Water skiing was invented on July 2, 1922, when eighteen-year-old Ralph Samuelson carried out his idea that if one could ski on snow, one could ski on water. After designing and creating the first water skis, Ralph became the first person ever to ski on water on Lake Pepin. He was towed by his brother behind an old clamming boat at a speed of just 15 MPH. Ralph finally discovered that by leaning back and exposing the skis’ tips, he could successfully ski on water.