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About the Book

The fact that water skiing will soon be elevated to Olympic status, is reason enough to celebrate the 80th birthday of water skiing. Another reason is that the International Water Ski Federation (IWSF), under Graziano Tognala, will bring water skiing to new heights.

Graziano, who estimates that there are over 50 million water skiers around the world, has concerns, “Water skiing is a very attractive, athletic and spectacular sport, but we found out, that before 1997, it was not well known.” Water skiing is now recognized by the Olympic Committee (IOC).

We have retrace the history of water skiing over the past 8o years. It is an “American Original”. The sport of water skiing was invented in July, 1922, in Minnesota. It was promoted in exhibitions around the country and exported to Europe, where it prospered. The French performed on water skis at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York. That was the year that the American Water Ski Association was formed, and the first water ski tournaments were held.

“A lot of water has gone over the dam” since the French showed us that water skiing had world-wide appeal. It is only fitting that the Committee for the Olympic Games - Athens 2004 (ATHOC) has proposed to the IOC to include water skiing at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

About the Author

Robert J. Reichert has been retired for over ten years. Before that he lectured at RMIT (1972-1974) in Australia, Massey University (1977- 1984) in New Zealand and the University of Denver (summer of 1981). Bob, or “Red” as he was known in high school days, was born July 6, 1928, at Mound, Minnesota, which is on Lake Minnetonka. He received his initial degree from the University of Denver. He earned the BSBA degree in 1957. Thirty years later, he was awarded the Doctor of Business Administration degree in Real Estate, after lecturing at Massey University, Auckland University, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the University of Denver. Currently he lives on the Charles Ringling estate, a location he shares with the University of South Florida, New College and the Jane Bancroft Library. His home is surrounded by three state universities. The property to the north, the John Ringling estate, has been taken over by Florida State University. Bob retains a strong interest in snow skiing and water sports.