In Memory of Brad Pegg

Brad Pegg had the biggest feet in the SCR, but it was his big heart that made him a favorite in the world of barefooting.   He died unexpectedly of a heart attack, May 30, 2010 at his home in Wichita, KS.   He leaves behind three wonderful children, Lindsey, Joel and Abby all barefooters like their Dad.   Born in 1961, Brad was in the Men’s 4 age division; but he skied in the Open Division in wakes which reflected his true love for barefoot slalom.  His personal best wake score was 16.2.  In 2006, at the Senior World Championships in Adna Washington, he posted the outstanding score of 15.8 which earned him a silver medal on the world stage!     However, the true highlight of the event for Brad wasn't the silver medal; it was being able to share his love of barefooting with his daughter Lindsey who skied in the Junior Worlds Championships which were being held in Adna at the same time.   There are so many great stories about Brad.  We would like for you to share any fond memories and stories about Brad.   Our plan is to gather the wishes and the stories to share with his kids as part of his legacy.     Arrangements are pending and will post updates as the information becomes available. 

So......... "I said to myself...........what would Ron Scarpa Do"?

That was how the story started.   One day, Brad and I were standing around the starting dock and he told me about another starting dock experience that he had several years prior at the 2006 Sr. Worlds.   He said he was standing on the starting dock and there was some issue out in the water with the prior skier and the boat crew.    Neither the CJ or the Dock Starter were dealing with the situation.

He described to me how he stood there and waited, and waited, and waited ….then started thinking, “What would Ron Scarpa do in this situation”.     So, he hollered out to the boat crew, “Hey! Pay attention to me”.   The boat crew then got back on track and pulled Brad down the lake for his silver medal run. 

What I found so amazing about this story is that I believe that whole thought process was why Brad was a Champion skier.   Never in my life had I thought, “What would Ron Scarpa do” or any World Champion for that matter.  So the lesson to me was, you have to think like a Champion to be a Champion.    All of the years, I’d known Brad, I knew he loved barefooting, I knew he had a deep passion for our sport.   But that was my first true glimpse inside, at the drive behind the fun loving and kind exterior.   He was never cocky, he was never boastful…..he was a true sportsman.   I had previously thought that his amazing slalom was due to an innate talent and the size of his feet.  Sure he had talent, sure his feet were big (but they were proportional).  He had something more; he had the “sole” of a Champion.