Swimmers warned to stay outside lake ski lanes

Pererika Makiha

Swimmers using Rotorua lakes are being reminded to stay out of water ski lanes.

The lakes' harbour master and maritime officers have received complaints from water skiers that swimmers are using the designated ski lanes when the lakes are busy, creating problems for skiers.

One complainant who received an infringement notice (fine) for exceeding five knots outside the ski lane had brought a learner wakeboard rider in slowly at a safe place where there were no swimmers, because they had counted 23 swimmers in the ski lane. Later in the day there were more than 40, including small children.

Lakes harbour master Pererika Makiha said the ski lanes were designated to keep both swimmers and skiers safe, and swimmers should stay clear of the designated lanes. However, signage designating the ski lane was often obscured by vehicles and gazebos.

"Skiing from shore is only permitted within the designated ski access lane or reserved ski area," he said.

"People also need to remember that water skiing is a three-person sport. You must carry an observer who is over 10 years of age. The skier must wear a lifejacket and ski in an anti-clockwise direction."

Rotorua Wake & Ski Club president Ian Barker was yesterday reported as saying many tourists swimming in the lakes didn't understand ski access lanes meant boats could speed in with a skier behind them.

However, a Bay of Plenty Regional Council spokeswoman said she didn't know if any of the swimmers found in the ski lanes recently were tourists.

She said warning signs at Rotorua lakes were translated into German and Mandarin last year to ensure tourists and visitors were alerted to danger spots in the lakes. That included the danger signs warning of steep drop-offs at Lake Tarawera, and warnings not to swim within ski lanes at Lake Okareka and Lake Rotoma.

At the time a regional council spokesman said there had been a lot of freedom campers swimming in the ski lanes.