LAND O’LAKES, Fla. — For any team, having a home field or court can make all the difference. 

However, for one group of performers, finding home turf out on the water is easier said than done.

For half a century the Tampa Bay Water Ski Show Team has been wowing crowds across the region, but for the last three years, they’ve been without a place to practice. That’s something the club is hoping to change.

“It’s always a rush. I still get nervous every competition, every show even. I get super nervous,” said team member Lindsey Hanson.

Hanson has been water skiing since she was seven. 

It’s taken her to competitions across the world, but the feeling of home has always been with the Tampa Bay Water Ski Show Team.

She’s been on the team since 1995.

“What I love about it, is that it truly is a family sport. My dad skis on the team, my mom helps out with sound, my husband skis on the team,” she said.

Her kids are learning too and will be ready in no time. 

Family ties are pretty common on the team.

Kids can start young and adults can join at any time.

The team’s roots date back to the 1950s.

“You get a little scared at times when you try new stuff, but mostly it’s just fun and games,” said team member Eli Carson.

However, they say what would make it a lot more fun, is if the team had a place to call home.

“We were on a lake called Tower Lake in Oldsmar and we were there for about 25 years,” said team President Clint Gordon.

Their lease wasn’t renewed in 2018 and they’ve been practicing at private homes and doing roadshows ever since.

“It is something we’d like the chance to work with a city, a municipality, a county,” said Gordon.

They’ve tried a few spots, but nothing has worked out yet.

Their weekly 45 minute shows are free.

“We have floating docks. We would only be doing our practice for shows at certain times. There’s very minimal impact to the lake or waterway that we’d be using,” said Gordon.

“When you have a permanent site, you have that feeling of safeness and home,” Hanson said.