Great Weekend in FL!

I just got back this morning from an amazing extended weekend in Florida. A few months ago, I had scheduled a trip down to visit Correct Craft headquarters in Orlando. Of course I was hoping to do some other visiting while I was down and, if I was lucky, get in some early season skiing/footing. Well, after spending the weekend with the likes of backfoot100, Jbear, Keith St. Onge, and Bill Yeargin, it’s safe to say the weekend far exceeded my wildest expectations.

Eddie (backfoot100) and his lovely wife Joanne where kind enough to let me stay with them at their home in Winter Heaven. After getting to Eddie's house around 8:30 Thursday night, I was greeted with warm dinner and an evening of great conversation. The next morning, Eddie and I were up at 6:30 am and on the water by 7:00 to get in a few slalom and barefoot passes before I headed out for Orlando.

At Correct Craft, I had some very productive meetings with Adam Lodge and Bill Yeargin. We discussed CCF, the reunions, and many exciting ideas for the future. There is no question that Correct Craft appreciates what this site does for them, their dealers, customers and potential buyers. We hope to be able to build greater synergy between CCF and Correct Craft, all while maintaining the independence and freedom that makes this site so successful.

Following my meetings with Adam and Bill, I then spent a few hours with Dave Hendricks (Correct Craft customer service). Just as he had done at my last visit to Correct Craft, Dave took me downstairs to production. This trip I got a sneak peek of the ’09 boats, the new PCM Cat engine and much, much more. There are some real exciting things happening at Correct Craft and wait till you see the color and graphic options for ’09!

Saturday Eddie and I where back on the water early, tinkered with the boat during the day and got back on the water in the afternoon, this time with Eddie’s daughter Cristen. We managed to wrap up just before Keith St. Onge arrived for dinner. Eddie knows Keith (who also lives in Winter Haven) and arranged to have him over while I was there. Keith had with him the infamous Swampy (his cousin and trainer) and some other good friends. It was a great night which concluded with an invitation to go barefooting with Keith the next day. Sunday morning Eddie and I headed over to Keith’s ski school and got some personal instruction from Keith and then he and I took a pass together off the boom. It was quite a morning.

Yesterday afternoon I got a chance to finally meet John (Jbear) and his wife Patti as they came over to Eddie’s straight from Ft. Lauderdale after getting off a cruise ship. I got in a few more sets with Eddie and John late last night before it got dark and we had to call it quits.

It was a incredible weekend full of many great stories. There are far too many details to include here but below are a few pictures. A very special thank you to Eddie and Joanne for opening up their home to me and for making me feel so welcome. Also a big thank you to Keith St. Onge. Keith is just a great person and extremely humble. You'd never know he’s the current World Champion and holder of two barefooting world records. And thak you to John and Patti for going out of their way to make sure to see me before I headed home.

Enjoy the photos,
-Keith

Early morning at boat launch with Eddie's boat:


Eddie (backfoot100) powerslide:


Eddie dry-land practice with Keith St. Onge:


Working on tumbles with Keith:


My first toe-hold with Keith's help - on trainers (seconds before I bite it):


Eddie working on backward one-foots with Keith:


Eddie working on back-to-front with Keith - on trainers:


I'm footing with Keith St. Onge off the booom(1):


I'm footing with Keith St. Onge off the booom(2):


Keith and I:


John (jbear) footing with Eddie driving:


John:


Eddie:


Eddie, myself and John:


-Keith

Wow, that looks like an awesome time!

Awesome fellas! Thanks for sharing the photos.
-Brad

M3Fan wrote: Did Bill mention when they were going to can the 196?

When? I hope they don't discontinue their flagship boat. Bow riders are so overrated. Doesn't CC sell a lot of 196's?

I didn't specifically discuss the future of the 196 with Bill or Adam, but I'd be surprised if it was discontinued any time soon. I can tell you that sales for direct drive boats, compared to v-drive, have increased over last year. I don't have the actually 196 numbers but I know the 196 is a big part of those direct drive units.

When I was there, I saw the coolest looking '09 196 that was being made for the '09 brochure. The throw-back color options and cool new graphics for '09 are really sweet. At least in the short-term, the 196 is still a integral part of the CC product line.

I will ask this specific question to Adam and Bill and see what they have to say.

-Keith

I agree. That's really encouraging news Keith! Can't wait to see the 09's now.

Cool pics, glad someone else has gone down there to hang and ski with those guys it's a great time.

Riley wrote: Keith, How'd you fix that shirt?

The magic of Photoshop.

Hey,
Just saw this thread...
What can I say... makes me long even more for July 2009!!
Looks so cool with JBear and Eddie...
I really hope yo meet a few of the FL guys when I'll come over
I hope I will also be able to make a tour at the Correct Craft factory.

It was big fun having Keith here. I know that he wanted to try and get together with others in the area like MM, Blondie and Adam. Unfortunately, the availability of John, Keith St. Onge and the good folks at CC together with Keith's limited time here really put a crimp in those plans. I certainly have to apologize to MM, Blondie and anyone else who Keith didn't get a chance to see while here. Seems like we hogged him all to ourself, but it certainly wasn't intentional. Just the way that things happened to work out.

Kristof, we're certainly looking forward to your visit as John stated. We'll be more than happy to show you a little american hospitality.

Keith, what does John's hair look like in person?

just kidding though, seems like you had a great time!!!

nates78ski wrote: All i want to see is a new 196 w/ 70's Script "Ski Nautique" on the side...that's my dream....haha

Like this Nate?

backfoot100 wrote: It was big fun having Keith here. I know that he wanted to try and get together with others in the area like MM, Blondie and Adam. Unfortunately, the availability of John, Keith St. Onge and the good folks at CC together with Keith's limited time here really put a crimp in those plans.

       ...as long as Jbear got to go footin'...no harm done...all's well!!!

Wow what a great group of people on this site. It is so nice how all you guys welcome people in, and show such great Southern Hospitality. It looks like you guys had a great time with Keith's visit. We hope to hit the water this weekend with the Mustang. My husband and kids are giving me a night out to spend the night with my mom at the lake house, and then my brother and I will get some skiing in early Sat am. What a great Mother's day gift to get to spend time with my mom and then skiing with my brother. Then back home Sat night for a cookout with the rest of the family, and time with my kids and husband. Thanks Keith for sharing the pictures. They were great.

I certainly will J-Bear. I appreciate how you always remember my dad. I wish you could have met him, although you probably would have never got away from him with the way he loved to talk about these CC boats. I was reading where you and Patti just got back from a cruise. Hope you both had a great time. I will work on the pictures.