Born in MN: Waterskiing's History and Future

In this episode, we head to Lake City—where it all began—to explore the invention and evolution of waterskiing in Minnesota. Host Randolph Briley sits down with Betsy Anderson Gilman, competitive barefoot skier and board member of the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation, to discuss how one Minnesotan’s curiosity forever changed recreation on the water. From Ralph Samuelson’s first wooden skis on Lake Pepin to barefoot competitions in France, Betsy shares the sport’s remarkable journey and her own lifelong love affair with the water.

Key Topics:

• How Ralph Samuelson invented waterskiing on Lake Pepin in 1922
• The role of Minnesota’s lakes in shaping modern water sports
• The golden age of water-ski shows and innovation at Cypress Gardens
• The enduring joy of barefoot skiing and its global community
• Teaching the next generation to ski — and why it matters

Why Listen:
Whether you’re a lifelong boater or just someone who loves Minnesota’s lakes, this episode dives into one of the state’s proudest recreational inventions — and reminds us why getting out on the water never goes out of style.

Credits:
Producers: Randolph Briley & Cody Nelson
Hosts: Sarah Strommen and Lauren Bennett McGinty
Original Music by Andrew Haaheim and Alsever Lake