Ultimately, the conversations lead to "How do we get people back into racing the D2D?"  I was asked this question by many footers throughout the weekend.  My answer to that question isn't cut and dry.  But one thing I do know is if the pre and post promotion isn't there, the interest won't be there either.  Organizers have to be very diligent about promoting the event using the media available to them (Facebook, Email, Forums, BFC, printed Mags etc...).  But it goes well beyond just putting out blasts about an upcoming event.  If you want to build, you have to do as much, if not more, POST media than you do pre-media.  You need stories about the race, the racers, the organizers. You need plenty of pictures and videos that show people what it's like to attend the event.  What is there to do in the city hosting the event outside the race?  Why should someone want to drive across country to attend the event?  And as much as everyone likes Facebook, just posting random pictures and random comments about the event on Facebook is just a short-lived shattered attempt at a post review.  People like being able to read an official article that they can pass around and easily get back to.  They need a place to go that contains information about all the events, upcoming events, and read stories about past events.  If you think I'm describing a site LIKE BarefootCentral.com just for racing, you're on the right track. 

What we've discovered since BFC got out of the Racing Cup Series is that the current racing teams have not been able to put together a website dedicated to their sport.  They haven't been able to agree on formats, venues, etc.. They know how to use Facebook, or post random videos, in a very sporadic fashion, but they don't know how to report on an event from a 10,000 foot perspective, look beyond their own team, or report on an event as if you're a reporter for Waterski Mag given the assignment to report on several teams, backgrounds, rivalries, etc... Racing has no identity as a hole, no personality, no good-guy vs bad-guy stories.  They're all having fun racing but it's just become boring to follow.  This is my opinion of course.  I'll no doubt get a bunch of hate mail from a few racers over this. 

If your race doesn't have the budget or resources to run a full-blown website, the alternative to creating your own site is assigning a person in your organization to be responsible for writing articles and submitting them to BFC knowing that you'll need a comprehensive and well written article on the event to get published, whether that be on BFC or in Waterski Magazine.  Each event should have a person assigned to this task.  Each year, write an article from a different perspective.  The possibilities are limitless. Just emailing a couple pictures and list of times and results won't cut it.  Fans want to know what it was like being at the race.  We want to know about the rivalries, where the teams come from, the problems and how they were overcome.  We want the lows as well as the highs.  We want something you'll want to talk about at the office the next day.  Something that'll make us want to come to your event next year.  Partnering with a site like BFC that has the target audience you're looking for is a must.  Partnering to provide them content results in them wanting to be involved in your event each year, so when you ask for donations, or coverage, the decisions come much faster.  Posting short blurbs on Facebook only speaks to a handfull of people that have joined your group.  Have you approached Facebook for donations or sponsorship lately?  Or are you blindly posting content with no regard to what it's costing you.  At my last calculation, Facebook has not sponsored a single waterski event worldwide.  All organizers, and skiers need to keep that in mind and Facebook should be used as a tool, not as your sole point of operation and communication with the world.

As for the Dam-to-Dam, a question was posed to me about what is needed to build this event back to it's glory days? Albeit, these are only ideas, but maybe they'll spur on something with the club.  The D2D is the Grannd-Daddy of all races, but it's had a problem determining it's path and has made changes that I feel have affected its attendance.  The Club first needs to determine if they really want it to be the premiere race others model themselves after, or if they're happy using it to raise a few extra bucks each year.  If they want to build it back, they need to start promoting for next year NOW!  Start having some meetings inside the club to determine if they want to keep the same format (Pro vs Open), or if they need to do something different.  Assign a Marketing person.  Make it a young person that is naive to some of the issues from the past and isn't associated with any one team.  My opinion is you need something different.  The Pro footers haven't proven they can build and maintain a league, so I'd set my focus back to the Open or Inboard Only division.  SkiPro is out of business, and though the boats are perfect for high-end racing, they aren't good for organizers looking to attract more competitors.  Boat companies may want to get involved again if they are the main event.  Running all inboards will not limit the horse-power, but it will give competitors a more level field to play on and rough water skiers will become that much more important to a team instead of just speed demons.  The top teams will still fair well but it'll change their game plans up.  It ultimately does still come down to skiing ability.

I'd like to see a D2D event be one of total randomness.  If a skier brings a boat, they become a team captain.  All the other skiers names are thrown into a hat.  You can have top skiers in one hat, and all others in a 2nd hat.  Ask skiers to rank themselves at registration.  The captains draw from hat #1 first, then hat #2.  You'd then draw from a third hat for heats and lanes.  We did this once at a Cup Series fun race and had so much fun.  We still talk about that race. If the Pros revolt about the decision, invite them to have a Pro Div race in Austin earlier in the year, or run that race on Friday.  The BFC Cup Series used to bring 6 teams to the game, money, trophies, etc which warranted a special race, but it's now down to 2 to 3 pro teams at best.  Unless they can do the same, you shouldn't be running your event differently anymore.  The issue the D2D has is one of identity.  The race has lost it's identity.  We all grew up with the D2D being the learning grounds with teams like Team Viagra, the Sole Sisters, the Breakfast Boys, etc...  It needs to get back to a crazier state of randomness where anyone could win.  The Austin Barefoot Club is still the biggest club in the US.  D2D organizers should be using the club's size to get at least one Pro skier to commit to the race a year in advance.  Book a pro like Ron Scarpa or Paul Macdonald for a summer Junior Dev clinic in return for their commitment to ski in the next D2D.  Fill their pockets with clinics and they'll support you in return.  If you find out that Andre de Villiers will be in the Unites States during the reace, GET HIM THERE and make him a team captain.  Who wouldn't want to race with him? Work on sponsors now to raise funds to fly in key people.  Put them up and waive entry fees in return for their commitment to be there in advance so you can promote that for at least 3 mos.  If the first 6 mos, focus on the sponsors and key people you want there.  Get that done first.  Then spend the next 3-4 mos promoting.  Spend sponsor money on an ad in Waterski, Waterskier, or on BFC.  Identify a host hotel and work with local town officials to find out about how you can get advertising money back if people stay in local hotels.  Have an early entry discount.  The goal would be to have 80% of the teams signed up before Oct 1.  And don't forget to sit down and ask yourselves how the club can get industry businesses like Eagle Sports, Barefoot International, Sanger and BFC involved so they want to attend your event and look at it as a good way to build their businesses. 

At the end of the day, there is so much you can do with the D2D, but it also requires some agreement between the members running the club and some good old hard work.  Egos and emotions need to be checked at the door.  Guys too close to a single racing team should not be involved in the decisions because it'll just get emotional.  Base you decisions on facts and your knowledge of how the waterski maket works.  But my advice is take some chances, make it an inboard/outboard only event, and mix the skiers up.  Think outside the box a bit.  Final thought, have the Friday night party at a go-cart racing facility.  Get the racing juices flowing early.