July 2 - Invention of Water Skiing!

Posted on July 2, 2021

Key Points

This is an update of my post published on July 2, 2010:

Ralph Samuelson invented water skis when he was just a teen!

And he took the first successful water skiing run on his invention on this day in 1922.

Just 18 years old, Samuelson had already unsuccessfully tried water skiing on snow skis and on the staves from wooden barrels. He ended up creating new skis out of pine boards that he had boiled in his mom’s kettle so that he could bend up the front tips. His brother drove the powerboat that pulled Samuelson along by a tow rope. Samuelson had to invent the method by which to get up on the skis, as well. In late June and early July of that year, he used trial and error to figure out that he could start a ski run by leaning back and raising up the ski tips.

Samuelson didn’t patent his invention, and others ended up doing so and making money with such products as “Dolphin Akwa-Skees.” However, Samuelson is credited with being the first water ski racer, the first to go over a jump ramp, the first to slalom ski, and the first to put on a water ski show. He is acknowledged as the Father of Water Skiing.

Left, young Samuelson doing a jump.
He was a bit of a dare-devil and managed
to invent a lot of the sport of water skiing!
Right, much older Samuelson holding his
original water skis!!!

The young man did his first experiments in Lake Pepin (between Minnesota and Wisconsin), but he traveled all around the United States with his stunt show.

These days, you don’t have to be a dare-devil
to water ski. But it IS fairly expensive – because
the sport does require a boat!

Who Needs Skis to Water Ski?

Watch this Barefoot Water Skiing Champ not only ski, but do tricks. He’s just six years old!

Barefooting was invented in 1947. It requires higher speeds than normal water skiing, according to this formula: (Skier’s weight in pounds /10) + 20 mph. How fast would you have to go?