Historic Lake Pepin: Birthplace of Waterskiing
"I decided that if you could ski on snow, you could ski on water." In 1922, after first trying barrel staves, then snow skis, eighteen year old Ralph W. Samuelson succeeded in waterskiing on eight foot long pine boards, steamed in boiling water to curve the tips. During the next fifteen years, Samuelson put on one-man waterskiing exhibitions, donating most of
the admission charges to Lake City for the purchase of harbor and park land. Because of Samuelson's pioneering efforts in this popular sport, the American Water Ski Association in 1966 officially recognized Lake City as the birthplace of waterskiing.
[Seal of The Minnesota Historical Society]
Erected by the Minnesota Historical Society
1971
Marker is on South Lakeshore Drive (U.S. 61) south of West Elm Street, on the left when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
