Water skiing was invented by American Ralph Samuelson ( 1903 -- 1977 ) in Minnesota in 1922 .
Water skiing is the action of pulling a skier across a body of water by a motor boat .
Water skiing , the action of pulling a skier across a body of water by a motor boat , was invented by American Ralph Samuelson ( 1903 -- 1977 ) in Minnesota in 1922 .