Members of the original Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team continue to wow central Florida audiences, and work to pass on their water-skiing skills to the next generation. Cypress Garden — The Water Ski Capital of the World — celebrated its 100th Anniversary of Water Ski in 2022. Be sure to check out the Cypress Gardens Water Ski show at the newly remodeled Martin Luther King Jr. Park, on Lake Silver, Winter Haven. The show is always held on the third Saturday of every month with additional shows added throughout the season.
The Show-Ski Team was started by former water skiers from Florida’s first theme park. Fun fact — the age range or skiers for this show-ski team is mid-40s and a few skiers are in their 60s. The show features a one-hour of performance with beginner and professional skiers, some young and some young at heart.
If you’re attending the show, be sure to bring a blanket or lawn chairs for seating. Burgers, hot dogs, snacks, drinks, T-shirts, and hats will be available for sale. All sales benefit the Water Ski Team.
The Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team was started by former water skiers from Cypress Gardens Theme Park who want to pass on their show skiing legacy to the next generation.
Before Walt Disney World and the rest of Central Florida’s sprawl of tourist destinations there was a family-owned theme park known as Cypress Gardens. Cypress Gardens’ founder, Dick Pope, filled the park’s landscape with gorgeous flowers, beautiful Southern Belles, and thrilling water ski show.
The first water ski show took place in 1943, and until the theme park closed in 2009, it held the distinction of being the “longest running entertainment production in the world” just ahead of Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus.
During its 66-year run, millions upon millions of Florida visitors were thrilled by amazing barefooters, gravity-defying Rampmasters, and lines of Aquamaids skimming effortlessly in precision across the water, and four-tier human pyramids. The Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team broke more than 50 World Records and became known around the globe as the “Water Ski Capital of the World.”
Led by Former Show Director Mark Voisard, the Cypress Gardens Water Skiers decided they did not want the legacy of world-class show skiing to die with the closing of the theme park. So, they formed a new team with two goals: to continue to wow central Florida audiences and to pass on their water-skiing skills to the next generation.
The team works closely with the city of Winter Haven to perform shows at Martin Luther King Park on Lake Silver.
