WASHINGTON, July 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090226/CENSUSLOGO)

MONDAY, JULY 13: WATER SKIS

Profile America -- Monday, July 13th. Residents of Lake City, Minnesota saw some unusual activity on Lake Pepin this month in 1922. An 18-year-old neighbor, Ralph Samuelson, was demonstrating his newly-invented water skis. After some failed experiments, Samuelson steamed the ends of pine boards to make them curl up, and was successfully towed by a powerboat at the end of a long rope. His exploits created great interest and soon, a new sport was born. Samuelson developed his skis for the fun of it and never patented his invention. It was only later in his life that his achievement was officially recognized. Today, more than six million people in the U.S. actively enjoy water skiing each year. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at www.census.gov.

Sources: inventors.about.com

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2009, t. 1209

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look under the "Newsroom" button).

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau

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