Press Release            Keith St. Onge wins 9th Nationals and Crowned FootStock Champion!

FootStock Champion - Keith St.Onge
Results, article and pictures below

Article by: Chris Van Zeeland

This year will be remembered as the year footstock has arrived as the premier Figure 8 barefoot tournament in the world. With the presence of Andre and Zane DeVilliers, World Champion Keith St.Onge, 4 times Footstock Champion Aaron Schoelzel, 3 times Footstock Champ Chris Van Zeeland, 4 Time Footstock champ, X Games Gold Medalist Peter Fleck, and Barefoot legend Don Mixon JR this event was stacked with talent. Footstock has always had a mystique that’s hard to explain other than all footers feel welcome. Crandon is a small town in Northern Wisconsin that is used to hosting huge events they are also home of the World Off Road Championships. 

                    Keith St.Onge and Chris Van Zeeland                                                CVZ and Aaron Schoelzel

            Paul Stokes, CVZ and Don Mixon Jr.                          Peter Fleck                            Jack Smith as our trusted driver

    The start of the tournament is on Friday night at Duck’s bar where the brackets are handed out and everyone finds out who is in their bracket. This year the top 3 seeds were CVZ, KSO, and Aaron Schoelzel, Paul Stokes was out do to a foot injury. With Saturday morning came the anticipation and nervousness that make footstock famous. Due to 162 competitors the open division would only get to ski 1 time on Saturday, which doesn’t help the nerves.

Lauren, KSO, Judy, Quinn and Brian McFaul                       KSO sporting his Vortex Wetsuit       Team KSO member KC Myers keeping me entertained

    The senior division, which is always completed on Saturday, was a sign of what we would see on Sunday.  Jon Debelak came away victorious after numerous figure eights. After the seniors the freestyle comp took place with Andre, Zane and Chris Morrison putting on quite a show for the crowd. During the freestyle Comp everyone noticed and old school footstocker Dave Bremer, he drove four hours just to come and watch as he just is recovering from a staph infection. (Best wishes Dave everyone at footstock is pulling for you) Saturday night is another fun time at Ducks but the contenders usually don’t stay out to late. A couple of footstock party legends could not attend this year (Kevin Mc Gregor and Randy Mickolai) Due to family functions (things change as you get older) I look forward to seeing you guys next year. 

Sr. 1 JohnDebelak 2 MikeNetzer 3 JeffMueller       Jr. 1 JacobWeber 2 AlexMahnke 3 SethFrase       Women 1DawnSchuller 2LianaSikora 3 JackieKumlien

    Sunday morning came with cold and windy conditions and a lot of skiing. CVZ started with Bob (the mule) Mahnke as the first run in the open division with CVZ advancing. The big shock of this round was Aaron Schoelzel losing to Josh Bruns. Josh is a good footer who has returned after a couple of years skiing for the Tommy Bartlett Ski show. Aaron has been attending and competing at footstock since 1992.  I personally regard Aaron as the best Figure Eight Barefooter in the country. From about 1990 to 2000 there was one name in the sport of figure eight this man was Chris Barnhart.  He is the reason guys like CVZ, AS, Jeremy Petrie, Luke Bruckner, Rusty Swallish still compete to win footstock.  Chris B. is the one who brought domination and class to a party that loved a good tournament, now it’s a tournament that likes a good party. Lucas Twelmeyer (second year at footstock 5^th place 2007, 3^rd place 2008) said to me as we were heading out to start our run that it was an honor to ski against me and then he beat me. I once said the same thing to Barnhart I don’t remember my result.  But my point is the guys and ladies who show respect for the sport and its competitors always seem to do better than the one’s who don’t.  

   KSO and Lucas Twelmeyer - Semi Finals                 Peace, Love & Dave              KSO and Peter Fleck preparing for their final run

    This brings me to Keith St. Onge, he had every title in barefooting except ONE, Footstock.  And Footstock Legend Peter Fleck was determined not to let him get it. Keith has been very determined the last couple of years to win this title and has shown nothing but respect for the tournament, its organizers and its competitors every time he has been there. Sunday afternoon was incredible.  First, CVZ and Peter went 3 ¼ eights with Peter advancing, followed by KSO and Jon Debelak doing 3 ¼ eight.  Going 3 ¼ back-to-back 8’s was amazing and never done before. Next up would be KSO and Peter after 1 ½ eights Peter took down the World Champion, things looked great for Peter to take his fifth Championship. Lucas then took out CVZ after only 2 eights which set up Lucas against KSO. After an 8 and ½ the boat shut down due to weeds and dirt in the pickup causing overheating. They got behind another boat and KSO beat Lucas after 1 ½ eights. This set up KSO and Peter in the finals KSO had to win twice. The first run of the finals was a record-breaking battle with KSO winning after 4 ¼ eights. (IT WAS INSANE) I don’t believe either footer new how far they went.  After about two eights you get delirious and start measuring the course in feet rather than eights. Both guys deserved to win but after 1 ½ 8’s KSO came out the 2008 winner of Footstock.  I would personally like to congratulate KSO, Peter Fleck for coming to the biggest and best figure eight tournament and for setting a new standard by which everyone else will be measured. I would like to thank Mastercraft, Barefoot International, Ducks Bar, Crandon Water shows, Gary Mueller (tournament organizer) Bucky and Candy Dailey (tournament site and Chief Judge) and again for letting my wife and I stay at your house.  Sorry I let the ten-year streak end of the winner coming from your house.  Also, thanks to Jay and Angie Schaeffer and the rest of the LOC.  This is a first class tournament that could not happen without you.  Also to all of my fellow competitors I hope everyone had fun and I can’t wait till next year.  I’d like to say thanks to my sponsors: BarefootCentral.com and Eagle  
    
    By: Chris Van Zeeland

KSO and Peter on Record run.  Four and one quarter 8's                KSO and Peter taking on the rollers

KSO edging Peter out by fifteen feet on the record run                   Thanks to Kyle Erickson I was able to cool my feet down on ice

Peter falling in the finals as KSO taste victory                                   KSO celebrating his 1st Footstock Championship
 
I'd like to thank MasterCraft and Redline Water Sports for all their support over the past 7 years!

Enjoying the crowds reaction.                                Excepting my trophy and check. Jackie & Jamie Kumlien representing TeamKSO!

Official Results
 
Junior's
 1st    Jacob Weber - Wisconsin                            
2nd Alex Mahnke, Wisconsin
3rd  Seth Frase   South Carolina
 
 Women's
 1st  Dawn Schuller  Wisconsin
2nd Liana Sikora   Wisconsin
3rd Jaclyn Kumlein   Wisconsin
 
 Seniors
Jon DeBelak   Wisconsin
2nd Mike Netzer   Wisconsin
3rd Jeff Mueller  Wisconsin
4th Ron Blouw  Michigan
 
Open
1st Keith St Onge  Florida
2nd Pete Fleck   Florida
3rd Lucas Twelmyer  Wisconsin
4th Jon DeBelak  Wisconsin
5th Chris Van Zeeland  Wisconsin
6th Josh Bruns   Texas
7th Jamie Kumlein  Wisconsin
8th Elaine Heller  Wisconsin
9th Steve Tadisch  Minnesota
10th Jacob Weber   Wisconsin
11th Aaron Schoelzel  Wisconsin
12th Tony Buonaiuto  Connecticut
13th Mike Netzer   Wisconsin
14th Luke Bruckner   Wisconsin
15th Greg Fatla   Wisconsin
16th  Chris Morrison  Michigan