THE WORLD IS COMING TO FOOTSTOCK AUGUST 27-28.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/BREAKING NEWS
CONTACT: Gary Mueller, 414-899-6118 (cell)
(World’s top-ranked barefooters from Australia, New Zealand, England, US and Canada to compete for National Figure Eight Barefoot Championship.)
Crandon, Wisconsin – With the World Barefoot Championships held in Alma Center, Wisconsin this summer, Footstock, the WBC National Figure Barefoot Championships will be the unlikely beneficiary of an international field this year. As many of the world’s top-ranked 3-event barefooters are staying the extra week to compete in Crandon. The only question is, how will they hold up competing in the country’s most challenging endurance barefoot championship, a tournament that pits barefooters head to head to see who can go the farthest while battling wind and waves over the country’s most punishing Figure Eight course.
Already the field includes 5-time Men’s Overall World Champ, David Small of England, Ben Groen, the #3 ranked barefooter in the world from New Zealand. Australia’s Ashleigh Stebbeings, the #1-ranked Woman barefooter in the world. And 13-time World Champion Gold Medalist, Keith St. Onge of Winter Haven, Florida. Along with a host of other Australian team skiers.
But the bigger storyline just may be who isn’t competing. As 9-time National Figure Eight Open Champ, Pete Fleck (Orlando, FL) announced that he will not defend his title for a record 5th time in a row due to an injured back. This opens the door to a wide open international field, including former Footstock champ and perennial Top 3 finisher, St. Onge, and England’s Small. Of course, last year’s runner-up, Iron Man Chad Mietz, might have the best odds of winning, after beating Fleck not once, but twice in head to head battles last year to win the Seniors division championship.
“The event which starts August 27, on Peshtigo Lake in Crandon, Wisconsin, boasts over $6,000 in prize money. An estimated 140 skiers from 10 states and 5 countries are expected to compete in the two day championships. The last person standing on Sunday is crowned the Open National Champ. National titles will also be decided in Juniors, Womens, Seniors and Masters divisions.
“With Pete Fleck out, the field is wide open this year,” explains Tournament Organizer, Gary Mueller. “There are at least 6-8 guys that have a good chance of winning it. We will absolutely have a new Open champ in 2016 and his name will not be Pete Fleck.”
Other barefooters to watch include perennial favorites, Marc Donahue (Indiana), 3-time Master’s Champ Wayne King (Canada), up and coming young endurance barefooters Kyle Kazel (Minnesota) and Brody Meskers (Wisconsin) and Kyle Rau (Michigan).
This year, the championship also has some new sponsors. World Barefoot Center (WBC) is the 2016 Title Sponsor of Footstock. Mole Lake Casino and Hotel is another new major sponsor. Other new sponsors include Mustard Girl, Watercraft Sales and Northwood’s Insurance who join long-time sponsors, Forest County Potawatomi, Arlens Cellcom, Schaefer’s IGA, Trig’s Smokehouse, I-Gogs, Brew Pub Pizza, Pack Em Inn Bar, Creative Screenprint, Knott Lane, Troy Bocek Auto Body, Group Therapy, Musson Brothers and Blue Bunny Ice Cream
Open practice on Peshtigo Lake begins on Friday from 2:30-5.
Competition starts on Saturday at 9:25 and goes til 5:00. Sunday skiing begins at 8:30 and runs until about 3:00. Registration forms are available online at Footstock2016.com.
On-site registration closes Saturday, August 27th, at 8:45 am.
Admission to the event is $2 a day or $3 for the whole weekend.
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2016 Schedule of Events at Peshtigo Lake, Crandon
Friday, August 26
2:30-5:00 p.m. Open Practice
3:00-6:00 p.m. Registration and Bib Pick-up Opens on site
7:00 p.m.- Official Footstock Party Bar (Group Therapy)
Saturday, August 27
7:00 a.m. Late Registration/Packet Pick-up Opens
8:45 a.m. Registration Closes (All skiers must check-in at registration whether they are pre-registered or not by 8:45)
9:00 a.m. Skier’s Meeting
9:10 First Pairings Announced/First Coin Flip
9:18 a.m. National Anthem
9:25 Senior, Junior, Women, Masters and Open Division Competition Begins
2:00 p.m. Costume Division Preliminary Judging
5:00 p.m. Senior Division Championship Rounds
8:00 p.m. Official Footstock Party Bar (Pack Em In)
Sunday, August 28
7:45 a.m. Skiers due on site
8:00 a.m. Skier’s Update Meeting
8:30 a.m. Junior, Women and Open Rounds continue
2:30 p.m. Junior and Women, Masters Championship Rounds
3:00 p.m. Open Semi-Final Rounds/Championship
4:00 p.m. Awards Ceremony