News News
News
Attention: Sports, Winter
Haven Events Writers
From: "Blairfoot Bananza"
Chairperson Sue Smith
Winter Haven Florida
863-325-8257
[email protected]
For Release: Immediately
Banana George Welcomes the World to Winter Haven and the
16th Annual Blairfoot Bananza World Endurance Competition
for all Barefoot Skiers
October 4 & 5, 2003, Lake Silver, Winter Haven, Florida
A National and
International field of barefooters will compete in Endurance and
Head to Head Figure.
Winter Haven, FL. - The 16th
annual Blairfoot Bananza for barefoot water skiers around the
country will be held October 4 & 5 on Lake Silver in downtown Winter
Haven, FL.
This will mark the ninth 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. This year, with the Barefoot World's the following week also
in Winter Haven, Florida, the Bananza is hoping to attract its'
largest number of competitors to date.
The event is hosted by the City Of Winter Haven, Central Florida's
Sports Marketing and Lakeland Ski Club. It is sanctioned by USA
Water Ski.
Male and female barefooters of all ages and ability 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 winner of last years World Endurance title was Billy Nichols
from Ocala, Florida.
The Blairfoot Bananza also offers a special Jr. Boom and Pig tail
event, allowing up and coming younger barefooters a chance to
compete in the Bananaza. The Bananza also has a special Open
Division pitting the past Bananza champions against each other and
all World & National Team competitors.
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 overcome 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 88 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, Nike, Amor-All,
Chiquita, Sea-Doo, or the Florida Lottery. And you've undoubtedly
seen "Banana" George during one of his many TV appearances with
Regis and Kathie, NBC Today, Letterman, Discovery Channel,
"Atmospheres" of the Weather Channel, CNN, ESPN, or CBS This Morning
and the American Health Network. Banana George Blair was also
featured in the July- August Sports Illustrated For Women naming him
among the 81 sexiest men in sports, the only one in the water skiing
world and the only one over the age of 48!
The Blairfoot Bananza is open to the public and free to spectators.
The competition will begin on Saturday, October 4 at 8:30 am with
the Endurance competition. On Sunday, the Head to Head competition
will take place.
For more information about the Blairfoot Bananza or entry
information for the 16th Annual Blairfoot Bananza contact Sue Smith
at 863-325-8257 or [email protected]
|