Event History
FISU stands for International University Sports Federation and was founded in 1949. FISU supports competitions which give student athletes the opportunity to come together from all around the world in a spirit of understanding and peace.

The organization’s main responsibilities are the supervision of the Summer and Winter World University Games, or Universiades held every odd year, as well as the World University Championships held every even year.

In 2004 FISU organized 25 WUC in a variety of sports that attracted 4,845 participants from 186 countries. 2004 also brought the 1st WUC Water Skiing Championships held in Balakovo, Russia

Event Competition
While relatively new in the FISU family of sports, water skiing has wide spread support in over 90 countries throughout the world and is rapidly growing as a competitive university sport. Competitions consist of three primary events:

Slalom where athletes must negotiate their way through entrance gates, a six buoy course and out exit gates at speeds and line lengths that defy gravity;

Shortboard (tricks) which is pure gymnastics on the water, features agile athletes who attempt as many maneuvers as possible in two 20 second passes, including flips and multiple rotations off the towboat wakes some of which are done holding onto the towrope with their foot;

Jump, the third event, is a hair-raising, spine tingling experience where the athletes hurl their bodies at a stationary ramp and launch themselves in the air to distances of over 70 meters (world record is over 73 meters). Much like snow ski jumping, the difference here is that the athletes must provide their own “speed” off the ramp. They do this with several sling-shot type maneuvers called “cuts” while being towed by a boat at constant speed of 55 or 57 kph. The final cut to the ramp can generate speeds up to 70 mph (114kph) and the resulting jumps are a spectacle of raw beauty.