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Click Skull for 2010 pics

UPDATE: 1-11-11

In addition to the Fly-In, we also will be hosting a clinic

here at the site. See below for all details.

PREVIOUS POST

Good news! We have selected the dates for the 2011 Florida

Fly-In! This year we are encouraging you all to come with

some type of costume, a special, non-harmful prank up your

sleeve, and a video camera. We want you all to film your

goofiest, craziest, and best riding action, and then we will

compile it for an awesome video collage. All video donors

will receive a free copy of the video, and the best video

donor will get a special reward, to be announced at the

event. Also to be awarded will be:

Best Crash

Sickest Move

Farthest Traveled

We are very much excited about the coming event, and

hope to see many of you here. If you would like to bring

your boat that would be great, but you don't have to.

Here is the skinny:

Where:

Winter Haven Chain of Lakes

Google: 516 Lake Lulu Dr. Winter Haven FL 33880

Door to Door Directions

When:

April 1-3, 2011

Where to fly into:

Tampa or Orlando International airports

Where to stay:

Either at our home, or at one of the many hotels in the

area. This year we are allowing people to stay here at no

charge (except the ones staying in a bed - see below).

Bring an air matress, sleepingbag, tent, whatever. Just get

here!

The closest hotels are the Holiday Inn Express and the

Hampton off of CypressGardens Blvd.

Holiday Inn Express                          The Hampton Inn
200 Cypress Gardens Blvd.              210 Cypress Gardens Blvd.
Winter Haven, FL 33880
(863) 292-2100 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (863) 292-2100

Negotiated Rate: $99-$109 per night. Be sure to mention The Florida Fly-In to get the best rate.

Clinic Details:

Thursday, March 31st, and Monday, April 4th will be clinic

days, with a reduced rate to go along with the Fly-In similar

to  last year. We will have 4 time slots for you to pick from:

March 31st: 1. 8:30am-12:30pm  2. 1:30pm-5:30pm

April 4th: 3. 8:30am-12:30pm 4. 1:30pm-5:30pm

$80 per person (2 - 20-25 min. lessons)

Feel free to sign up for one or all 4 of these great learning

clinics. Limit 4 per 4 hour segment.  Get 1 on 1 instruction

from the 2007-2010 Pro National Hydrofoil Champion.

Whether you want to learn your first invert,  a spin, or a

mobius, this  clinic will be an excellent way to skip some

learning steps.

How to Sign up for the Fly-In/Clinics:

REGISTRATION:

Once again this year, we are heavily encouraging online only registration for this event.

Go to the link below and sign up for USA WaterSki if you haven't already. You can also

renew your membership from this link.  Print out your payment receipt and entry forms,

and bring your USA Water Ski Card. Have your forms filled out prior so you can get right

down to the water. For those who are not web savvy, no worries. You can still sign up

here for an additional $30 processing fee. This is a sanctioned event, and that is how we

get our insurance coverage.

To participate in this event, be sure to sign up for one of the membership

options on the list at the web link below. You can't get in a boat or foil if you

are a supporting member. Grass Roots is OK.

Join USA Water Ski (mandatory to participate)

COST OF THE EVENT:

Everyone who comes must pay the $50 fee which goes to fuel for the

boats, and any other expenses.

BRING YOUR BOAT IF YOU LIKE:

If you bring your boat, you will not pay for fuel that goes into your boat. Just

collect your receipts for the three day event, and you will be reimbursed on

Sunday. Plus you get to ski behind your own boat! All participating boat

providers must carry a minimum of 500K Insurance, as per the sanctioning

rules. Following these rules is how we get insured.

WHERE TO STAY:

If you want to stay off site, the host hotel is The Holiday Inn Express,

where you will find new rooms, continental breakfast, and superb intelligence

after staying there. You've seen the commercials. $109 per night.

Call (863)-292-2100 to book, and be sure to ask for the Florida Fly-In Pricing.

The other Hotel is the Hampton Inn which is right across the courtyard, and is

$99 per night for these accommodations. Their addresses are 202 and 200

Cypress Gardens Boulevard, Winter Haven, FL 33880 Phone is (863)-299-9251.

They are both approximately 10 minutes walking distance, or about 2 minutes

driving, right next to Out Back Steakhouse and Red Lobster.

If you would like to stay with us, here is the deal. You can stay on the floor,

you can stay in a bed, or you can bring your motor home.  Staying at the house

can be much cheaper than staying at the hotel, especially if you are not picky

where you crash. See the options below:

Please pick one option for this event:

Option 1

Stay off site, or stay here anywhere but a bed & ski for three days $50

Option 2

Rent a bed Ski for three days $150 (2nd person in same bed choose Option 1)

(Only one person needs to pay for the bed if there are two people sleeping in it)

Option 3

1 person $150.00 2 People $300.00 3 People $450.00 4 People $600.00

We have 6 double or queen beds, and 1 cot. 4 spaces on the couches, and

virtually unlimited room on the floor, or in a tent out back.  First come, first

serve! We accept all major credit cards, as well as Pay pal. Pre pay prior to

coming. You can pick up your wrist band upon entering the site. We have 4

restrooms, so anyone who comes to the event may use them, just be neat and

wipe the seat when done boys! This will be a family type affair, and we

welcome all who wish to come and enjoy the peace and camaraderie of this

type of event. NO PARTY POOPERS! Should you have any questions not

answered here, just give me a call, or email me.

Geno Yauchler This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it - (863)-660-2264 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (863)-660-2264 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

ADDITIONAL SPONSORS WELCOME.

PLEASE CALL IF YOU CAN HELP. THANKS!!!

2010 Fly-In Archive

Keith Honkala. Survivor.

Keith Honkala, one of the top riders in the world, was spotted in Switzerland riding on

Lake Zurich and Lake Lugano this week.  We took the opportunity to say hello, and ask

him a few questions.

(Aquaskipper superstar! Mad skilz, this guy.)

Geno: So, Keith, how long have you been riding?

Keith: Since 1997. I remember it was right around the time when princess Diana left us.

Many people don't know this, but that same weekend Mother Theresa passed as well.

Geno: Hmm, interesting. So what is that you are drinking?

Keith: Orange Juice. 

Geno: Is that anything like Grappa? It is a Swiss delicacy.

(Back Roll on Lake Zurich)

Keith: No.

Geno: OK, moving right along. So you have been riding for 13 years. What do you think

your most memorable moment is from being involved in this sport?

Keith: It would have to be something involving Mike.

Geno: Mike Murphy? The Legend?

Keith: Yea. The Legend. That's him. Probably one of the most memorable moments would

have to be my first trip here, at Peter's house with all the top guns in the sport at the time.

Geno: do tell.

Keith: There was Mike Murphy, John & Theresa Wilbourn, Damon Moore, Trevor

Sudwigs, Nino Iodice, Peter Schorno, and the rest of the Swiss bunch. Oh, the times we

had. One time, Mike was doing this thing with his Butt where he would say, "Da Da-Da Da

Da, Fart Fart." Then I countered with a triple, and Mike couldn't believe he was ousted as

the king.

Geno: that’s the highlight?

Keith: No, the most memorable.

Geno: Ahh. So I hear you come to Switzerland almost every year. That's got to be a ton of

fun. The mountains here are beautiful, and it is quite a bit warmer than people would

think in the summer.

Keith: Yep.

Geno: You are a man of many words.

Keith: Pretty Much.

Geno: So I hear you used to be a competitive rider at one time. What is your favorite trick

to perform?

Keith: Gainers are fun.

Geno: Yea, you take those pretty big. So your brother Scott is also quite a good foiler.

Keith: He was actually the one who got me involved in the sport. If it weren't for him, I

wouldn't be the foiler I am today.

(spin city)

Geno: How did he get started?

Keith: Actually, he saw the original Air Chair in the Overton’s magazine so he bought one

and taught himself how to ride. When he taught me, he had all the basics on how to get

up, but when it came to teaching me how to jump, he told me to act like I was rowing a

boat. He would do flips that way. "Push on your feet, and pull on the handle". Fortunately

Mike came by Scott's home about a month later up in New Hampshire and did a clinic. He

explained that rowing a boat was not the proper technique for performing a jump. After

that I just took off and was learning tricks left and right.

Geno: You seem to have a high affinity for Mike Murphy.

Keith: Yea. As a hydrofoiler for sure, but more so as a friend.

Sonya(Keith's wife): Mike actually came and stayed close by at Peters Florida home

while Keith was going through his cancer treatment. He took care of him and helped out

for 3 months during the tough times.

Keith: Mike is there when you really need him.

Sonya: Keith was Mike's best man at his wedding. He also taught me how to drive for the

around the boat trick on the foil. We practiced it about 30 times before he finally was

satisfied with my performance.

(half way up the trial)

Geno: wow. I knew Mike was a stand up guy, but I didn't know he had that kind of depth.

So you started out on the Air Chair. When did you make the switch to Sky Ski?

Keith: That weekend when Mike came and did the clinic.

Geno: Wait, back up, so you had Cancer?

Keith: Yea, very similar to Lance Armstrong’s issue. Testicular.

Geno: And the doctors are giving you the all clear?

Keith: Yea, for now it is in remission. It is one of you those things where you would never

want to go through it again, but I am kind of glad I did go through it.

Geno: Really?

Keith: Well it paints a whole different picture of what life is all about. Don't sweat the small

things. It puts things in perspective, and your real priorities will come to the front. When

you look at all the things in your life, you have to ask yourself, what is really important.

Nothing makes you do that like surviving Cancer.

(we climbed to the top of the trail on the North side of Lake Lugano. We wuz tired...)

Geno: So what do you think has changed the most since finishing treatment?

Keith: The most important thing is the small stuff doesn't bother me anymore. Like traffic,

money, being tired or sick, I am just glad to have the opportunity to live. A good day you

will realize is a day where you wake up, and have the whole day to live life, whatever that

may be for you.

Sonja: Yea, I guess when you have your health taken away, you really appreciate it when

it comes back.

Geno: So what keeps you busy now? What do you do for fun besides hydrofoiling?

(Me, Peter, and Kieth)

Keith: kite boarding is my new drug of choice. For the past couple of years I have really

been into it. It is a sport where I can do it all by myself - I don't have to get a boat driver.

Not to knock hydrofoiling, it is a great sport. But you know what I mean. It is nice when

you don't have a buddy or two buddies to go out with. I can just grab my kite stuff and go.

But when the wind is not blowing I still have a great time hydrofoiling. It is good to have

multiple hobbies.

Geno: Thanks for sharing your life with the hydrofoil community. It has been a learning

experience talking with you. We going to ride after the rain stops?

Keith: I am sure we will. Might be a while.

For more information about Keith Honkala, Google his name, and hit the I'm feeling lucky

button.