 Press
Release - April 8, 2007
by Chuck Gleason
It
is my pleasure to announce that Chris Van Zeeland, the 2003 and
2006 Footstock Figure-8 Champion has decided to accept our offer to
become a member of the
Elite Promo Team
Some
would say that our decision to add Chris to our team was a long time
coming. Four years ago, when we decided to sponsor a Figure-8
skier, we knew nothing about the Figure-8 world and at the time we were
only willing to sponsor a single skier. Our decision came down to
two skiers, who just happened to be best friends (Aaron Schoelzel &
Chris). We knew either guy would support us well, and our decision
was to go with Aaron. It was a tough call to make, and I knew
Chris, who had never met me, would not be inviting me out for a drink
anytime soon as a result of it.
So
over the last 4 years, Chris has made it a point to remind me of the
fact that I passed on him every time he saw me. Chris went out and
signed a deal with Vortex,
and made sure he flaunted it in front of me any chance he got.
Over the years, Chris and I came to know and respect each other during
our annual trips to Footstock and during the BFC Cup Series.
But
I had no idea that Chris would some day become interested on being on
our team again. There's a big misconception
about how I recruit new members to our Elite team. Most people
have the idea that I'm constantly recruiting new skiers and bribing them
with big money offers to be on our team. Have you heard the
saying: "Chuck has the best team money can buy!". Well the
fact is, I've never called anyone to be on our team. The reason
for that is I want to know that the skiers on Team Barefoot Central
truly want to be a part of our team. If the excitement is there,
the rest takes care of itself. I don't sell BFC to them.
It's quite the opposite. I grill them with questions that sound
something like: "Why do you want to be a part of our team?",
"What do you bring to the table besides your skiing ability?", "If
you could change anything about the sport, what would it be?", "If you
could change anything about BFC, what would it be?", and so on.....
Once I'm done with them, I discuss the potential new member with all the
other team members. Having a team that gets along and has fun with
one another is key.
When
I asked Chris why he wanted to be a part of our team, his answer was:
"Because after watching what BFC has done for the sport I love the last
4 years, and for the skiers they represent, I want to be a part of that.
I believe what you're doing is good for the sport and I want to help
support that in any way I can. I want to be more than a name on
someone's web page. I want to know I'm helping make it happen, and
I'm part of something great".
Our
next question was "Have you spoken to Aaron about your potential
decision to be a part of Team BFC?" Chris' answer was that he
hoped Aaron would be as excited about it as he was, and if Aaron didn't
want it to happen for any reason, he would gracefully decline our
offer." He then asked us if he could call Aaron himself and break
the news to his best friend. The two best friends would finally be
skiing on the same team. Aaron gave without hesitation.
Our
next question of Chris was: "Of all the gear we sell on BFC, which would
you like to ski in?" His answer was Eagle Wetsuits, US Gear
handles and Ropes, and to top it off, Chris was in the market for a new
barefoot boat, so we hooked him up with Sanger and they signed him to
their Promo Team as well. He got a smokin deal on a new Sanger and
we'll all be skiing behind it at Footstock 2007. So don't be
looking for Chris in that ugly Blue t-shirt he's been wearing the last 3
years. This year, Chris will be stylin in the latest Eagle
barefoot suit and wearing new BFC & Eagle apparel. One thing that
won't change though is his competitiveness on the water.
Team-mates are great on the shoreline, but once they take to the water,
it's all about being that Last Man Standing and raising that 1st Place
Trophy.
Dave
Mueller had a chance to sit down with Chris last week to discuss his new
deal and his thoughts on being teammates with Keith St. Onge, who's made
it known he's out to take Chris' trophy away to Florida this year.
Click Here to Watch the Video Interview with Chris
Van Zeeland
30 meg WMV - Warning -
this video contains partial nudity - Not of Chris
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