| Water skiing began in 1922 when eighteen-year-old | | | | Originally the slalom course was just a row of buoys |
| Ralph Samuelson of Minnesota declared that if you | | | | in a straight line which the skier had to ski in and out |
| could ski on snow you could ski on water. He first | | | | of, but the course has been modified over the years. |
| tested this theory on Lake Pepin in Lake City, | | | | Today the slalom course is a series of buoys set in a |
| Minnesota, towed by his brother Ben. The two | | | | straight path 8 feet apart and a series of 6 pre |
| brothers spent several days experimenting before | | | | arranged buoys which make the entrance and exit |
| July 2, 1922 when Ralph discovered that leaning back | | | | gates. The boat travels down the middle of the |
| with the ski tips in the air lead to successful | | | | buoys at a specified speed and the skier zig-zags |
| waterskiing. The first skis the brothers used were | | | | behind the boat to get around the buoys. The boat |
| made form barrel staves, then they progressed to | | | | driver needs to be skilled too; it is a challenge to |
| snow skis before Ralph fashioned the first pair of | | | | keep a straight path while keeping in a ½ mile |
| water dedicated skis from some lumbar he | | | | an hour tolerance of the specified speed. The |
| purchased and shaped. These skis were bound to the | | | | maximum competition boat speed is 36mph which |
| feet with leather straps and a long window sash was | | | | doesn't sound fast but skiers hit speeds of up to 70 |
| used as a tow rope. | | | | mph as they cross the wake between buoys then |
| Ralph continued to experiment with and perfect his | | | | slow to around 20mph as they round the buoys, and |
| waterskiing technique and equipment and on July 8, | | | | they do this 6 times in 17 seconds, this sudden |
| 1925 during a Lake Pepin exhibition he performed the | | | | change in speed give quite an adrenalin rush! |
| first ever water ski jump using a 4' x 16' greased | | | | When a skier completes the course successfully at |
| ramp. Ralph Samuelson never patented any of his | | | | the maximum boat speed they make it a little more |
| waterskiing equipment; that was first done by Fred | | | | challenging by shortening the rope length. The top |
| Waller in 1925 who patented his Dolphin Akwa-Skees | | | | slalom skiers use rope 32' long and the buoys are set |
| and in 1940 Jack Andresen invented the first trick ski, | | | | 35 feet from the centre of the boat path so the |
| a shorter finless version of the standard ski. | | | | skier has to lean and stretch to make the buoy. |
| As a result of Ralph Samuelson's work and the | | | | Trick Skiing |
| development of equipment, waterskiing soon became | | | | This originally meant removing a ski and holding it |
| an exhibition sport in the late 1920's and early 1930's. | | | | over the head, but nowadays it's a little different. |
| The first competition was staged in 1939 when the | | | | Today trick skiers do 'toe hold' tricks where they |
| American Water ski Association was formed and held | | | | hold the rope by one of their feet using a special |
| the National Water Ski Championships at Jones Beach | | | | harness. They do step-overs, jumps and flips and |
| on Long Island, New York. Since then recreational | | | | points are awarded based on the degree of difficulty. |
| water skiing has grown massively in popularity with | | | | The skier has 20 seconds to perform as many tricks |
| recent surveys showing over 11 million water skiers in | | | | as possible and is allowed two trick runs. |
| the US alone. This is despite the high costs of the | | | | Jumps |
| equipment, boat, tow vehicle, fuel and fees | | | | Jump is the most exciting event; originally jump |
| associated with the sport which tends to make it a | | | | ramps had a surface of wooden rollers! Today jump |
| pastime for wealthier families. | | | | ramp height ranges from 2 ½ to 5 ½ |
| As the sport progressed more competitions were | | | | feet and maximum boat speed is 36mph. The world |
| held and events were split into three disciplines, | | | | record jump is over 200 feet and in the derivative |
| slalom, trick and jump. Competitive water skiers | | | | event 'ski flying' which has a longer ramp and faster |
| compete against their own gender and within their | | | | boat speed, skiers are nearing the 300 feet mark. |
| own age group, some competitive water skiers are in | | | | The freestyle jump event is also exciting to watch |
| their 80s so its never to late to take part! | | | | with flips, helicopters and various other amazing tricks. |
| Slalom Skiing | | | | |