How Are Water Skis Made?
General Overview Water skiing was developed in the early 1920s when a man named Ralph Samuelson used two wooden boards on his feet as “skis” and a rope to tow him. Afterward, as Samuelson continued to “ski” in different lakes around the world, the sport began to catch on, and water skiing was officially born. Early water skis were basically just wooden boards strapped on the skiers feet with rubber bindings in a manner very similar to snow skis. Today, water skis are generally made of carbon fiber or fiberglass, making them much lighter and easier to maneuver on the water. How They’re Made The fiberglass or carbon fiber material is cut with precision lasers into the hydrodynamic shape necessary to make the skis perform at an optimal level. Once the material is cut and the shape is achieved, any rough edges are smoothed over with a sander. The skis are then coated with a lacquer finish to prevent any water damage, and rubber foot bindings are attached. In the final stages, they are pain
