Recorded waterSkiing began with a guy from Minnesota named Ralph Samuelson back in 1922.  Ralph built a pair of skis and was towed behind a boat with an outboard motor. (Without any disrespect intended . . . wasn't Jesus really the first bare-footer?)

Anyway, Ralph's fun became an exhibition sport on both sides of the Atlantic in the 1920's and early 1930's.  Official competition began in 1939 when the American Water Ski Association (now USA Water Ski) was organized and held the first National Water Ski Championship at Jones Beach on Long Island, New York.

Recreational waterSkiing has grown almost continuously since the beginning of the sport, with recent sports participant surveys showing roughly 11 million waterSkiers in the US alone. 

WaterSkiing is by and large a family activity; most skiers learned to ski as children as part of a family activity.  In many respects it has always been a "who you know" or "what you've got" kind of sport, meaning one must have the financial means to purchase a boat, tow vehicle, equipment, buy boat gas, pay launch or daily use fees or one must know someone with such financial means. 

Competition

As with any sport, if it's fun and challenging, someone creates a competition.  There are three "disciplines" of traditional - 3 event waterSkiing; slalom, trick and jump.

The best part about competition waterSkiing is that you compete with your own gender, within your age group.  The oldest competition waterSkiers today are in their 80's . . . so don't try saying you're too old to compete!

Slalom Skiing - Initially the slalom course was a string of buoys set in a straight line; the skier had to ski around each buoy to the end of the course.  Slalom skiing has been modified through the years.

The slalom course (the course) consists of a series of boat guides (buoys) set in a straight path, 8' feet apart, and a series of 6 pre arranged buoys, entrance and exit "gates" the skier must ski around by zig zagging back and forth behind the boat (comparable to downhill slalom skiing).  The boat must travel through the path as straight as possible, within a prescribed time.  The boat driver is given less than 1/2 mile per hour tolerance; timed by a stop watch at the 3rd buoy and the "exit" gates.  (The idea is to give each skier the same ride, thereby equalizing the variables.)

Frankly, you don't just jump in a boat and drive perfectly through the course.  It is a challenge, with or without a skier.  To earn a certification (by USA WaterSki) drivers must drive a straight path, not allowing the skier to pull them to the right or left, and do so within the time prescribed for that specific speed.  The maximum boat speed for competition slalom skiing is 36 mph.

That doesn't sound real fast, but let me tell you it's a whole lot different being on the water as opposed to riding in a car at 36 mph!  At 36mph a skier has 16.08 seconds to cross the boat wakes to enter the course (actually skiing through the first set of boat guides), negotiate the ski around 6 turn buoys and cross the boat wakes to exit the course (skiing through the last set of boat guides).  In less than 17 seconds the skier travels 800', reaching speeds of near 70 mph while crossing the wake, slowing to about 22 mph around the buoys and then back to 70 crossing the wake to get to the next buoy (ball).  

So, that's going from 22mph to 70mph, 6 times in under 17 seconds!  Whew, talk about an adrenaline rush! Isn't that kind of what roller coasters do?  People love the slalom course because you're competing against yourself.  Slalom skiing is somewhat comparable to golf . . . you may get one perfect turn, one perfect lean, but putting 6 together in a row is the thing skiers fantasize about when they're driving down the road, taking a shower, talking with other skiers.

When a skier has successfully rounded all six buoys at the maximum boat speed for their age they make the competition a little more challenging by shortening the rope.  Maximum line length is 75 feet, it is shortened it predetermined lengths, but the method of reporting line length is a bit odd.  You don't say you're skiing on a 60 foot rope, you say you're skiing 15'off. (I think the first competitors said, "Sure you can ski all the buoys on a 75' rope, tell you what . . . I'll take 15' off the rope and still make it!"

Today's top slalom skiers are skiing into 43' off. (75-43=32' rope).  The slalom turn buoys are placed 35' from the center of the boat path . . . so the rope won't reach the buoy, the skier has to lean with her/his body to be able to round the buoy.  It takes skill, tenacity, patience, and let's face it, long arms help:)

If you consider getting into slalom skiing, please remember this little tidbit.  You cannot ski alone.  You need a boat driver and in many states a "spotter" (a person, other than the driver, in the boat, watching the skier).  Be nice to them! The driver is going give you the best ride she/he can. Don't blame your less than perfect skiing on the driver.  Don't complain, complement . . . and remember to give your best when you're behind the wheel:)

If you have a physical challenge you can still slalom ski, check out our DisAbled Skiing page.

Trick Skiing - Originally trick skiing meant  the skier removed a ski (while skiing) and held it over their head, perhaps they'd do a side slide or two.  Of course it's way different now.

Trick skiers do many "toe hold" tricks, meaning they hold the rope in a foot (by a special harness) and do step-overs, jumps, etc.  Some trick skiers perform flips.  Points are awarded for the number and degree of difficulty of each trick.  (Skiers must provide a list of tricks before they perform, each trick has a preset.)  The skier has 20 seconds to perform as many tricks as possible, and is allowed two trick runs. 

Same basics for the physically challenged, go to DisAbled Skiing or Competition Skiing for the DisAbled.  US DisAbled Ski Team Member Matt Oberholtz is the only sit skier in the world to perform a flip. (Woo-woo!)

Jump - Jump has always been the most exciting event.  Way back when they used to ski over a jump ramp on a surface made of wooden rollers! Yikes!

Today the jump height is adjustable from 2 1/2' to 5 1/2'.  Maximum boat speed is 36mph.  The world's jump record is over 200'.  Skiers with disabilities also jump, see a great jump shot of World Record Holder, US DisAbled Ski Team Member Steve Hornsey by clicking on his name.  (Check out the US TEAM page)

A derivative of the jump event is ski flying.  They've lengthened the ramp, increased the boat speed, and are nearing the 300' mark.

There is also freestyle jumping, an awesome event to watch, helicopters, flips, etcetera.

Other Competitive Skiing -

Show Skiing, Wakeboarding, Ski Racing, Kneeboarding, Barefoot Skiing, Air Chair, Collegiate, and DisAbled are the other competition divisions of waterSkiing.  WOW (World of Women's Sports) and Collegiate skiing offer team competition.

Go to USA WaterSki to learn more about the above types of competition waterSkiing.