U.S. National Whitewater Center

U. S. National Whitewater Center logo
About
Locale Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Managing agent U. S. National Whitewater Center
Main shape Two Loops
Pumped 7 pumps (usually 6 or 3)
Surf wave Adjustable M-Wave plus others
Lighting yes
Canoe lift yes
Opening date 2006 (2006)
Stats
Slope

Slalom: 2.1% (113 ft/mi)

Long: 1.2% (67 ft/mi)
usnwc.org

The U.S. National Whitewater Center is a non-profit outdoor recreation and athletic training facility for whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, mountain biking, and hiking which opened to the public on November 4, 2006. The Center is located in Charlotte on approximately 700 acres (2.8 km2) of land adjacent to the Catawba River. The USNWC is an official Olympic Training Center for whitewater slalom racing.[1][2]

The Main Complex as seen from the Long Channel past the M-Wave.

The creators of the Center were inspired by the Penrith Whitewater Stadium built for the 2000 Olympics. The Center's primary feature is the world's largest and most complex recirculating artificial whitewater river. The facility cost $38 million to build, and costs $6.8 million per year to operate.[2] The river channels were designed by three-time Olympian Scott Shipley.[3]

In June 2016, prompted by the death of a teenage park-goer, the USNWC voluntarily closed the park's whitewater channels following the discovery of Naegleria fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba, in the park's water.[4] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that the park's system for filtering and disinfecting water was inadequate, and that the concentration of Naegleria fowleri in their samples were at the highest levels the CDC had ever seen.[5] New methods for water quality maintenance are being explored before the whitewater reopens. In the meantime, land and Catawba river activities remain open for business.[6]

Whitewater channels

The Center's recirculating river is filled with 12 million gallons of well water, which is cleaned every 24 hours by a filtration and ultraviolet system.[1][7] The whitewater portion of the river has a total of 3,750 feet (1,140 m) of channel divided between two channels: the Olympic-standard slalom competition channel and the longer wilderness channel, which splits around an island at the top. The rapids are Class II to IV and can be navigated via canoe, kayak or a guided raft. The different channels are linked by an Upper and Lower Pool which are connected via a moving-belt boat-lift conveyor.[8]

Each channel is watered by three of the seven 680-horsepower pumps. Six pumps will water both channels simultaneously. The electricity cost of each pump is about $45 per hour. When only one channel is used, an inflated barrier rises up from the bottom to prevent water from entering the unused channel. Since both channels have the same drop, 6.4 metres (21 ft), the extra length of the long channel gives it a gentler slope.[1]

Most of the water diverters are natural boulders cemented in place, but there is some use of moveable plastic bollards attached to the bottom. There are five barn door diverters hinged to the channel sides and positioned by hydraulic pistons, two above the M-Wave on the long channel, and three in the slalom competition channel. The M-Wave is designed to replicate the famous M-Wave in an irrigation channel near Montrose, Colorado.[1]

The National Office of USA Canoe/Kayak, which manages the US canoe and kayak Olympic teams, use to be located in Charlotte because of its proximity to the USNWC.[9] In April 2011, the team trials for the US national whitewater team were held at USNWC.[10] The organization has since moved to Oklahoma City as of December 2011.[11]

Activities

Water Sports[12]

Land Sports[12]

Aerial Sports[12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Willoughby, Scott, "Against the flow," Denver Post, Nov 7, 2006. Retrieved Dec 31, 2010.
  2. 1 2 Stevenson, Morris, "Charlotte Whitewater Park," Franklin News-Post, Aug 8, 2008. Retrieved Jan 5, 2011<.
  3. ↑ Scott Shipley resume
  4. ↑ http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article85846642.html
  5. ↑ http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article86869472.html
  6. ↑ "USNWC Response FAQ | U.S. National Whitewater Center". usnwc.org. Retrieved 2016-07-15.
  7. ↑ Whitmire, Tim (2006-07-01). "$32 million, 12 million gallons bring rapids to Charlotte". The Telegraph. Associated Press.
  8. ↑ Greenstein, Leah. "World's Largest Whitewater Park". WetDawg. Retrieved 2006-08-23.
  9. ↑ http://usack.org/about-usa-canoe-kayak/staff-directory
  10. ↑ http://usack.org/news/2011/04/18/usa-canoe-kayak-announces-the-2011-national-slalom-team/41890. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  11. ↑ http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Canoe-Kayak/Features/2011/December/13/USA-Canoe-Kayak-Announces-Relocation-of-its-Headquarters-to-Oklahoma-City
  12. 1 2 3 "USNWC Homepage". Ettain Group. Retrieved 2007-05-04.
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Coordinates: 35°16′20.4″N 81°0′18.3″W / 35.272333°N 81.005083°W / 35.272333; -81.005083

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