TIGERS CLUB NEWS ARCHIVE

TIGERS NEWS May 2006
Tigers Barefoot Champion

The Tigers Under 18 Grade team have broken the ice with an emphatic win over the Belconnen Magpies last Sunday at the Margaret Donoghoe Sportsground.

Leading the Tigers with an inspirational effort was Jason Satchell – whose sporting attributes are not just reserved for AFL. “Satch” has just recently returned from South Australia with a National Title in Water Skiing.

Jason began waterskiing at four years of age beginning with training skis tied together, then two skis and eventually skiing on one ski by the age of 10. As he mastered salmon skiing he began a new challenge in barefooting at the age of 12.

2006 has been a very successfully year for the youngster, competing in the Men’s Division of the ACT Barefoot titles on March 11 which he won with a personal best score.

He then competed in Renmark to represent the ACT in the Men’s 3 Division of the 44th Australian Barefoot Waterski National Championships.

With 18 competitors in this division he was keen to show his best. The competition comprises of two rounds in both the tricks event and slalom. In the first tricks event (which consisted of 1 foots, toe holds, tumble turns standing back up on 1 foot, bunny hops and with his start of a tumble up and flying beach starts) he was able to trick 1180.

It was a PB and 200 points above the next skier. In the medal round with bad weather he achieved 820 points which surprised him to win a gold medal. He also did well in slalom (going from one side of the wake to another - the more crosses in 15 seconds the better your score) Jason was able to get 6 crosses up and 7 back. With both scores added up he was 200 points in front of his nearest competitor and was named the Men’s 3 National Champion of 2006.

A fantastic effort from a very committed young sportsperson.

Tigers Senior Grade Coach Mark Armstrong was impressed with Jason’s match last Sunday and has since asked the youngster to join the Tigers Senior Grade training squad. He joins a number of other Under 18 Grade players who have been promoted this season to assist the two senior grade teams which again have encountered an enormous amount of serious injuries.

Jason is eager to continue bare footing when his football season is over and the weather turns warm.