Ever wonder what it’s really like to kayak down an Olympic-style slalom course? OKC-area families will soon have the opportunity to find out! The grand opening of the much-anticipated RIVERSPORT Rapids attraction is set for May 7 and 8. As part of the MAPS 3 sales tax initiative, Oklahoma City has a brand new whitewater rafting and kayaking center, one of only a few like it in the world.
Operated by the OKC Boathouse Foundation, RIVERSPORT Rapids is geared for both family fun and elite athlete training. The 11-acre, state-of-the-art whitewater facility offers families an exciting aquatic adventure. The recirculating channels can create rapids ranging from class II to class IV and flow can be adjusted, allowing for a wide range of experience levels from beginner to expert. Trained raft guides will brief rafters on safety and technique, and will steer each raft trip down the channel.
The weekend of the grand opening coincides with the Team USA’s Road to Rio Tour presented by Liberty Mutual Insurance. Families can watch US Olympics Trails, meet Team USA athletes and even get in on the action.
“We’ll be putting rafters on the whitewater course during all of this,” said Mike Knopp, the executive director of the OKC Boathouse Foundation. “We want to let as many people as possible get on the water during this opening weekend. This is OKC’s whitewater center and we want everyone to experience it."
In addition to the action on the water, attendees can also enjoy a rowing regatta, live music, some of OKC’s best food truck and a fireworks show, happening Saturday evening.
Admission to the festival is free; parking is $10. RIVERSPORT Rapids rafting and adventure passes will be available online at www.riversportokc.org and at the festival. Rafting passes are $49 per day and include RIVERSPORT Adventure activities.
