Logan Harrington of Davidson competes at the Lake Norman New Year’s Day Barefoot Challenge (Carolina Show Ski Team)

Jan. 2 – By Ryan Moxon. Wind and choppy water made for tough footing, but not a lack of drama, at the 48th annual Lake Norman New Year’s Day Barefoot Challenge on New Year’s Day.

Skiers from across the East Coast and Midwest competed in one of the sport’s most distinctive events, which combines points for starts and tricks with one point for every second a skier remains upright — all in a single oval run near the Lake Norman Marina shoreline.

Ages ranged from 7 to 85, with beginners skiing alongside national-level competitors. Early high winds limited performances, with several skiers managing only seconds on their feet. Conditions improved later in the day, allowing stronger runs in both divisions.

In the Men’s Division, 68-year-old Terry Ryan of Atlanta won with 228 points, including 178 seconds after a deepwater start in his first appearance at the event. Scott Martin, 56, of Mooresville, North Carolina, was second with 210 points, followed by 15-year-old Reid Lawson of Warsaw, Indiana, who scored 161 points with a difficult backward deepwater start.

The Open Division was won by endurance specialist Marc Donohue, 62, of Oklawaha, Florida. Donohue totaled 458 points, highlighted by 318 seconds on his feet and six complete circles before fatigue set in.

Fred Steinbaum, 83, of Hopatcong, New Jersey, placed second with 205 points, while 12-year-old Logan Harrington of Davidson, North Carolina, finished third with 138. Harrington won the Open Division last year at age 11.

Barefooting is a family affair for the Harringtons — Logan’s father, Court, and 7-year-old sister Lydia also competed. Logan, who has skied this event every year since age 5 and shocked the field by winning the Open title at 11, came into 2026 hoping to repeat but found the competition fiercer than expected.

The event drew an estimated 200 to 300 spectators and was announced by Water Ski Hall of Famers Rachel George Normand and John Gillette. The tournament is organized by the Carolina Show Ski Team of Tega Cay, South Carolina.