What is Water skiing?
[[File:Water skiing on the yarra02.jpg|thumb|Water skiing]] '''Water [[skiing]]''' (also '''waterskiing''' or '''water-skiing''') is a water sport in which a person is pulled behind a [[motorboat]] over water, skimming the surface on two skis or sometimes one ski. It is most common to do on [[Lake|lakes]], but can also be done in [[River|rivers]] and [[Ocean|oceans]]. In the United States, there are over 11 million water skiers.<ref name=ws-profile>{{cite web | url = http://www.usawaterski.org/pages/USA-WS%20Profile.htm | title = USA Water Ski Profile | publisher = USA Water Ski | access-date = 1 October 2013 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130927194235/http://www.usawaterski.org/pages/USA-WS%20Profile.htm | archive-date = 27 September 2013 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> In Australia, there are 1.3 million water skiers.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.awwf.com.au/customdata/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_image_listing&CategoryID=9664&itemLayout=1&headerselector=3&OrgID=5182 | title = About Us | publisher = Australian Waterski & Wakeboard Federation | access-date = 29 October 2013 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140124004427/http://awwf.com.au/customdata/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_image_listing&CategoryID=9664&itemLayout=1&headerselector=3&OrgID=5182 | archive-date = 24 January 2014 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> == Criticism == While water skiing is very popular, not everybody thinks it is a good thing. The fast, powerful boats make a lot of noise, cause waves which can cause beach [[erosion]], and sometimes hit swimmers, other boats, or [[marine life]]. People often drink alcohol which increases the chance of accidents. Sometimes the person water skiing is injured by falling and hitting the water. Water skiing is also criticized for air pollution from the boats' engines, and the unnecessary use of fuel (usually [[gasoline]]) which increases [[climate change]] (global warming.) ==References== {{reflist}} [[Category:Water sports]]