Texas has an active and diverse barefooting community, a substantial number of whom are active barefooters well into their senior years.  This is also true of neighboring states. The Austin Barefoot Club is also very active, regularly holding barefoot tournaments each year, including hosting the US National Barefoot Tournament in 2021 and 2022.  

Many Texas and Southwest skiers are quite enthusiastic about holding a Senior Worlds event in Texas, and have pledged their time, talent and treasure to make the event highly successful.  Indeed, there are many senior skiers throughout the US who are committed to making this event a success.  We have also heard from skiers outside the US who want to participate.

 Thus, although members of the Austin Barefoot Club form the local organizing committee we have other skiers outside Texas who have agreed to help.  Among these skiers we have the ability to put on a world class event, since we have the assistance of skiers who are:

• Experienced in hosting previous World Championships;
• Experienced in hosting National Championships;
• Experienced in hosting multi-national events; and
• Capable of providing a world class skiing and social experience to attendees.

THE SITE

We are pleased to report that we have procured the right to hold the tournament at a world class site near San Marcos, Texas.   It is approximately 760 meters long and has hosted several 3-event tournaments in the past.  Recently, the site was purchased by Del and Teri Waters, long-time friends of skiing and of the barefoot community.  Del and Teri are pleased to make this site available for this tournament.  Del and Teri are very supportive and have agreed to make available their air conditioned “bunk house” which was formerly a 2-car garage, for officials and video review.  The bunk house is steps away from the lake.  They are willing to make the lake available to the organizers for several days prior to the start of competition.

LOCATION

San Marcos, Texas is a vibrant community along Interstate 35 about halfway between Austin and San Antonio Airports.  There are several dedicated ski lakes in the area; the community has a history of supporting water ski tournaments, albeit not barefoot tournaments.  We are in contact with San Marcos Convention and Visitors Bureau, and they are very supportive.  See the following link for information about the San Marcos area:  https://www.visitsanmarcos.com/

The site is also less than an hour from Austin and San Antonio, Texas, two large metropolitan areas with much to offer.  Austin, among its many other positive attributes bills itself as the live music capital of the Word.  See https://www.austintexas.org/

San Antonio a city rich in history, bursting with culture, and booming with modern attractions, provides its own kind of charm.  https://www.visitsanantonio.com/

The ski site is approximately 35 minutes from the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA)  https://www.austintexas.gov/airport and 55 minutes from the San Antonio International Airport (SAT).   https://flysanantonio.com/

The Houston Airport (IAH) is less than 3 hours away and Dallas, Texas Airport (DFW) is about 3.5 hours away.