- park , ▁which ▁included ▁count less ▁photograph s ▁of ▁the ▁water ▁ski ers ▁featured ▁at ▁the ▁park . ▁These ▁photograph s ▁began ▁appearing ▁in ▁mag az ines ▁world wide ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 4 0 s ▁and ▁ 1 9 5 0 s , ▁helping ▁to ▁bring ▁international ▁attention ▁to ▁the ▁sport ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁time . ▁He ▁was ▁also ▁the ▁first ▁person ▁to ▁complete ▁a ▁jump ▁on ▁water ▁sk is , ▁jump ing ▁over ▁a ▁wooden ▁r amp ▁in ▁ 1 9 2 8 , ▁for ▁a ▁distance ▁of ▁ 2 5 ▁feet . ▁His ▁son , ▁Dick ▁Pope , ▁Jr ., ▁is ▁the ▁invent or ▁of ▁bare - foot ▁ski ing . ▁Both ▁men ▁are ▁in ▁the ▁Water ▁Ski ▁Hall ▁of ▁Fame . ▁Today , ▁Winter ▁H aven , ▁Florida , ▁with ▁its ▁famous ▁Ch ain ▁of ▁L akes , ▁remains ▁an ▁important ▁city ▁for ▁water ▁ski ing , ▁with ▁several ▁major ▁ski ▁schools ▁operating ▁there . ▁ ▁Water ▁ski ing ▁has ▁developed ▁over ▁time . ▁Water ▁ski ing ▁tournament s ▁and ▁water ▁ski ing ▁compet itions ▁have ▁been ▁organized . ▁As ▁an ▁exhibition ▁sport , ▁water ▁ski ing ▁was ▁included ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 2 ▁Olympics . ▁The ▁first ▁National ▁Show ▁Ski ▁Tournament ▁was ▁held ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 4 , ▁and ▁the ▁first ▁ever ▁National ▁Inter col leg iate ▁Water ▁Ski ▁Championships ▁were ▁held ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 9 . ▁The ▁Home ▁CA RE ▁US ▁National ▁Water ▁Ski ▁Challenge , ▁the ▁first ▁competition