From:   "Blairfoot Bananza"
             Chairperson Sue Smith
             Winter Haven, FL
             863-325-8257
             Blairfoot13@cs.com

For Release: Immediately

13th Annual "Banana" George�s Blairfoot Bananza
for Barefoot Skiers set for October 7 & 8, in Winter Haven, FL.

Large turnouts of national and international barefooters compete in Endurance
and Head to Head Figure eight events on
Winter Haven�s Lake Silver.

    Winter Haven FL.- The 13th annual Blairfoot Bananza for barefoot water
skiers around the country will be held October 7 & 8 on Lake Silver in
downtown Winter Haven, FL.

    This will mark the sixth year that the increasingly popular tournament
will be held on Lake Silver in downtown Winter Haven. Last year�s very
successful event attracted competitors from over 14 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 and Central Florida�s Sports Marketing. 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 athletes compete
against the clock. The figure-eight competition pits two barefooters against
each other as they are being pulled at approximately 38 mph behind a single
boat going around a figure eight course. The first one who falls is
eliminated.

    The Endurance champion and the Figure Eight champion will challenge each
other for the prestigious title of World Endurance Champion. The World
Endurance Champion will receive a special Blairfoot Bananza medallion.

    For the third year in a row, a special Jr. Boom division allows for up
and coming barefooters. Children 10 and under will compete with the
assistance of a boom mounted on the side of the boat. This provides stability
and allows the younger skiers a taste of competition.

   

    New for 2000, a pig tail event will be added to allow the Jr. Boom
competitors a stepping stone to the competition behind the boat. Using the
assistance of the boom a small rope is attached; this creates a step of
independence from the boat and is the next step in the progression of
learning to barefoot behind a boat.

    84 competitors competed in the 1999 Blairfoot Bananza, an all time
record. This years� 2000 Blairfoot Bananza is hoping to attract even more
barefooters.

    In 1999 the Blairfoot Bananza premiered the first ever endurance team
competition. Forming teams with all the endurance competitors created a new
twist on the event. It was such a success that the 2000 Blairfoot Bananza
will continue the team competition.

    The Blairfoot Bananza is named after the ambassador of barefooting,
Banana George Blair. Banana George, a member of USA Water Ski and the
American Barefoot Club is known worldwide. 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 85 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 personal watercraft, 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
show, CNN, ESPN or CBS This Morning and the American Heath Network.

    The Blairfoot Bananza is open to the public. The competition will begin
on Saturday October 7 at 9 am with the Endurance competition and then the Jr.
Boom competition and Pig tail event. On Sunday the Head to Head Figure Eight
competition will take place with a start time of 9 am.

    Come out and enjoy the day, and watch some of the best endurance water
skiers in the country battle it out.

    For more information about the Blairfoot Bananza or entry information for
the 2001 tournament contact Sue Smith at [email protected] or 863-325-8257.