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Skills and thrills on the water

An award-winning water ski show team struts its stuff for fun and for free.

By TERRI BRYCE REEVES, Times Staff Writer
Published August 12, 2007

It's hailed as one of the best water ski show teams around, winning the past five Southern Regional Show Ski Championships.

Its members have performed in China, Spain and the United Kingdom. Soon, they'll go to Malaysia.

It is the Tampa Bay Water Ski Show Team, which performs a free weekly show awash in squeaky-clean fun on Tower Lake behind the Oldsmar Flea Market.

During the show, a synchronized ballet line floats by. Daredevil ramp masters thrill audiences with 40 mph flips, helispins, and gainers. The finale features the whole team skiing in a three- or four-tier pyramid.

One of the water wizards is Andrew "Jungle Boy" Proses, who was named top male skier at the Southern Regional Show Ski Championships in June.

Proses, 24, started skiing at age 4 in the South China Sea when his family was stationed in the Philippines, earning him his nickname. Now he skis part time at Cypress Gardens, as do many team members.

It's fun but risky, he says.

"You have to be careful on the flips because if you overrotate, you can hit your face and if you under-rotate, you can land on your back," he said. "That can really hurt."

His father, Oldsmar city engineer Bill Proses, should know. He tried to learn some of the tricks his son can do. "I tried to jump, but crashed every time," the 60-year-old said. "I barefooted one time successfully, but had many painful failures."

Still, Bill Proses has an important role on the team, often serving as a base of a pyramid or lifting a female high above his head. He said the team is like a big family that skis together, plays together - even dyes their hair together.

"When we went to the nationals (in 2000) we all bleached our hair," he said. That year, the team placed second, wowing audiences with a seven-man front flip over a ramp.

The group has about 115 members. Half ski. Others drive boats, play music, announce the shows, sell concessions or make costumes. Performers' ages range from 6 to over 60.

Vickie Wilmouth of Tampa has been a member since 1991. She runs the music.

"Through the years, we've seen quite a few young people come through," she said. "It gives them a place to go and a nice social life."

Steve Sacone is club president and a general manager of a manufacturing company. Ten years ago, he came to watch his daughter learn to ski.

"They said to come out and give it a try," said Sacone, 53. "A week later, I was in the show. Ten years later I'm still doing it and having fun."

Now, he skis alongside his son Tyler, 12, a trickster for the team.

The team holds ski camps in the summer for novices eager to get their feet wet, or those who wish to improve their skills.

They perform at special events, parties, festivals and political rallies.

A couple of weeks ago, the adults were asked to perform at the Lake Como Family Nudist Resort.

They wore their costumes.

"They had more cheers and screams than anyone," emcee Peter Fernandez said. "It was quite the fan club."

If you go

Tampa Bay Water Ski Show

What: The Tampa Bay Water Ski Show Team is an amateur organization of skiers and wakeboarders who build pyramids, ski barefoot, and perform other acrobatic acts.

When: Skiers present free shows at 6 p.m. Saturdays through October. Seating is provided.

Where: Tower Lake in Oldsmar, near the Oldsmar Flea Market. From Tampa Road take Racetrack Road north to Douglas Road. Turn left. The ski site entrance is at the second dirt drive on the left.

Info: Call Lisa Schmidt at (727) 480-9365 or Vickie Wilmouth at (813) 265-9685 or visit www.tampawaterski.com.

[Last modified August 11, 2007, 23:20:42]