In 1922, 18-year-old Ralph Samuelson of Lake City, Minnesota, became the first American to water ski. Back then, no one could visualize the human water-skiing pyramids gliding gracefully through the water. Consider the hundreds of pounds of weight resting on the shoulders of the highest level of skiers. A boat with up to three 220 horsepower outboard motors must be used. In the tallest pyramids, the person climbing can rise more than 25 feet above the water. Each level must be built carefully. A single mistake could bring down the entire group and cause injury. It’s no wonder the human pyramid waterskiing has taken its place in history as an act with huge crowd appeal.
In 1928, the New Jersey-based Steel Pier water ski show had a three-person pyramid, among other acts, according to Harold “Pee Wee” Care, who operated the seaplane that towed skiers at the show.
In 1942, the Cypress Gardens water ski show in Central Florida was born. Cypress Gardens became known as the “Water Skiing Capitol of the World”.
In 1948, the first officially recognized water ski pyramid in history traversed the waters of Lake Eloise at the Cypress Gardens theme park. It consisted of two levels. The twelve person pyramid became the final act of the Cypress Gardens water ski extravaganza.
In about 1950, one of the oldest water ski show teams in Wisconsin was established. The team, the Min-Aqua Bats, hail from Minocqua, a city near Wisconsin’s northern border with Michigan.
The year 1953 found the Cypress Gardens water ski pyramid featured in “Easy To Love,” a movie starring Esther Williams and Van Johnson. The pyramid consisted of three levels, another first.
In 1974, the National Show Ski Championships were held in Janesville, Wisconsin, the town from which the Rock Aqua Jays originated. They became the first amateur team to build a three-tier water ski pyramid.
In 1978, the first double-roofed, three-level human water-ski pyramid was executed at Cypress Gardens.
Cypress Gardens made history again in 1979 when the professional entertainment team created a four-tier pyramid.
In 1981, the Rock Aqua Jays became the first amateur team to build a four-tier water ski pyramid.
In 1987, Cypress Gardens displayed the world’s first five-level water ski pyramid.
In 1993, the Rock Aqua Jays became the first amateur team to build a five-tier water ski pyramid.
In 2003, the Rock Aqua Jays competed in the first amateur water ski pyramid to use 44 skiers.
On September 16, 2006, four amateur Wisconsin water ski teams combined efforts to create a new world record: four pyramids of 48 total skiers, the most skiers in a combined water ski pyramid. The feat was performed at Lake Wazeecha in Wisconsin Rapids. The teams were Mad City Team from Madison, Wisconsin, Badgerland from Waukesha, Aqua Skiers from Wisconsin Rapids, and Beaverland Must-Skis from Beaver Dam.
Will there ever be a pyramid to use more than 48 skiers? Will there ever be a six-level human waterskiing pyramid? We’ll have to wait and see.
