The History of Waterskiing

Water skiing is a popular sport and leisure activity where a person (or sometimes more than one person) is pulled behind a motorboat or special water skiing machine across water. The water skier can pass across the surface of the water because they are wearing either one or two special skis.

There are several stories relating to the origins of water skiing, but the sport's history is not ancient (unlike surfing) because the speeds required to water ski need modern machinery.

  1. Early Water Skiing

    • A Swedish inventor received a patent for a wateraski in 1841 but it is unclear whether it was ever produced or used. The term "water ski" (vattenskida) appears in a Swedish encyclopedia of 1921, although it is unclear whether the activity was widespread at this time.

      In England it is reported that a Mr. Storrey was the winner of a "plank-gliding" contest at Scarborough regatta, North Yorkshire in 1914 but it's not clear that "plank-gliding" is exactly the same as water skiing, although is sounds similar.

    American Water Skiing History

    • In the U.S., Ralph Samuelson is credited as the first water skier. In 1922, the 18-year-old used two boards and a cord to ski across Lake Pepin in Lake City, Minnesota. Towed by his brother Ben at a speed of roughly 20 mph, Samuelson made his breakthrough when he realized it was easiest to start leaning back with the tips of the water skis pointing upwards.

      His early attempts to water ski using curved pieces of a barrel and snow skis failed. Samuelson fashioned the first successful skis himself from timber and leather bindings.

    Water Ski Jumping

    • Ralph Samuelson further developed the sport on Lake Pepin. As part of an exhibition in 1925, he took the first water ski jump using a greased ramp. However, Samuelson did not patent his water skis or any water skiing equipment. Fred Waller first patented water skis, calling them Dolphin Akwa-Skees, in 1925.

      Samuelson also became the first speed skier in 1925. He attached a 200-foot-long cord to a World War I flying boat, which successfully pulled him at 80 mph. He also invented slalom water skiing with a single, wider ski.

    Show Water Skiing

    • Show water skiing emerged in the 1950s, and shows involving tricks, jumps, dance movements and even pyramid displays of multiple water skiers balancing on each other's shoulders became popular. Nowadays, the Rock Aqua Jays Water Ski Team of from Janesville, Wisconsin are widely admired as one of America's most successful show teams.

    Olympic Water Skiing

    • The popularity of water skiing grew in North America during the '60s and '70s. Water skiing was recognized as an Olympic sport in 1972 when it was included in the Summer Games held in West Germany.