Article by Marty Proctor
The Great Groveland Barefoot Laps Challenge, an all-new take on the classic barefoot lap endurance contest, has been added to the Groveland Founders Weekend Celebration. Residents will watch up. to 40 waterskiers circle Lake David at 42 mph on their bare feet to see who can do the most laps around the lake. The twist is that after the second full lap, the boat decreases speed by 2 mph and continues to decrease speed by 2 mph on every second lap until the skier falls.
Awards will be given for the skiers who go the longest distance. There will also be crowd-pleasing awards for the wildest costume and for the best start. Some skiers may start backward, on their stomach, some may step out of skis, some may even just fly out of the boat barefoot skiing at 42 miles an hour. There will also be an award for the slowest speed of the day. Event planners are hoping to set an unofficial record here.
The Groveland Founders Celebration will include remote control (RC) powerboat racing and an RC sailboat regatta during the two-day festival. All this will occur on Lake David in front of the newly opened splash pad and south section of the park. The Boardwalk over the lake and fishing pier will certainly be popular viewing sites as well. Local RC boating clubs and RC powerboat enthusiast Tyler Szelengiewicz will be on hand to kick start the activities at this inaugural celebration.
Towed water sports announcer Danny “Dano the Mano” Amir and Jayne Levy of Touch of the North Events are coordinating and organizing the festivities. Danny shared, “I got a phone call from locals Andy Hansen and Tom Weber, legends in the towed water sports industry.” He continued, “they mentioned that there may be an opportunity, put something out in Groveland in conjunction with their 99th anniversary.” Local watersports advocate Andy Hansen added, “I have always recognized Lake David in Groveland as a jewel. The lake has been a major part of Groveland’s identity.”
Once the group visited the Lake David site, they realized it was just perfect and the new, fun concept for the contests took shape. Generally, barefoot skiing is a high-speed endurance type of event. “The rules are pretty straightforward and even for everybody,” Danny stated. “It is inviting to waterskiers, wakeboarders, knee boarders, and barefoot skiers of all ages and all abilities. The 11-year-old kid who weighs 70 pounds is going to have the advantage.”
The events have drawn competitors from across the country. One is 13 years old Braeden Berner, Andy’s grand-nephew who provided this background. “He is a member of the National Show Ski Champion Team and the Wonder Lake Water Ski Show Team and can hardly wait to compete in the first Great Groveland Barefoot Laps Competition.” Danny provided these thoughts for the future, “we like to look back to why we started doing watersports. It was for fun.
Moving into the future we want skiers, wakeboarders, and barefoot skiers-whether amateurs or pros-come together and shake off the cobwebs at the Great Groveland Barefoot Laps Challenge. This event is going to be the first watersports event of the year. It’s going to be a spring break starter for local watersports.”
To Learn more about Founders Day Weekend Events, visit FOUNDERS WEEKEND
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About Touch of the North Events
Touch of the North Events (TOTN Events) is devoted to growing towed water sports by bringing the community together through grassroots competitions as well as contests that challenge the norm and encourage genuine stoke. Questions and partnership opportunities should be directed to jayne@totnevents.com
