Waterskiing

Waterskiers performing at Sea World on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Water skiing is a surface water sport in which an individual is pulled behind a boat or a
cable ski installation over a body of water, skimming the surface on two skis or one
(slalom) ski. The sport requires sufficient area on a smooth stretch of water, one or two
skis, a tow boat with tow rope, three people, and a personal flotation device. In addition,
the skier must have adequate upper and lower body strength, muscular endurance, and
good balance. Skiing is a fun pastime that allows people of all skill levels and ages to
enjoy. There is no minimum age necessary to waterski.
There are water ski participants around the world, in Asia and Australia, Europe, Africa,
and the Americas.[1] In the United States alone, there are approximately 11 million water
skiers and over 900 sanctioned waterski competitions every year.[2] Australia boasts 1.3
million water skiers.[3]
There are many options for recreational or competitive waterskiers. These include speed
skiing, trick skiing, show skiing, slaloming, jumping, and barefoot skiing. Similar, related
sports are wakeboarding, kneeboarding,[4] discing, tubing, and sit-down hydrofoil.

Wrestling

Wrestling is a combat sport involving grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting,
throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a
physical competition, between two (occasionally more) competitors or sparring partners,
who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position. There are a wide range of styles
with varying rules with both traditional historic and modern styles. Wrestling techniques
have been incorporated into other martial arts as well as military hand-to-hand combat
systems.

History
Main article: Wrestling history
Wrestling represents one of the oldest forms of combat. Literary references to it occur as
early as in the Iliad, in which Homer recounts the Trojan War of the 13th or 12th century
BC.[3] The origins of wrestling go back 15,000 years through cave drawings in France.
Babylonian and Egyptian reliefs show wrestlers using most of the holds known in the
present-day sport.
In ancient Greece wrestling occupied a prominent place in legend and literature;
wrestling competition, brutal in many aspects, served as the focal sport of the ancient
Olympic Games. The ancient Romans borrowed heavily from Greek wrestling, but
eliminated much of its brutality.
During the Middle Ages (fifth century to fifteenth century) wrestling remained popular
and enjoyed the patronage of many royal families, including those of France, Japan and
England.
Early European settlers in America brought a strong wrestling tradition with them if they
came from England. The settlers also found wrestling to be popular among Native
Americans.[citation needed] Amateur wrestling flourished throughout the early years of
the North American colonies and served as a popular activity at country fairs, holiday
celebrations, and in military exercises. The first organized national wrestling tournament
took place in New York City in 1888, and wrestling has been an event at every modern
Olympic Games since the 1904 games in St. Louis, Missouri (a demonstration had been
performed at the first modern Olympics). The international governing body for the sport,
United World Wrestling (UWW), was established in 1912 in Antwerp, Belgium as the
International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA). The 1st NCAA Wrestling
Championships were also held in 1912, in Ames, Iowa. USA Wrestling, located in
Colorado Springs, Colorado, became the national governing body of amateur wrestling in
1983. It conducts competitions for all age-levels.