Water skiing is a 20th-century sport, with origins in the
ancient principle of using the power of one moving object to tow another. In water skiing the athlete is pulled
along the surface of the water by a motorboat. In the
basic style of the sport, the water skier wears a ski on
each foot and holds a tow rope with both arms. Variations include the use of only one ski, barefoot skiing,
and jumping off ramps, among others.
History
People probably attempted to water ski earlier, using
sailboats, but its modern form began after 1900 with
the development of the motorboat. As motorboats
proliferated, boaters tried activities that evolved into
the sport of water skiing, including towing sleds and
other flat objects that people either sat or stood on. In
the United States, Ralph Samuelson invented and
demonstrated a pair of water skis in 1922 on Lake
Pepin, Minnesota. At approximately the same time,
near New York City, Fred Waller also invented and
marketed a style of water ski, and he also invented the
bridle at the end of the tow rope that water skiers
hold.
By the 1930s efforts were being initiated to organize
and promote the sport more widely. The American Water Ski Association (ASWA) was formed in 1939, and
standardized rules and a structure of local clubs and
competitions were established. Similar initiatives took
place in other nations. In the late 1940s the World Water Ski Union (WWSU) was formed to coordinate the
sport, sanction events and records, and formulate rules
internationally.
Water skiing also captured the public’s attention as
a spectator sport. These shows featured spectacular
stunts, beautiful women performing choreographed
dance routines, and other crowd-pleasing activities on
water skis.
After World War II water skiing grew steadily. It remained primarily an amateur sport, with trophies
awarded more often than prize money. Professional
competitive water skiing tours and events were eventually established, but the amateur emphasis remained.
The distinction between amateur and professional aspects of the sport has been an ongoing debate.
Rules and Play
In the basic form of water skiing, the skier uses two
skis and holds a horizontal bar connected to the end of
the tow rope, which is attached to the motorboat.As the
boat moves forward, the skis are pulled and lifted
straight onto the water’s surface. The skier rises to a
standing position and is pulled along.
The minimum sustained speed for water skiing begins at around 24 kilometers per hour (15 miles per
hour). As water skiers become more proficient and
confident, they can be towed at increasing speeds. In
1983, Christopher Michael Massey, an Australian, established a water-ski speed record of more than 230
kilometers (144 miles) per hour.
The design of basic skis emphasize stability and
ease of handling, with many variations and types of
water skis for specific purposes. Advanced slalom
skiers use single skis with two sets of bindings, one for
each foot. Skis designed for stunts and other purposes
may be shorter or more rounded. Other types of skis
include the kneeboard, which is ridden in a kneeling
position, and boards that are ridden without bindings
(similar to a surfboard).
Many types of powerboats are used to tow water
skiers. On a purely recreational level, a variety of general-purpose motorboats are suitable. Boats should
have an appropriate size, body design, and engines
powerful enough to tow a person without creating an
excessive wake or otherwise overwhelming the skier.
Certain powerboats are designed specifically for water
skiing and are used by dedicated amateurs and in organized competitions and professional shows. The AWSA has very stringent criteria for boats that can be
used in sanctioned events to ensure consistency, performance, and safety.
Safety is an important concern, especially in the
more advanced aspects of the sport, in which skiers
travel at high speeds and perform flips and other potentially dangerous moves. Flotation vests are encouraged for all skiers, and helmets and other protective
gear are often used.
Individual competitions and overall rankings of
competitive water skiers are based on age and gender,
in addition to categories for specific events. Traditionally, competitive water skiing tournaments feature
three main competitions: slalom, tricks, and jumping.
In the slalom event, skiers maneuver back and forth
on a course marked with buoys (usually six), while the
boat follows a straight line down the middle. During
the event the boat speed is increased and the tow rope
shortened, which makes runs successively difficult.
In trick skiing, the competitors ski on a straight
course and perform as many stunts as they can within
their designated time (usually two 20-second passes).
Trick skiing can include a wide variety of moves, such
as twirling in the water, removing skis while in motion,
and flipping out of the water.
In jumping, skiers go up an inclined ramp in the
water, which launches them into the air. In addition to
maintaining good form and control, skiers attempt to
extend the length of the jump as far as possible before
landing on the water. By the 1990s, skiers were achieving jumps of 60 meters (200 feet) and longer.
The sport also encompasses more specialized competitions. Freestyle jumping emerged in competition
after the 1950s. In freestyle, jumpers add mid-air flips
and other variations to the basic jump. Barefoot skiing
was introduced publicly as a stunt at Cypress Gardens
in 1947 and has since developed into a separate branch
of the sport, with competitions and other events. Barefoot skiing and jumping were combined into an event
known as barefoot jumping, and competitors have
made jumps of over 26 meters (86 feet).
In the 1950s water skiing shows began to feature a
stunt in which a water skier was connected to a large
kite, which created air currents that carried him aloft
as the boat gained speed. Referred to by several
names—parasailing, paragliding, and kite skiing—
the practice is popular among recreational skiers, although not done in competition.
Water skiing appeals to people on many levels. It offers the opportunity to experience being on the water
in a more direct sense than is possible in a boat, combined with the excitement of skiing along its surface at
high speeds.
—JOHN TOWNES
Bibliography: A Profile of Water Skiing in the United
States. (1994) Winter Haven, FL: American Water Ski
Association.