Rolling On The River!

This weekend the Sierra Nevada Whitewater Club will be hosting the Truckee River Races (May 17th and 18tth) at the Whitewater Park at Wingfield Park in downtown Reno.  For those of you not from the Reno area, this is not a mistake.  The Whitewater Park is part of the Truckee River and Wingfield Park is the park grounds on the river bank.

 

The Truckee River Slalom and Wildwater Races bring some of the world’s best professional and Olympic kayakers to the competition.

 

A Wildwater Race, beginning at Chrissy Caughlin Park and ending at Fisherman’s Park  will be held Saturday at 3 pm. Canoes, kayaks, inner tubes, catarafts and rafts will be participating in the event. The Slalom Races will start at the south channel of the Whitewater Park at 9:30 am on Sunday. Slalom racing is when a kayak or canoe navigates through a series of hanging gates in the fastest time possible.  Wildwater racing is a paddle sport.  

 

Wingfield Park and the Whitewater Park are located right in the heart of downtown Reno, just a few minutes walk from the famed Reno Casinos and only 10 minutes from the Reno/Tahoe International Airport. Formed from the Truckee River, The Whitewater Park is a mile-long course with 11 drop pools and a slalom racing course (one for beginners and one that has been described as a river rodeo).

 

Since opening a few years ago, the residents of Reno have come to enjoy both the water sports and the fishing at Wingfield Park . Visitor, you can join in the adventure of whitewater rafting as well as excellent fishing any time of year as the Truckee River never freezes; temperatures range between 50 degrees in the winter and about 70 degrees in the summer. You can rent all types of watercraft at Wingfield Park or take kayaking lessons.

 

On Friday nights, during the summer months, there is a Rolling On The River concert series which allows you to roll on down the river while listening to great music. Along the riverbanks are smooth rocks that are perfect for picnicing and watching paddlers of various crafts pass by.

 

Wingfield Park and the Whitewater Park are just one of the many attractions for visitors and residents alike in the beautiful land of America’s Adventure Place, Reno, Nevada.

 

For The Truckee River Races information contact: Charles Albright at 324-5102 or Lynn Zonge 720-5872

 

Note: Slalom racing began in the 1940’s in Europe and is a Summer Olympics event.  The first competition was held in Switzerland in 1949. The first World Championship was held in 1979 in Quebec, Canada.