Sanger Boats have been involved in the sport of Barefoot Water Skiing since 1987, longer than any other approved barefoot tow boat. So when asked to be the factory sponsored tow boat for the 34th annual Barefoot Water Ski Nationals, Sanger was honored for the opportunity. This year’s Nationals was hosted in Waco Texas, at the Premier “Barefoot Ski Ranch”. This State of the art Ski Ranch was the Brain Child of Stewart Parsons. The facility sits on almost 400 acres, plays host to two ski lakes and a future cable park that will be used for not only barefooting but all venues of skiing. The main Ski Lake has a fully equipped ski house for skiers and spectators. It sits near a rope swing and zip line not far away. The Ski ranch is also home for several separate deer breeding grounds.

The 34th annual Barefoot Nationals took place August 10-13 at the Ski Ranch which will also be hosting the 2012 Barefoot Nationals and the 2012 World Barefoot Championships, also exclusively pulled by Sanger Boats. This years event hosted over 100 skiers and Sanger was there to pull all three events and exhibitions throughout the week. With the Marine Industry struggling like many industries are in this economy, Sanger Promo team members, Stuart Parsons and Mike Hartman, along with a third Sanger boat owned by Jim Rollins and Blake Ellard, were able to maintain all the pulling requirements Sanger had this year.

Nationals this year attracted almost 3000 spectators throughout the week and 1600 spectators attended the impressive night jump event. We got the opportunity to ask Doug Jordan, the events Chief Boat Driver about his experience. “It was a great experience pulling the event as Chief driver and especially the night jump event. Being able to pull an event like that at a venue like the Ski Ranch was a great thrill. The spectators loved it. I was excited to be able to take part in driving the event”. With the temperatures above 100 during the day, having the ability to light up the course at night provided cooler temperature and a different atmosphere creating a great jump event.

Sanger performed well given the high temperatures and provided all skiers the pulls they were looking for.  The Chief Driver, Doug Jordan also stated “ The Barefooting community cannot thank Sanger Boats, Sanger Promo owners and even those not on the Promo team, enough for being so active in the sport and participating every chance they get”.

Sanger Boats will continue to support this sport of barefoot water skiing to the best of our ability and cannot thank the skiers enough for choosing Sanger  as their #1 towboat company of choice.