White water rafting like an Olympian
Friday, 3 August 2012 8:56 AM
The Olympic venue is set to reopen to the public on September 8th
Anyone watching the excitement of the Olympic rapids, in which 13,000 litres of water power down the course every second, can experience the thrill of it themselves very soon – Lee Valley White Water Centre is going to be the first Olympic venue to open to the public after the Games.
The centre will witness its final Olympic event on Thursday and is set to reopen to the public on September 8th. It was the first Games venue to open to the public in April 2011 and has since been visited by more than 150,000 people, with 40,000 experiencing white water rafting, canoeing and kayaking.
The Lee Valley course has proved a hit with competitors: Gauthier Klauss, who qualified in first place with his partner Matthieu Peche in Saturday's Canoe Double heats, said: 'It's a great course. It's quite hard as there is a lot of movement but it's excellent. I think a lot of us like it here."
Three times Olympic champion along with his brother Pavol, Peter Hochschorner from Slovakia, said: 'The atmosphere, the surroundings and the sport itself are all motivational. We have a very good feeling from the British public."
Visitors to the centre will be fitted with a wetsuit and all essential safety equipment. On arrival they will be given a safety briefing and undertake some flat water exercises on the lake, before taking on grade 4 rapids and ultimately surfing, high siding, spinning and nose dunking.
White water rafting at Lee Valley will cost from £49.
Follow us @Travelbite
