In 1922. Ralph Samuelson designed the first known pair of Waterskis from two pine boards and used them on Lake Pepin in Lake City. Minnesota, USA.
In 1932, just ten years later, the first photo of an early Waterskier here in Ireland was taken at Cobh in Cork Harbour during a Regatta.
By the time we reached the late 1950's, Waterski Clubs had appeared in Howth's Balscadden Bay and Sandycove in Dublin, in Killaloe on the Shannon, in Enniskillen in County Fermanagh and in the Belfast area.
Later, Wakeboard, Barefoot and Disabled joined the family. The present Irish Waterski Federation (IWSF) is an amalgamation of the Irish Waterski Association and the Northern Ireland Waterski Association.
The IWSF is affiliated to the International Water Ski Federation, founded in 1946. This is recognised as the sole authority for Waterski and Wakeboard by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Over the years, several Irish Waterski Federation members have played major roles in the affairs of the International Waterski Federation and continue to do so today. Globally, the sport has an estimated 30,000,000 participants in 92 Countries.
