There have been several months I've had to really look hard to find a good candidate for Footer of the Month.  This isn't one of those months.  Keith's accomplishment of setting a new Slalom World Record has been the talk of the sport ever since it was announced.  He broke one of the longest standing records in barefooting.  We've seen trick scores fall left and right over the last few years, but Brian Fuch's slalom record of 20.5 has stood for well over 10 years.  With the wider wakes of inboard barefoot boats and more critical judging using slow motion, stop motion, frame-by-frame etc..., we had all but given up on the idea that anyone would ever break the record.  But Keith put an end to that myth by posting a provisional score of 21.8 at a barefoot tournament in South Africa in mid January 2006.  A score that was later reduced to 20.6 by the World Barefoot Council hatchet squad. 

The good news!  Keith has demonstrated that 22 could be possible.  And with young 14 year old skiers like Heinrich Sam's posting scores of 19.2, we could see the 22 pt barrier broken in the next few years.

Keith is one of the most liked and respected footers in the world.  When you ask skiers, young and old, who they look up to and would most like to emulate, it's an overwhelming response of Keith St. Onge.  He's talented beyond belief, humble, respectful of others, and most importantly, an ambassador to the sport like no other.  

Some may say that I'm nominating him because we sponsor him.  But if you look back through the history of the BFC FOM program, you'll find very few BFC sponsored skiers.  As a sponsored skier, you have to demonstrate accomplishments well beyond the norm to catch my eye.  I've skied with Keith many times and the bar I've set in my mind is so high on the ability scale that he has to do the extra special to even get my attention anymore.  I have just come to expect miracles on the water.

But what has impressed me most this year is Keith's focus.  We sat down together after the US Nationals last year and talked about Keith's goals. I challenged him to write them down, prioritize them, and create a plan that would accomplish them in specified timeframes.  One of those goals was to break the Slalom World Record.  Another huge goal was to relocate his ski school to Winter Haven and create an atmosphere that would attract footers of all abilities.  He found a house on the water in Winter Haven and spent the entire winter renovating.  He was ready for spring and has been watching his business grow.  He has partnered with Headzone Coaching Systems to introduce the latest teaching techniques to the sport.  And finally, he as purchased a new 8.1 Liter Sanger DXII to compliment his Mastercraft relationship, and now is able to offer students a choice a variety of boat choices. 

So the thing that caught my eye wasn't necessarily Keith breaking the slalom world record.  I knew he had the ability to do it and it was only a matter of time.  What caught my eye is that he did it while managing all these other changes going on in his life at the same time.  It has been such a pleasure watching Keith mature in his skiing abilities as well as in his professional business abilities.  He's taking his life to the next level. 

Congratulations Keith!  This is only a small honor based on some of the awards you've won in your life, but now you are eligible to be the 2006 BFC Footer of the Year.  You can add that goal to the list.  Good luck!!

Now for the really good news.  We have the video of Keith Slalom World Record run.  And we also have a video of a conversation we had with Keith after he heard he officially broken the record:

 

Check out the other Footer's Of the Month