The purpose of this film is to showcase a sport in an area that has been a long time in the making. Over Sixty years ago Dick Pope Sr. moved to Central Florida and began Cypress Gardens on Lake Eloise. He landscaped beautiful gardens on the lake that would make a perfect backdrop for his water-ski show. Soon the pictures from Cypress Gardens appeared in newspapers, magazines, motion pictures, and television around the world. When the world saw these skiers with huge smiles on their face, waving, with beautiful gardens in the background, everything we have today began. Central Florida became the ski capital of the world and people relocated to be a part of the fun. Dick held ski tournaments that brought the best international riders into town and once here, many of them decided to stay and those who didn't, went home to tell of this Florida Mecca.

Sixty years and countless influences later, this area has become the wake capital of the world and home to the movement of wakeskating. This film offers a look into the most influential lakes and riders here in the sunshine state. Another generation, another piece of equipment, another way to have fun on the water, and another reason why this is RLAND.

Bryan Soderlind

A Florida native, I was born and raised in Pensacola. After years of riding on Bayou Texar, I left the area to attend school and eventually moved to Orlando to live on Lake Georgia. In 2004, after a few years of great sunsets and amazing riding, I decided to pick up a camera. With the help of Matt Maloy,I bought my first camera, a 1952 Bell Howell Filmo which I used to shoot this film. In early 2007, I decided it was time to put together a vision and enlisted the help of good friend, Zachary Scheffer. Zach, a Clearwater native, has put his time and touch in editing and shaping a vision. I would like to thank Scott Byerly, Maloy, Aaron Reed, Zach, Mike Liviera, Chris McEniry,Clyde Butcher, Thomas Campbell, Nik McCue, and all those producing images for their influences.