Who Invented Water Skis?
Water skiing is a sport where one or more individuals are pulled behind a boat wearing one or more boards or skis on their feet. The skiers are pulled by a rope, strap or boom that is connected to the boat. Water skiing and in particular water skis were officially invented near the turn of the 20th century.
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The First Patent
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The first patent for water skis was given in 1841 to an unknown constructor in Sweden. This first patent never came to be used.
Father of Water Skiing
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Minnesota native Ralph Samuelson was the first to attempt water skiing. Samuelson's first attempt came in 1922 with skis that were made of two lengths of wood that were tied to his feet with leather straps. Samuelson's rope was made from a window sash.
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Water Ski Evolution
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After his first attempt, Ralph Samuelson water skied using other materials. Samuelson used barrel staves, snow skis and different lengths of boards.
Production Water Skis
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Fred Weller was the first to patent and produce water skis. In 1925, Weller started selling his creation, which was called Dolphin AquaSkees.
Modern Skis
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In 1970 EP Water Skis developed the first fiberglass water skis. These first fiberglass skis contained foam cores. In 1994 Goode Skis developed the first carbon fiber skis.
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