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Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is Quarry Lake?

A. Quarry Lake is a body of Water in Shakopee, Minnesota, located between Highways 101 and 169. Quarry Lake is a private towed water-sports site for Shakopee-Prior Lake Waterski Association (SPLWSA) members and their families, many of whom are finding it increasingly difficult to ski on public water. While the site is owned by the City of Shakopee, the site is NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. The site is available only to SPLWSA members through a 25 year Use Agreement between the City and SPLWSA. We are grateful to the City of Shakopee for allowing us to use the site.

As the name implies, the site is a former quarry that has filled with water from springs in the Minnesota River valley. While the site is no longer a quarry, industrial operations continue near the site. Much of the lake is 40 – 50 feet deep. Quarry Lake has an irregular shape, is approximately 2200 feet long (east to west), has good water quality, and has some good natural wind protection.

Q. How can I use Quarry Lake?

A . There are four main ways to access and ski or board at Quarry Lake for 2010. To review these options, please see the “How to Ski or Board at Quarry Lake” tab on the “Welcome to Quarry Lake” page of this web-site.

Q. Is Quarry Lake as perfect as a man-made ski lake?

A. No, but conditions are far better than on a public lake. It’s a great site. The site received an overall A-minus rating from the tournament and pro-clinic skiers and boarders that used the site during our first seven seasons. We plan again to host additional Pro-clinics, two water-ski tournaments, and a Junior Development clinic in 2010.

Quarry Lake is a former quarry. As a result, in some cases slalom skiers have experienced wake rebound during use of the slalom course. Generally, after a slalom pass, if the skier takes a 2 minute break for coaching or to shorten the line length, any wake rebound will have passed before the next pass. We are experimenting on various forms of wake mitigation to determine what works best. Northerly and easterly winds may be a problem at times. However, southerly winds, the predominant wind direction in the summer, even when strong, are not a problem because of the natural wind protection on the south side of the lake.

Q. Can I temporarily reserve a Quarry Lake membership time-slot while I am deciding whether or not to join?

A. No. Quarry Lake memberships are limited in number. The first person who has requested an open time-slot and creates a complete membership file will get that slot. A “complete membership file” means the Quarry Lake membership application is complete, the waiver of liability is signed, and the club has been provided with a certificate of boat insurance showing all the required information.

Q. Can I use the Club-owned boats when I ski or board? What are the insurance and other requirements for privately owned boats?

A. No, you must use a tow boat that meets Club requirements.

Quarry Lake Boats and Engines Policy

Only boats meeting the following requirements may be used on Quarry Lake. The boat must be 23 ft. or less in length (excluding swim platform), must be manufactured and intended specifically for use in towed water-sports competitions, must be propelled by an inboard four-cycle engine, an outboard four-cycle engine, or an outboard two-cycle engine with three-star or greater environmental rating. The Club authorizes two exceptions to these rules.

1. A safety boat used during approved Show Team practices and Ski Show Exhibitions. The engine or engines for the Safety boat will meet engine requirements described above.

2. The SPLWSA workboat

Boats excluded from use on Quarry Lake include, but are not limited to, all personal watercraft, all boats exceeding 23’ in length, boats not specifically manufactured for use in towed water-sports tournaments, all boats propelled by inboard- outboard engines, any boat propelled by one or more two-cycle outboard engines with less than a three-star environmental rating.

In addition, Boats must fulfill all Minnesota legal requirements including being properly licensed. Boats must also meet Club insurance requirements. These include that the boat must be insured, that the boat insurance include liability coverage with a minimum limit of $500,000, and that both SPLWSA and USA Waterski must be listed as additional insureds on the policy. A certificate of insurance showing that these insurance requirements have been met must be on file with SPLWSA.

Q. My boat insurance company will not agree to list SPLWSA or USA Waterski as an additional insured. My boat insurance company will not increase my liability coverage to $500,000. Now what do I do?

A. The Global Marine Insurance Brokerage provides low cost boat insurance coverage that meets these requirements. To learn more about Global Marine offerings, please go to www.insuremyskiboat.com.

Q. I have a personal $1,000,000 Umbrella Liability insurance policy. Do I still need to increase my boat liability insurance limit to $500,000?

A. Yes. In order to use your boat at Quarry Lake, you do need to increase your boat insurance liability limit to $500,000 even though you have a $1,000,000 umbrella. You must also list SPLWSA and USA Waterski as additional insureds on that boat insurance policy.

Q. IMy boat insurance company has agreed to list the two additional insureds, but requires that I give them the names and addresses of the two additional insureds. What are the addresses?

A. SPLWSA, P.O. Box 867, Prior Lake, MN 55372 and USA Waterski, 1251 Holy Cow Rd., Polk City, FL 33868

Q. What equipment does the Quarry Lake site include?

A. The site includes a bituminous and concrete plank boat launch, a permanent ski jump, and two slalom courses. The slalom courses include 55 meter pre-gates and magnets for speed control. We also have three docks on site, including one at the boat launch, and one near the slalom course.

Q. Can I install my own stuff in the lake, like sliders, rails or additional buoys if I take them out when I leave?

A. No, sorry. These are not allowed at this time. If you have suggestions for what additional equipment the Club should provide, please let us know by sending an e-mail to quarrylake1@yahoo.com and we will prioritize them with other such requests for future improvements.

Q. Do You expect to make improvements to the site?

A. Yes. The City plans to turn the land surrounding the lake into a City park. The Shakopee-Prior Lake Shockwaves have a 25 year Use Agreement allowing us to utilize the site under certain conditions. For example, we must raise money toward public improvements to the site.

In addition, our plan is to make water-ski specific improvements to the site, using the labor and dollars from the resulting increasing Membership in our Club. Our vision is to develop this site into a first-class water-sports complex for Shockwaves members and families. In addition, we are a 501(c)(3) Minnesota non-profit corporation, and contributions to our club are tax deductible within IRS limits. In the near future, we would also like this site to be our home Ski Show Exhibition site, be available for additional water-ski and wakeboard tournaments, and available for water-ski related community activities, such as skiing and boarding lessons, disabled skiing, and safe boating sessions.

If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to our club and help us advance the sport, please contact us at quarrylake1@yahoo.com

Q. Will you tell me who the Quarry Lake members are? Can I call around to the various Quarry Lake Members to see if maybe they cannot/will not ski or board during their time slot in a particular week? Can I then ski or board during their slot if I have the Quarry Lake Member’s permission to do so?

A. No.

Q. Okay, I understand that time-slots claimed by Quarry Lake members are not available for me when not in use by the Quarry Lake member. What about time-slots that have NOT yet been claimed (purchased) by Quarry Lake members? Can I ski or board then during those times?

A. No. We want to encourage as many Quarry Lake memberships as possible. They are very affordable. We want you to organize a group to buy a Quarry Lake membership! Hurry before the best times and days are taken. We keep an up-to-date and on-line log of claimed and unclaimed slots on this web site. For that schedule, click here.

Q. Can Quarry Lake members rent-out their time slot to others?

A. No. Our Use Agreement governing use of the site does not allow sub-leases or similar arrangements.

Q. Can Quarry Lake members open a Ski School during their slot?

A. No. Privately owned Ski Schools are not allowed at the site by our Use Agreement.

Q. If I am not THE Quarry Lake member, but am a Shakopee-Prior Lake Shockwaves Club member who has joined a group and contributed money toward the cost of the Quarry Lake membership, can I ski or board during that time-slot if I have the Quarry Lake member’s permission and he/she cannot ski or board that day?

A. Yes.

Q. What if I want a Quarry Lake Membership and want to ski or board with my family during my slot?

A. Great idea. Buy a Quarry Lake membership and you may invite any Active Shockwaves member to ski with you. Your family members can easily become Active members of the Shockwaves and USA Waterski for a minimal additional Membership fee.

Q. Can I store my boat and trailer on the land on-site?

A. Yes, in specified locations, for $100 per season. Boat storage not allowed November 1 to May 1. Store your boat at your own risk. SPLWSA and the City make no warranties on the safety of your boat. There are limited open-air spaces available. We hope to add fenced outdoor storage facilities in the future.

Q. Can I store my boat on-site on a boat-lift in the lake?

A. Yes, for $250 per year, in specified locations only, and at your own risk. SPLWSA and the City make no warranties for the safety of your boat or lift stored on site. The $250 per season includes trailer storage on shore designated locations in-season, and boat lift storage on shore in designated locations off-season. Privately owned boats and trailers not allowed on site off-season. There are very limited spots available in the lake for your boat lift. You may provide your own dock. You are responsible for removal and storage of dock and boat lift in designated spaces during the off season.

Q. Where can I see a list of Quarry Lake Membership slots still available and their respective membership fees?

A. Click here.

Q. If I sign-up to be a Quarry Lake member this year, will I get the same slot next year?

A. The Quarry Lake Member will have the first option to renew that time slot again next year, though some time-slots may be pre-empted next year for tournaments, Ski Shows and Community Activities. These will be scheduled prior to the season and made known to Quarry Lake members before next year’s membership is due. Quarry Lake members will have first shot at open time slots.

Q. Do I get a Quarry Lake membership for ½ price if I wait until July 15 to buy one?

A. Yes, if the time-slot you want is still available. Buy now to get access to the best times. 2010 Quarry Lake memberships purchased during the summer of 2010 will be pro-rated for the time remaining on the calendar during the 2010 ski season. Quarry Lake memberships purchased prior to the ski season are for the period January 1 of the current year to January 1 of the following year regardless of when the membership is purchased. Click here for the Quarry Lake membership and time-slot schedule.

Q. Can I go to Quarry Lake and check out the site on my own?

A. No! Quarry Lake is surrounded by privately owned roads and industrial property. For safety and security reasons, the City, the Shockwaves, and the industrial tenants near Quarry Lake are enforcing “no trespassing” rules at the site. All non-members must be escorted on-site by a SPLWSA member. As a result, please understand that YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO VISIT THIS PRIVATE SITE ON YOUR OWN without risking prosecution for trespassing. If you are interested in seeing and trying-out the site, please contact us at quarrylake1@yahoo.com and we will be happy to host you.

Q. What if I don’t want to buy a Quarry Lake membership, but want to ski during Open-ski times? When are the designated Open-ski times?

A. Great idea. Any Active Shakopee-Prior Lake Shockwaves Member can ski at Quarry Lake during designated Open-ski times.

Open-ski times are designated as Sunday, 1pm – 5pm, Tuesday 1 – 3pm, and Thursday 11am-1pm. There are no Open-ski times on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. In order to ski during Open-ski times, you must also meet these requirements:

• Active Shakopee-Prior Lake Shockwaves (Shockwaves) membership required
• Active USA Waterski (USAWS) membership required
• All skiers during Open-ski times must be Active Shockwave and USAWS members
• Provide own tow boat. Tow boat must meet Club requirements.
• Share site with other Shakopee-Prior Lake Shockwave members who happen to be there. Boats take turns pulling one skier each.
• Agree to abide by Quarry Lake use rules
• Agree to perform at least 5 hours of volunteer labor for the site or pay buy-out fee of $100 ($150 family).

Q. If I buy a Quarry Lake Membership and attending time-slot, will I get pre-empted by events and tournaments?

A. Yes. You may be pre-empted up to and including three times, but not more. We promise that your slot(s) will not be pre-empted more than three times during 2010 without your permission. It’s great for our Club when we host tournaments and other events at the site. During 2010, we plan to host our 10,000 Lakes Three-event water-ski tournament in July, a Junior Development clinic in June, and one more tournament TBD.

Q. Are there any known environmental issues with Quarry Lake?

A. For information on environmental issues, please click on the “Environmental Report” tab located on the “Welcome to Quarry Lake” home page.

Q. What is the situation with Green and Orange Gates?

For information on the Green and Orange Gates to the property, please click on the “Quarry Lake Gates” tab located on the “Welcome to Quarry Lake” home page.

Q. What if I have additional questions?

If you have further questions, please send an e-mail with your question to quarrylake1@yahoo.com We’ll post the most commonly asked questions on this site.