Tampa Bay Water Ski Champion Competes in Nationals, China

SEMINOLE - When it comes to waterskiing, Lindsey Schmidt has accomplished more than the average 18 year old. Introduced by a family friend at the tender age of 8 years old, she has dedicated the last 10 years to the sport, earned a title with the Guinness Book of World Records and gained international acclaim in the process.

After receiving an invitation to join the Tampa Bay Water Ski Show Team by a family friend, Lindsey was submerged in everything water skiing. Jumping in feet first, she learned the basics, practiced with the team three to four nights a week and later joined the four-tier pyramid formation, where she reached the summit. Throughout the years, she has skied on the team with her father, John Schmidt, and accumulated many awards, including the Betty Bonifay Award - most outstanding skier in the tournament -- and along with Andrew Proses, received first place in the doubles competition at the 2005 Southern Region Show Ski Tournament

Being on the team for 10 years, Lindsey enjoys the group atmosphere. "Making a lot of friends, visiting different places, learning to trust people, trusting they won't drop you or hurt you," have all been highlights for Lindsey while with the team.

Lindsey currently lives in Seminole, recently graduated Seminole High School Suma Cum Laude and works at the Cypress Gardens ski show. For the past year she also teaches Newbie Night with Hayley Sacone, working with younger children on techniques and curriculum to join the show team.

The Tampa Bay Water Ski Show Team, which is the only ski team in the area, has more than 100 members, with 60 of them being active skiers. Every Saturday the team performs a free weekly show at Tower Lake in Oldsmar at 6 p.m. which includes narration, skits and music along with the performance. Past accomplishments of the team include: seven-time winner of the Southern Regional Water Ski Show Tournament world record for the largest human pyramid listed in the Guinness Book of World Records, consisting of 28 people.

The ski team has been invited to attend the Chinese Water Ski Association, where it will be the only American team to compete with the Chinese water ski team, performing in front of 10,000 to 15,000 people. This will be the second trip for Lindsey and the Tampa ski team, having previously competed at the event in 2002, where she visited the Great Wall of China in her downtime and tolerated Chinese food -- one of her least favorites.

During the previous trip to China, Lindsey caught a cold and had to perform while sick, since there was no one to replace her.

The future looks bright for Lindsey. She's headed for the 2005 National Show Ski tournament and when she returns from China, she'll be enrolled at the University of South Florida under the pre-med curriculum. She received a scholarship from Gatorade, due to motivating and teaching the younger girls on the ski team on Newbie Night. She will also continue performing at Cypress Gardens during the weekends, and working weekdays at a local Doctor's office.

Mother Lisa Schmidt notes, "If not for team, she never would have had the opportunity" to meet quality people and have the possibility to travel the world.

What does the future hold for Lindsey? "I'd like to win first place at nationals and would like to learn to do all acts" at ski competitions, which can include 14 different divisions.

For more information on the ski team, go to http://www.tampawaterski.com/
Or call Lisa Schmidt (727) 397-8904.
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