Attention: Sports, Winter
Haven Events Writers
From: "Blairfoot Bananza"
Chairperson Sue Smith
Winter Haven Florida
863-325-8747
[email protected]
For Release: Immediately
14th Annual "Banana" George�s Blairfoot Bananza
for Barefoot Skiers set for October 6 & 7,
2001. A
National and International field of barefooters compete in Endurance
and Head to Head Figure
eight events on Winter Haven�s Lake Silver.
Winter Haven, FL. - The 14th
annual Blairfoot Bananza for barefoot water
skiers around the country will be held October 6 & 7 on Lake
Silver in downtown Winter Haven, FL.
This will mark the seventh year
that the increasingly popular tournament
will be held on Lake Silver in downtown Winter Haven. In past years
the very successful event attracted
competitors from over 25 different states and 4
countries, making it an international event.
The event is hosted by the City
Of Winter Haven Leisure Services
Department of Polk County, Central Florida�s Sports Marketing and
Lakeland Ski Club. It is sanctioned by USA
Water Ski. Male and
female barefooters of all ages will compete in two events. The
endurance event will test strength and stamina, as the skier
competes against
the clock. The figure-eight competition pits two barefooters against
each other as they are being pulled at
approximately 36 mph behind a single boat
going around a figure eight course.
The Endurance champion and the
Figure Eight champion will challenge each
other for the prestigious title of World Endurance Champion. The
winners of last years World Endurance
title were Billy Nichols of Ocala, Florida and
Sharon Remy of Orlando, Florida.
A special Jr. Boom and Pig tail
event were added to the Bananza last year
with great success allowing up and coming younger barefooters
to compete in the Bananaza.
This year, in
order to make the competition a little better and not have so
many men in
one division we have created two men's groups.
New age groups.
Juniors Under
18
Men 1 18 through
31
Men 2 32 through
45
Sr. Men 46 and Over.
The Blairfoot Bananza is named
after the ambassador of barefooting,
Banana George Blair. Banana George
is a member of USA Water Ski, American
Barefoot Club and is also in the water ski Hall of Fame. He
took up the sport
of water skiing to help over come a back injury in 1955 when
he was 40 years old and went on to become
the only man to barefoot on all seven continents.
Banana George, who turned 86 in January is still an active
competitor in barefooting and competes
every year in the Blairfoot Bananza.
If you haven�t encountered Banana
George in person, you�ve likely seen him
in the world of print and television advertising- swathed in yellow
and barefoot water skiing for Chevrolet-
Malibu, Amor-All, Chiquita Banana, Sea-Doo,
the Florida Lottery. And you�ve undoubtedly seen "Banana" George
during one of his many TV appearances on the Regis and Kathie
Lee Show, NBC Today Show, Late Night with
David Letterman, the Discovery Channel,
"Atmospheres" of the Weather Channel, CNN, ESPN, or CBS This Morning
and the American Heath Network.
The Blairfoot Bananza is open to
the public and free to spectators. The
competition will begin on Saturday October 6 at 9 am with the
Endurance competition, followed by the
Head to Head competition on Sunday.
For more information about
the Blairfoot Bananza or entry information
for the 14th Annual Blairfoot Bananza
contact Sue Smith at 863-325-8747 or
[email protected]
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