U. S. National Whitewater Center | |
About | |
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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 |
Stats | |
Length | Slalom: 300 metres (984 ft) Long: 550 metres (1,804 ft) |
Drop | 6.4 metres (21 ft) |
Slope | Slalom: 2.1% (113 ft/mi) Long: 1.2% (67 ft/mi) |
Flowrate | Slalom: 15 m3/s (530 cu ft/s) Long: 19 m3/s (670 cu ft/s) |
USNWC |
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 4th, 2006. The Center is located in Charlotte on approximately 400 acres (1.6 km2) of land adjacent to the Catawba River. The USNWC is an official Olympic Training Site for whitewater slalom racing.[1][2]
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]
USNWC Details
The Center's recirculating river is filled with 12 million gallons of Charlotte city tap water, which is cleaned every 24 hours by a filtration and ultraviolet system.[4][1] 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.[5]
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 38°26′42″N 107°46′59″W / 38.445°N 107.783°W in an irrigation channel near Montrose, Colorado.[1]
River access to the Catawba provides for flatwater paddling. In addition to the rafting and kayaking activities, there are numerous facilities including 14 miles (23 km) of wooded trails for mountain biking, hiking, eco-caching and trail running. Other features include: a high ropes course, a Team Development Center, an 1,123-foot (342 m) zip-line overlooking the river, one of the largest outdoor climbing walls in the world, a full service restaurant and bar, a conference center and a stage for live entertainment and special events. [6]
Events
Gallery
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Six pumps fill the Upper Pool.
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Slalom channel upstream from the bridge.
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Slalom channel bridge drop.
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Slalom channel downstream from the bridge.
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Plastic bollards where the slalom channel turns left.
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Big drop at the bottom of the left turn.
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Left split of longer wilderness channel, from the bridge.
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Slalom gate on the right split of the long channel, from the bridge.
References
- ^ a b c d Willoughby, Scott, "Against the flow," Denver Post, Nov 7, 2006. Retrieved Dec 31, 2010
- ^ a b Stevenson, Morris, "Charlotte Whitewater Park," Franklin News-Post, Aug 8, 2008. Retrieved Jan 5, 2011
- ^ Scott Shipley resume, Retrieved Jan 5, 2011
- ^ Whitmire, Tim (2006-07-01). "$32 million, 12 million gallons bring rapids to Charlotte". The Telegraph. Associated Press.
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(help) - ^ Greenstein, Leah. "World's Largest Whitewater Park". WetDawg. Retrieved 2006-08-23.
- ^ "USNWC Homepage". Ettain Group. Retrieved 2007-05-04.
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