship.

Crandon, Wisconsin – Heavy rain and lightning forced the longest stoppage in Footstock history last weekend. But nothing could stop Jon Debelak from capturing his 6th National Figure Eight Open championship, outlasting the current National Overall barefoot Champion, Owen Schattschneider in the longest run of the tournament. There 8-1/4 eight lap finale was one for the ages.

It was all part of a stormy National Championship in Crandon, that saw over 120 of the world’s best barefooters competing head-to-head over a mile and half figure eight course to see who can barefoot the furthest.

Weather was a big factor Saturday as heavy rain and lightning postponed the tournament for over 3 hours.

The longest run of the day was by 17-year old Noah Kinneman and 65-year old Wayne King, that went for 3-1/2 eights.

Of course, the resurgence of 4-time Open Champ Chris Barnhart was also a huge story. Barnhart, at 66 years old hadn’t competed for over a decade. He came out of retirement for Footstock and he dominated the Masters division.

But it was the continued emergence of young skiers like US National Men’s Pro Champ, Noah Kinneman, US National Overall Champ, Owen Schattschneider, along with Juniors Jack Nolan and Logan Bostron, that might have given tournament officials a glimpse of some future champions.

The tournament’s youngest skiers thrived on the calm water as all pulled off monster runs in excess of two and three figure eights, multiple times each, over the mile and a half course.

Thankfully, Sunday the storms moved out, the sun came out and the water got even calmer to produce one of the most tightly contested championships in years.

“Saturday was tough with all the rain and lightning,” said Chief Judge Jacob Weber. “But on Sunday, it was so exciting to see such a huge group of young bare footers push the veterans the way they did.”

In the women’s division, Australian team skiers dominated. For the first time in 6 years, the women’s title didn’t go to a skier with the last name of Miljevich. World Overall Champ, Ashleigh Groen battled it out with fellow team skier, Kelly Blank all weekend, forcing a run-off in the championship round. But it was Blank that came out on top, winning her first National Women’s Figure Eight title.

The hotly contested Junior division also provided some epic runs between Logan Bostron, Jack Nolan and Nate Nichols. But in the end, it was 14-year old Jack Nolan capturing his first ever Junior National Title.

In the newly added Gen-Ski Division (17-39 years old), Missouri’s Noah Kinnaman dominated the field outlasting both Dane Engstrom and Ben Walker of Wisconsin for his first ever National Figure Eight Title.

In the Masters Division (60 and over) Hall of Famer Chris Barnhart showed he still has a lot of gas in the tank, ripping off multiple double eights to win the National title against the favorite Wayne King of Canada. Richard Rados of California finished third.

The Senior’s saw a back and forth battle between Travis Lepak and Wayne King. King delivered some monster runs of three eights and more, eventually wearing down the younger Lepak to win another Senior National Championship. Chris Cook of Rhinelander, who had an incredible tournament, finished third.

But it was the long anticipated Open final that had everyone on the edge of their seats at Peshtigo Lake. It was truly a battle of ages, as 17-year old US Team barefooter, Owen Schattschneider took on 62-year old, and five-time Open Champ, Jon Debelak for the title.

Their first title run ran over two eights before the main tow boat blew its motor mid run, forcing a re-run. After resting for 5 minutes, the two hit the water again and pulled off one of the most dramatic finals ever. Their almost 13- minute run went eight and a half laps before Owen couldn’t hang on any longer. The third longest run in tournament history gave Jon Debelak his sixth National Open Title, putting him only behind 10-time Open champ Peter Fleck as the winningest Footstock skier ever.

In all, bare footers from eight states and four countries competed in the grueling, two-day championship. Skiers from as far away as California, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Australia, Canada and New Zeeland took part.

“I am so proud of our whole team and the way they handled all the challenges of the weekend with the weather,” said Co-Tournament Director, Angie Schaefer. “We run the largest barefoot championship in the country and it’s only possible because of the support we get from all our volunteers and the whole community.”

Officials say that next year they expect the event to be even bigger, as it will be the 40th anniversary of Footstock.