thumb|right|A slalom skier making a turn on a slalom waterski.

Waterskiing is a sport where an individual is pulled behind a boat or a cable ski installation on a body of water, skimming the surface.

History

First experimentations of waterskiing began in 1920, on the lake of Annecy (Haute Savoie), in France. Then, it really started on June 28, 1922 by eighteen-year-old Ralph Samuelson of Minnesota. Samuelson thought that if one could ski on snow, then one could ski on water. Samuelson’s first attempt at waterskiing was on Lake Pepin in Lake City, Minnesota. They experimented with different positions on the skis for several days until July 2, 1922. Finally, Ralph discovered that leaning backwards in the water with ski tips up and poking out of the water at the tip led to successful waterskiing. He was towed by his brother Ben and they reached a speed of 20 miles per hour. Samuelson also achieved the first ski jump on July 8, 1925. He used a greased 4’ by 16’ ramp. This made him the first ever water ski jumper. He then showed his new found sport to the United States for 15 years. He did this by shows and by teaching lessons. Then Samuelson went even farther and hooked up behind a WWI flying boat with 200 horsepower. He reached a speed of 80 miles per hour. That made him the first speed skier. [4] Ralph’s first equipment consisted of barrel staves for skis. He then tried snow skis and finally made his own design out of lumber he had bought. They were the first skis fashioned specially for water skiing. Samuelson made his bindings from strips of leather and the ski rope was a long window sash. The first patent for water skis was by a man by the name of Fred Waller. They were called Dolphin Akwa-Skees. Samuelson never patented any of his skiing equipment. The first trick ski was patented in 1940 by Jack Andresen. It was a shorter, finless water ski. Water Skiing became part of several tournaments and many water ski competitions were put together. As an exhibition sport, water skiing was included in the 1972 Olympics. The first National Show Ski Tournament was held in 1974. The first ever National Intercollegiate Water Ski Championships was held in 1979. The first competition for people with disabilities was organized ten years later, and called Home CARE US National Water Ski Challenge.

Technique

Water skiing usually begins with a deep water start, with the skier crouching down in the water. When the skier is ready, the driver accelerates the boat to pull the skier out of the water.

In addition to the driver and the skier, a third person known as the spotter/observer should be present. The spotter's job is to watch the skier and inform the driver if the skier falls. Communication between the skier and the occupants of the boat is done with hand signals.

Speeds vary from as slow as up to for slalom water skiing; up to approximately for barefoot skiing, and approaching in water ski racing. The length of the rope will also vary widely dependent on sport discipline and skill level.

Types

Show skiing

Show skiing is a type of water skiing where skiers try to perform tricks somewhat similar to those of gymnasts while being pulled along by the boat. There are several different types of events that show skiing involves such as pyramids, ski doubles, jump, straps and swivel skiing. Show skiing is normally performed in water ski shows, with elaborate costumes and announcers. Water Ski Show teams may compete regionally or nationally. In the USA, each team member must be a member of USA Water Ski to compete. Show skiing has been around for over 60 years. The first show organized occurred in 1928.

Slalom skiing

In the context of water skiing, slalom means to use only one ski. A special slalom ski is used which has two plates, a front boot and either a toe plate, open binding, or another binding (similar to the front binding) behind the main one. The bindings are oriented so that both feet point forward, with one behind the other. Slalom skiing dramatically increases the speed, up to 58 kilometers per hour, and agility of the water skier.

Tournament slalom skiing

In tournament slalom skiing, a course is set up with buoys and water skiers are expected to navigate through and around six buoys using only one ski. Sanctioned competitions require official drivers and approved boats. A skier's score is based upon the number of successful buoys cleared, the speed of the boat, and the length of the rope. The faster the speed and the shorter the rope adds difficulty to the task.

Trick skiing

Trick skiing is based on using a smaller, oval-shaped waterski that is smooth on the bottom in order for it to be able to turn over the surface of the water. This ski gives the skier a lot more freedom to perform tricks. Trick skiers can use either one or two skis.

Tournament trick skiing

In trick skiing tournaments, skiers complete either one or two 20-second runs during which they perform a series of their chosen tricks. The tricks are assessed and scored by judges, and the skier with the most points wins the tournament. The tricks are scored based on the difficulty of the trick and the way it is executed. They are also scored based on if they use one or two skis.

Ski Jump

The ski jump is performed on two long skis and skiers are towed behind a boat at fixed speed, using a ramp. This technique is used in competition skiing. In this category the skier must ski up and over a wooden ramp. The ramp can be a height of 5 or 6 feet tall. The speed of the boat varies but the maximum speed is 58 kilometers per hour. Professional ski jumpers can travel up to and hit the ramp at speeds up to 70 mph.

Ski racing

Water ski racing consists of a number of water skiers who race around a set course.

A team consists of a boat driver, an observer and one to two skiers, depending on the race. The driver will tow the skier behind a powerboat, varying the speed as different conditions are encountered, according to the driver's knowledge of the skier, the observer's ability to read the skier and the signals which the skier gives to the driver.

Barefoot Skiing

It is recommended to use a barefoot waterskiing suit instead of a lifejacket because the lifejacket can be bulky at high speeds. Barefoot skiers usually start out on a wakeboard and then drop the wakeboard once they get up. More advanced skiers use padded shorts instead of a wakeboard. Barefoot skiing requires faster speeds than regular skiing. Beginning barefoot skiers may start out using shoe skis rather than just starting without anything on their feet.

Safety Measures

There are many safety measures involved in water skiing because it is a dangerous sport. There should be a 200 foot wide skiing space and the water should be at least five or six feet deep. It is a good recommendation to know how to swim if you are going to ski, but even if you can swim you should wear a life jacket for safety. There are three important people when skiing: the skier, the boat driver, and the observer.

World record

The most skiers towed behind one boat is 114 by the Horsehead Water Ski Club in Strahan, Tasmania, Australia on 28 March 2010.

See also

Wakeboarding

dumbfoot sking}}

[[Sit-down hydrofoil

World water skiing champions

Skiing

Mogul Skiing

Grass skiing

Monoskiing

Skwal

Skiboarding

Snowboarding

Snowshoe

Snowkiting

Freestyle skiing

Alpine skiing

Sports

* Winter sport

Twiggy the Water-Skiing Squirrel

International Water Ski Federation

References

External links

World Championship History

USA Water Ski

Pro Ski Coach - Slalom Water Skiing

History of Water Skiing

History of Water Ski Racing in Britain

History of Water Ski innovation

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Coordinates	50°44′40″N19°48′47″N
name	Phil Pfister
residence	Charleston, West Virginia
birth name	Phil Pfister
birth date	May 15, 1971
birth place	Charleston, West Virginia
occupation	Strongman
website	http://www.strongmanphil.com
height
weight	}}

}}

Phil Pfister (born May 15, 1971 in Charleston, West Virginia), is a leading American strongman competitor, winning the 2006 Met-Rx World's Strongest Man competition and its $41,000 grand prize on September 23, 2006 in Sanya, China. He is the first American to win since Bill Kazmaier in 1982. Pfister stands and weighs .‎

Prior to 2006, Pfister's previous best finishes in the World's Strongest Man were fourth place in 1998 in Tangier, and fourth place again in 2001 in Victoria Falls. He placed fourth at the 2007 and 2008 WSM contests, and seventh in 2009. ‎ While qualifying for his 4th place finish in Victoria Falls, during an event known as the Hercules Hold, Pfister made a verbal promise that he would be the man responsible for bringing the World's Strongest Man title back to the United States. He went on to set two qualifier records in the Hercules Hold and in the Atlas Stones, but was unable to contend in the finals against the Scandinavian competitors who took the podium finishes that year, Magnus Samuelsson from Sweden, Janne Virtanen from Finland, and Svend Karlsen from Norway, respectively. Pfister has also achieved a podium finish at the Arnold Strongman Classic when he came third in 2002.

Retiring after the 2009 Competition, Pfister currently comments for the World's Strongest Man competition on ESPN2 along with Bill Kazmaier and Todd Harris.

Personal life

Pfister works as a firefighter and currently resides in Charleston, West Virginia with his wife Michelle and son Wyatt. He appeared in the 2005 movie The Protector starring Tony Jaa, as one of the Fortune Teller's henchmen. He also made an appearance on Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? on April 17, 2008 and won $25,000. | colspan = 3 align = center | World's Strongest Man |- | width = 30% align = center | Preceded by:Mariusz Pudzianowski | width = 40% align = center | First (2006) | width = 30% align = center | Succeeded by:Mariusz Pudzianowski

References

External links

Official website

Video clip of Pfister containing a news reel and competition footage from 1998

Category:1970 births Category:Living people Category:American firefighters Category:People from Charleston, West Virginia Category:Powerlifters Category:American strength athletes

es:Phil Pfister fr:Phil Pfister it:Phil Pfister no:Phil Pfister pl:Phil Pfister fi:Phil Pfister