MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Ben Ferney
Ben Ferney rides all year, regardless of how cold, to improve his
skiing. He is always willing to help, in all realms of the sport.
Ben is one of the nicest hydrofoilers around and one of the best
representatives of the sport! Ben has skyrocketed in the last few
years at Nationals, in the big air level with 50+ frame handle pass
wake mobes! He dedicates his time and promotes the sport as a USHA
director and competition committee member.
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
MJ Pohl
As always she is at the top of the female standings and is willing
to offer time and assistance to help promote the sport and others.
She always goes the extra mile to help and encourage. If it were
not for MJ always stepping it up, working hard on mobes and front
flip combos, most of the women out there would not push themselves
to do better. There simply isn't a more devoted woman in this sport.
MJ's top notch riding skills are only surpassed by her involvment
in making the sport better. Judging, coaching, and USHA board work
as well as the great work on the USHA Hall of Fame display case!
JUNIOR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Cayce Chismar
Pushing herself to improve her riding and learn new tricks, Cayce
placed 2nd in USHA Nationals Advanced division and placed 2nd in
Spring Fling in Jacksonville, FL. Cayce pushes many of the female
and male riders to improve their skills, or else get beaten by a
teenage girl. She has so much potential in this sport as she continues
to progress like a rock star! Cayce is humble and kind, and is very
active in the foiling community by attending all competitions, starting
a hydrofoil club at a Florida college, and getting other younger
riders interested. Many see this young lady as the future of hydrofoiling!
AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR
Bryan Schumacher
Schumacher is a dedicated individual who works hard to advance the
sport of
hydrofoiling through development of new gear such as wings and boards
through Xtreme Foils. His never-ending support of hydrofoiling extends
from
products and his Extreme Foil team to maintaining foilforum.com.
Bryan
gives his time for the entire hydrofoil community as a USHA board
member,
scoring system implementer, and competitor. Bryan has continued
to improve
his riding and is always willing to help out a new rider or more
experienced
riders who want to get better.
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Southeast Hydrofoil Club
Started two very successful tournaments -- the only tournaments
outside of Nationals. This club comes together to welcome skiers
from all of the U.S. Hosting people in their homes, taking them
out to ski, putting on the Last Fling and Spring Flings. No other
club comes together like this group welcoming all genders and ages.
It would be an honor to be a part of such a great team! Eric Vyborny
and Brad Schmidt have done an amazing job pulling together the JAX
tournaments - well organized and fun. The Fling events are just
awesome! Everyone is so hospitable.
Members of this club are always taking new people out and introducing
them to the sport of foiling and have added many foils to the foiling
community for their efforts. There are 2 huge supporters to this
club that are very selfless in getting new people out on the water
-- Will Williamson and Brad Schmidt, without these guys out on the
water promoting the sport and club, the SEHC would not be able to
host the events we do. The club overall, I believe, does a lot to
promote the sport of hydrofoiling other just putting on events.
MOST IMPROVED MALE
Benton Travis
Wake BNC / BNC / KGB - great work!
MOST IMPROVED FEMALE
Alison Goin
Went from no inverts to several consistent inverts, and even a 360
in one year. 2 years ago - she was in Novice - now with 6 inverts
and a 360 that is dead-on better than 75% of the time. Working on
Fronts, offside air rolls and front rolls - not to mention off-side
fronts - massive improvement in a short time. Great lady! No denying
it!
RISING STAR - JUNIOR
Cayce Chismar
She is one to watch! Cayce has stepped it up the past 3 years and
took 2nd place at Nationals in Advanced this year. It will not be
surprising to see her move up to Open next year. Cayce has the vision
to put hydrofoiling on the map through the college water ski team
she was accepted to. Cayce, without a doubt, is a rising star! Pushing
herself to improve her riding and learn new tricks. She also pushed
many of the men riders to improve their skills or else get beat
by a teenage girl.
BEST SUPPORTING MEMBER
Todd Goin
Kept Nationals goin' -- spent incredible hours to pull off another
successful tournament. Todd continues to be a great rep of hydrofoiling,
even without actually doing it. He is a moderator on foilforum,
takes people out on his boat to learn the sport or to improve in
the sport. He also continues to do what needs to be done to keep
up his safety coordinator status and trained driver status. His
dedication is greatly appreciated! Todd doesn't ride, but is always
there helping out. His dedication shows as an event organizer, boat
driver, etc., etc., etc. This guy does everything for the foiling
community, from supporting his wife and family on the water, to
hosting Nationals. Thanks Todd!
THAT'S INCREDIBLE AWARD
Bill Von Zabern
“Iron Man of Hydrofoiling”
On November 3, 2008, Bill von Zabern of on Canyon Lake, California,
set a new world record by performing 3,058 consecutive flips on
a hydrofoil water-ski in one continuous ski run of 6 hours and 26
minutes. He rode 56 laps around Canyon Lake for a total of 126 miles.
The previous record held for flips on a hydrofoil was 1,416, set
by Geno Yauchler. Just a few months after, Bill passed away January
3rd, 2009. Bill will be remembered for his tremendous athletic ability
and dedication to the sport of hydrofoiling.
