In addition, the skier must have adequate upper and lower body strength, muscular endurance, and good balance.

The skier can also perform a "dry start" by standing on the shore or a pier; however, this type of entry is recommended for professionals only.

By leaning back and keeping the legs slightly bent, the skis will eventually plane out and the skier will start to glide over the water.

The incorporation of these advanced materials has led to skis that are incredibly strong, lightweight, and flexible, enhancing both performance and durability.

Classic water skis are approximately 1.7 meters (5.5 feet) long and 15 centimeters (6 inches) wide, equipped with a stabilizing fin and rubber foot bindings for safety during falls.

In contrast, skis used for trick or figure waterskiing are shorter, lack fins for complete rotation capability.

Skiers will often wear gloves to assist in holding the handle at the higher speeds as well as keep from hurting their hands.

Specially-designed life jackets or ski vests allow movement needed for the sport while still providing floatation for a downed or injured skier.

[25] Samuelson spent 15 years performing shows and teaching water skiing to people in the United States.

[25] He later tried snow skis,[25] but finally fabricated his own design out of lumber with bindings made of strips of leather.

In 1928, Don Ibsen developed his own water skis out in Bellevue, Washington, never having heard of Samuelson or Waller.

Ibsen, a showman and entrepreneur, was one of the earliest manufacturers of water skis and was a leading enthusiast and promoter of the sport.

Pope cultivated a distinct image for his theme-park, which included countless photographs of the water skiers featured at the park.

These photographs began appearing in magazines worldwide in the 1940s and 1950s, helping to bring international attention to the sport for the first time.

The Home CARE US National Water Ski Challenge, the first competition for people with disabilities, was organized ten years later.

The first patented design of a water ski which included carbon fiber was that of Hani Audah at SPORT labs in 2001.

For a tournament to be sanctioned as 'record capable' by the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF), the entire course must be surveyed prior to competition by a land surveyor to ensure its accuracy.

When a pass is completed, the boat is sped up by 3 kilometres per hour (2 mph) or the rope is shortened by specific increments.

In a tournament, the boat speeds up or the rope shortens until the skier fails to complete the slalom course by falling, not getting around a buoy, or missing an entrance or exit gate.

[33] A skier's score is based upon the number of successful buoys cleared, the speed of the boat, and the length of the rope.

Professional water skiers will typically start at the max speed of 58 kilometres per hour (36 mph) with a rope that has already been shortened to 13 metres (43 ft).

As the rope is shortened beyond that, the skiers are required to use the momentum generated through their turns to swing up on the side of the boat and reach out in order to get their ski around the next buoy.

As a professional jumper approaches the ramp they will zigzag behind the boat in a series of cuts[34] to generate speed and angle.

When the jumper hits the ramp they will generally be going over 112 kilometres per hour (70 mph) and the load they have generated on the rope can be over 600 kilograms (1,300 lb).

[citation needed] The ski's configuration allows the skier to perform both surface and air tricks in quick succession.

Unlike a normal life jacket, the "barefoot wetsuit" allows the skier to glide on their back on top of the water once they reach a high enough speed.

A rule of thumb for barefoot water skiing speed in miles per hour is (M/10)+18=S, where M equals the skier's weight in pounds.

A beginner can wear shoes to decrease the necessary speed, lessen foot injury from choppy water, learn better technique, and master the sport.

It can occur in a 'circle' or lap format type racing or on river courses offering longer distances and higher speeds.

Water skiing is also criticized for air pollution from the boats' engines, and the unnecessary use of fuel (usually gasoline) and the consequent impact to climate change.