Canoe and kayak athletes who came with dreams of competing in the Summer Olympics spent several days honing their skills on practice runs in the Montgomery Whitewater.
Now it's time for the actual action.
On Saturday and Sunday, April 13 and 14, the official U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Canoe and Kayak will be held in Montgomery for the first time.
Jed Hinkley, director of competitions for the American Canoe Association, said about 60 athletes, both male and female, will be competing to compete at the Paris Olympics. Each competitor will face their own personal challenges on the rapids.
“That's the puzzle you're trying to figure out,” Hinckley said. “How do you run the boat correctly in this ever-changing landscape? I think that's what attracts a certain kind of person.”
Montgomery Whitewater, which features a world-class engineered river channel system that opened last summer, is hosting the trials in partnership with the ACA and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
Montgomery Whitewater CEO Dave Hepp said the ever-changing waters get an adrenaline rush for both new and veteran athletes.
“There's a lot of young people, especially in this race, but there's still a fair amount of older people,” Hepp said. “There are people who are older, around 28 to 33 years old, who are still alive.”
Saturday's trials begin at 9:15 a.m. and feature male and female competitors in canoes and kayaks. After a one-hour break, the second run begins. Kayak cross time trial starts at 4pm.
After the contest, listen to music from Dee-O-G at 5 p.m. and Graves Bhamara at 6:30 p.m. Saturday as part of Montgomery Whitewater's Get Down Spring Concert Series.
“It's the thing to do,” Hepp said. “Just hang out and enjoy the sunset.”
The trials schedule will remain the same on Sunday morning, starting at 9:15 a.m. with the extreme slalom trials starting at 3 p.m. An awards ceremony will be held after the race.
it's multiple sports
How athletes compete in whitewater depends on whether they are in a kayak or canoe. Often he goes back and forth between the two, each with its own challenges and requirements. Even within kayaking, there are solo and group events that require a variety of skills and skills.
In a kayak, Hinckley said the racer sits inside the boat with his legs stretched out in front of him. Hinkley uses his two-bladed paddle, which increases the ship's speed and improves its stability.
In a canoe, racers sit on their knees and use only one blade on their paddles.
On the kayaking side, several different competitions are held.
In a slalom race, a single athlete must pass through a course of hanging gates as quickly as possible. These kayaks are typically designed specifically for athletes and are built for speed rather than crashing. Hepp likened slalom running to downhill skiing.
“We hope you enjoy it. Bring a chair and relax on the grass and watch the players in action,” Hepp said.
more:Montgomery Whitewater Announces Free Events and Festivals During Olympic Trials
Kayak Cross is the opposite, with four racers on the course at the same time. They have to go through the gate and fight each other a little. This kayak is made of plastic and is designed to withstand impacts.
“It's kind of an all-out battle,” Hepp said. “There are rules, but basically you're going to be competing against each other. Kayak cross is a new event at this year's Paris Olympics.”
You can join for free this weekend
One of the best things about this for the River Region, in addition to the worldwide visibility and economic stimulus from visitors, is that people can come to Montgomery-Whitewater and watch the trial for free. There are no parking or admission fees. We are located at 1100 Maxwell Boulevard, to the right of Maxwell Air Force Base.
“There aren't many sports where you can literally walk to the athletes representing Team USA in Paris,” Hinckley said. “We have some people who are going to do great things in Paris, so we're really excited to have them here and for the community to interact with them.”
For fans who can't make it in person, both days' games will be streamed on NBC's Peacock and the NBC Sports app, as well as locally on NBC's Montgomery affiliate WSFA, Hinkley said.
Montgomery Whitewater Beginner Tips
Even if you've never visited Montgomery's natural oasis, where you can enjoy rafting, kayaking, and more, getting wet is an option. Montgomery Whitewater is offering whitewater rafting adventures again this weekend. Whether wet or dry, there are a few things all visitors should be aware of.
Smoking is prohibited anywhere on the premises.
more:Montgomery Whitewater begins the season with a new event.Here's everything you need to know
No outside food or drinks are allowed. Quench your thirst with plenty of food at the on-site Eddie's restaurant on Saturdays from 11am to 8pm and Sundays from 11am to 5pm. In addition, there will be several pop-up food vendors on site, including a taco bar, Hepp said.
Guests can purchase guided rafting experiences this weekend on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Due to trials, rafting will be limited to the Creek Channel only. If you plan on getting into the water, know that you'll get soaked and that you'll need proper footwear (no Crocs or flip-flops). Rafting has an age restriction of 8 years and above. Adult activity day passes are $49 and children's activity day passes (ages 8-10) are $39.
Hepp said he hopes some guests this weekend will see the ocean and take the plunge on a rafting trip.
“Events like this help spread the word about what's here and that this great facility exists in Montgomery,” Hepp said. “At the same time, we really want to use it as a platform to let people know that this is a sport. All the kids who are at the Olympic Trials didn't learn this yesterday. They was introduced to it somewhere.”
Hepp wants somewhere to be Montgomery-Whitewater for future generations of athletes.
“It would be great to start a small kayak club/team here in Montgomery as soon as a significant number of kids are comfortable swimming in the water,” Hepp said.
More information is available online at montgomerywhitewater.com.
Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers activity in the River Region. To contact him, sheupel@gannett.com.
