Jeff Blair of Mooresville, N.C., the winningest New Year’s Day competitor.
Though high wind created rough water that hindered performances, the 46th annual Lake Norman New Year’s Day Barefoot Tournament did not disappoint the hundreds of spectators who turned out on a sunny 50 degree Carolina day.
The wide range of competitor’s ages and abilities made this year’s event particularly interesting. From 5-year-old Lydia Harrington of Davidson, N.C., to 81-year-old Ted Eisenstat and Fred Steinbaum both of Hopatcong, N.J., every age group was represented.
Abilities ranged not just in barefooting skill, but with five world class water skiers trying their hand…or feet, at this challenging barefoot skiing competition!
In the exhibition Boom Division for beginners, contestants hold onto a boom protruding off the side of the boat, adding to their stability. In this division, five year old Lydia Harrington was joined by Will (19) and Wesley Blair (17) of Mooresville, N.C., Carter Reese (19) of Mooresville, N.C., and Dane Mechler (28) of Charlotte, N.C. The Blairs, Reese and Mechler are all national and world class water skiers. Dane Mechler placed second in Men’s slalom in the 2023 World Water Ski Championships! They were together on New Year’s Eve and challenged each other to compete in the New Year’s Day Tournament. Their exceptional water skiing skills didn’t appear to benefit their barefooting skill, as they generally struggled to stay on their feet…but had fun trying!
Age and water ski experience didn’t seem to make much difference in determining who would win the Men’s Division. 10 year old Logan Harrington of Mooresville, N.C., (Lydia’s brother) normally competes in the Junior Division, but because he was the only junior contestant this year and is a proficient barefooter, he was happy to be grouped in with the Men’s Division. Logan surprised everyone except his dad in winning the Men’s Division and posting the longest time and the third highest total score of the entire tournament (185 seconds, 60 points for his dock start for a total 245 points)! Logan’s dad, Court Harrington, says, “Logan has developed quite the knack for endurance barefoot skiing and has some advantages being small and able to go slower speeds to help overcome the conditions and tight turning course for this event. Anything can happen, but on a day when tricks were going to be hard for anyone, I thought he might have a chance to capitalize on his strength and endurance abilities to give himself a shot at doing well.”
Second place in the Men’s Division went to Jackson Tigner (15) of Tega Cay, S.C., with 196 points (66 seconds and 130 start/tricks points), and third place to Kyle Arend (28) of Savannah, Ga., with 186 points (37 seconds and 110 start/tricks points.
Similar results occurred in the Open Division (the top rated contestants). Jeff Blair of Mooresville, N.C., has won nine of the last 18 tournaments, as far back as records have been kept. That is nine of the ten New Year’s Day tournaments for which he has competed. His only second place finish to date was when world renown barefooter, Peter Fleck, won the tournament in 2014. Jeff held the course record for over 12 years before World Barefoot Champion Keith St. Onge broke it in 2019. But this year, whether due to the rougher water and/or out of practice and/or out of shape, Jeff fell early with a score of 351 (36 seconds and 315 start/tricks points). That created the opportunity for 17 year old Van Jantzen of Tega Cay, S.C., the only other contestant who started with a flying backward dock start to beat Blair with a score of 387 (47 seconds and 340 start/tricks points). Third place in the Open Division went to John Garrity (55), of Andover, N.J.
The famous group of barefooting friends from Hopatcong, N.J., the “Jersey Boys,” Marty Levine, Ted Eisenstat, Fred Steinbaum, Sparky Wickes, and John Garrity once again competed with their lively personalities and warm camaraderie.
Ed Billick of WBT radio assisted with the announcing of the event, which was also live streamed on the American Barefoot Club YouTube channel.