CL Board updates North Ski Area rules

After significant input and discussion, the Canyon Lake Board of Directors finalized rules regarding the use of the North Ski Area and Backwater Area at its August meeting last week.

The Canyon Lake Ski Club and Canyon Lake Wakeboard Club were asked to work together to create rules that could be submitted for approval to the board. The rules passed last week were made to help create safer rides in the Backwater area and to allow Wake Surfing in the Slalom Course area of the North Ski Area.

The board had previously approved rule LM.9.28 that prohibited Wake Surfing in the Slalom Course Area. The new rule was revised to allow Wake Surfing with reasonable restrictions on turnarounds for Ski, Wake Boarding and Wake Surfing.

One of the concerns with Wake Surfing was the potential damage it caused to the docks. Turnaround parameters were implemented to mitigate that damage.

The revision states: No turnaround or U-turns are permitted within 400 feet from a dock for Wake Enhancing Device Boats in the Slalom Course Area. No turnaround or U-turns permitted within 200 feet from a dock for any other type of motorized boat in the Slalom Course Area. Only one skier / rider is allowed on the Slalom Course Area at a time.

Other rules were revised regarding the front ski area to include not just skiers, but riders, which includes the Wake Boarding and Wake Surfing participants. A skier’s/rider’s turn is now determined by a sign-up sheet at the starting dock. A turn was also revised to include a rider’s rotation to be 15 minutes.

Additionally, Rule LM.9.23 had given Slalom Skiing priority on the Slalom Course.

The Board of Directors held a Special Regular Board Meeting Workshop on June 9 to allow all members of the community to comment about a possible revision to Rule LM.9.23. Approximately 90 members were in attendance.

The Board later met with the Ski, Wake Board, ShowCal Skiers and Bassmasters clubs’ representatives to discuss the use of the Slalom Course area and sport priority. As a result of this meeting, there was a consensus on a portion of the revision regarding Monday – Friday use. The Board was left with the task to decide if Priority for the Slalom Skiers should continue through the weekend or limit Priority to five days a week.

The board decided to revise the rule to state: Priority shall be granted to slalom skiing from sunrise until noon on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday.

The Board approved new rule LM.9.29 to address how many boats would be allowed at a time in the backwater area. Previously, there was no rule about the number of boats that were allowed to run in the backwater at the same time.

The Ski Club and Wakeboard Club recognized the need to have a rule to help create a safe place for all water sport enthusiasts in the backwater. The two clubs worked collectively to create a rule to help create a safer ride for the members in the backwater.

A maximum of two boats are now allowed to run in the backwater at a time.

Another new rule, Rule LM.9.30, was created to establish a rule about a rider’s turn in the backwater. The two clubs once again worked together to recommend the new rule, which was approved last week. The new rule states: A rider’s turn in the backwater is limited to 15 minutes. Other boats must wait for their turn.