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May 11, 2003 Roseville City Council Menlbers Dear Council Members: I understand there is SOlne review underway for water ski course on Owasso set for Monday May 12. I anl traveling for business this week and am unable to attend the May 1 ih meeting, hence this letter. The families involved with the slalom ski course on Lake Owasso provide a lot of benefit to the overall safety and conduct on Lake Owasso. I have been a resident on Lake Ow as so since 1993, and have been using the lake and the water ski course since ahout 1985. There are some 14 families on the Lake that make use of the slalom course, along with various boats that are trailered onto the lake. The users of the course consist of boys and girls frmn age 9 to adults up to age 73. In an age where there is sometimes a disconnect between youth and adults, waterskiing is an influential tool to reach out, bridge gaps, and develop our youth. There are not many sports that exist where the participants are a fanlily unit. The A WSA has presented data indicating that waterskiing is the fastest growing family sport in the U.S. In the case of Lake Owasso, you will even find one fanlily where this activity spans three generations. Although there is a skill development and competitive aspect associated with the use of the course, the nlost dominant practice regardless of the age or gender is SAFETY. One of the characteristics of the families using the course is that they will generally be associated with the American Water Ski Association (A WSA). The A WSA was started in 1939 and is the official governing body for sanctioned water ski events, and overall leadership in waterskiing. There is something about A WSA affiliated skiers that set thenl apart from the average recreational "Sunday afternoon skier". This is in no way to say that there is any thing wrong with the occasional skier, only that the A WSA skier sets an excellent exmnple when it comes to issues of family fun and safety. I have been an A WSA member since 1969. Since that time I cannot tell you how may articles on water and boating safety I have read published by A WSA through its monthly journal subscription. The individuals using the course are the single best role nlodels you could ask for with regard to safety practices and follo\ving proper lake conduct. The A WSA is the same organization which organizes group insurance that is maintained for the facilities on Lake Owasso, which is duplicated by the A WSA at similar sites all across the Nation. Most of the families using the ski course are also part of the Lake Watch group where they are the eyes and ears for the occasional incident e.g. someone breaking the speed limit on the lake or boating without personal flotation devices, etc. This information is