waterski

Water skiing is a surface water sport in which a person is pulled by a boat or winch while standing on one or two skis. The most common configuration is two skis, but some skiers ride on a single ski, particularly in slalom or jump events, or perform barefoot skiing.

Equipment includes skis designed for water skiing, a rope and tow handle, a personal flotation device or life jacket, and a motorboat or cable-system winch. Skis are shaped for stability or speed; a slalom ski is long and curved; jump skis are lighter and stiffer. Safety gear often includes a helmet, wetsuit in cold water, and a spotter in the boat.

Technique is built on balance, knee flexion, and edge control. The skier trims weight over the outsides of the feet and uses the rope angle to turn. Competitive disciplines typically recognize slalom, tricks, and jump. Slalom measures passes around buoys with rope length shortened after each successful pass; tricks award points for variety and execution; jump records distance off a ramp.

History: Water skiing was invented in the early 1920s by Ralph Samuelson in Minnesota, who tested two wooden skis on Lake Pepin. It gained popularity in the 1930s and 1940s with boats and commercial ski schools, and advanced materials and ski designs in the 1950s–1960s. The sport is governed internationally by the IWWF (International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation), with national associations and world championships.

Today it remains a popular recreational activity at lakes and resorts worldwide, with competitive circuits, instructional programs, and adaptive disciplines.