Ralph Samuelson rode the world's first water skis on this date in 1922. Here are 10 facts about the sport of waterskiing.
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Ralph Samuelson was inspired to invent waterskiing when watching someone surfing on the lake near his home in Minnesota. He used a pair of boards for skis and a clothesline as a tow-rope. His brother Ben towed him and they reached a speed of 32 kilometres per hour (20 mph). He spent around a year experimenting with different techniques and equipment, but never patented any of it.
The first patent for water skis was issued to Fred Waller, of Huntington, New York, on 27 October 1925.
The first man-made lake for the purpose of water skiing was built in 1969 by Jack Horton in Barstow, California.
It’s possible to waterski without skis. Barefoot waterskiing is a thing, but only recommended for people who’ve already mastered the sport. The tow boat has to go faster because feet are smaller and so there’s less lift from feet than from planks.
To water ski, you need at least two friends. It’s a legal requirement that there should be at least two people in the boat.
There are three main events in a tournament: slalom, jumping, and trick riding. Slalom, as the name would suggest, is skiing around staggered buoys without hitting them. Jumping involves being towed over a large ramp and trick riding is skiing while performing flips and twists and whatever is likely to impress the judges.
Two famous water skiers are: George Blair, a businessman who learned to waterski when he was 46 and went on to win many awards and set world records. He used to wear distinctive yellow wetsuits which earned him the nickname "Banana" George. Another is Freddy Krueger (yes, Freddy Krueger!) who is an 8-time World Record Holder, 5-time World Champion, and 14-time Masters Champion. He currently holds the World Ski Flying record at 312 feet. His nickname? The Nightmare.
Water skiing isn’t just a sport for human beings. Animals have been known to participate as well. Twiggy was a Squirrel who was rescued in 1978 Chuck and Lou Ann Best and adopted as a family pet. When they bought a remote control boat for their daughter, they decided to teach Twiggy to water ski, initially as a joke. They started training her in a bathtub using Peanut butter as rewards, but ended up taking Twiggy on national tours and performances, eventually full-time in a motor home, which continued for over 40 years. Needless to say, the original Twiggy didn’t live that long. There have been at least eleven different "Twiggy" squirrels, who would live out their lives as family pets after retirement.
It’s not just a sport for small animals, either. In the 1950s and 60s there was a waterskiing Elephant called Queenie. Queenie made appearances at state and county fairs, TV shows, and circuses with handler Liz Dane. According to Dane, Queenie really enjoyed waterskiing: “She would put her trunk in the water and get a big scoop of water and spray it all over the place! She loved it.”
Finally, some world records. The largest number of waterskiers towed off one boat is 145. For a pyramid formation the record is 93. The fastest water skiing speed recorded is 230.26 km/h (143.08 mph) by Christopher Michael Massey (Australia). The farthest water ski jump is 77.4 m (253 feet 11 inches) by Ryan Dodd (Canada). And if you think you’re too old to try waterskiing, think again! The oldest waterskier was Tibor Kupferstein who took to the water in December 2021 at the age of 93 years and 136 days.
Beta
(Combat Team Series #2)
Steff was abducted by an evil alien race, the Orbs, at fourteen. Used as a weapon for years, he eventually escapes, but his problems are just beginning. How does a man support himself when his only work experience is a paper round and using an Orb bio-integrated gun?
Warlord is an alien soldier who knows little but war. When the centuries-old conflict which ravaged his planet ends, he seeks out another world where his skills are still relevant. There are always wars on Earth, it seems. However, none of Earth's powerful armies want him.
Natalie has always wanted to visit England and sees a chance to do so while using her martial arts skills, but there are sacrifices she must make in order to fulfil her dream.
Maggie resorted to crime to fund her sister's medical care. She uses her genetic variant abilities to gain access to the rooms of wealthy hotel guests. The Ballards look like rich pickings, but they are not what they seem. When Maggie targets them, little does she know that she is walking into a trap.
Hotel owner Hamilton Lonsdale puts together a combat team to pit against those of other multi-millionaires. He recruits Warlord, Natalie, Maggie and Steff along with a trained gorilla, a probability-altering alien, a stockbroker whose work of art proved to be much more than he'd bargained for, a marketing officer who can create psionic forcefields, a teleporting member of the landed gentry, and a socially awkward fixer. This is Combat Team Beta.
Steff never talks about his time with the Orbs, until he finds a woman who lived through it, too. Steff believes he has finally found happiness, but it is destined to be short-lived. He is left with an unusual legacy which he and Team Beta struggle to comprehend; including why something out there seems determined to destroy it.
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