Welcome to Go White Water. This bulletin will keep you up to speed on the latest events, visits, opportunities and construction milestones.
The new Centre will host the Canoe Slalom events at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and is being built just north of the M25 between Waltham Abbey and Waltham Cross.
Team GB impressed by White Water Canoe Centre developments
Lee Valley Regional Park hosted the first visit from the GB Canoe Slalom team to the White Water Canoe Centre on 30 November.
David Florence, Beijing silver medallist and Lizzie Neave, recent World Championship bronze medallist were impressed with the construction so far. David, who has been involved with the sport for over 12 years, said, “Everyone is really excited about the developments here and with our Performance Manager Andy Maddock being involved in the design and development of the White Water Canoe Centre site we know we are in good hands for a fantastic home venue for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
Lizzie was extremely positive about the visit and said winning bronze at the World Championships “was the inspiration I needed to drive my commitment for the 2012 Games. It’s incredibly motivating to know the site will be open for us to train at from Spring 2011 and as it’s a brand new home venue, we are all excited about what we can achieve here.”
Shaun Dawson, Chief Executive of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority said,
“We were pleased to welcome Team GB who seemed very impressed with progress so far. We will ensure it is well used by a wide range of people from elite canoeists to those who’ve never paddled before. The Centre will open in spring 2011 and again shortly after the Games when we are expecting around 70,000 visitors per year - most of them taking up the challenge of white water rafting. We’ll also be providing canoeing sports development opportunities for clubs, colleges, universities, schools and community groups.”
The Centre is being developed in close collaboration with the British Canoe Union who will have a base at the Centre and will be heavily involved in developing canoe and kayaking opportunities for all. This is the only brand new London 2012 venue to open to the public ahead of the Games and will serve not only elite athletes but also the local community.
Positive signs of economic regeneration brought to local area
One of the United Kingdom’s largest water sports retailers has opened its first outlet in Waltham Cross, just minutes from the White Water Canoe Centre in Lee Valley Regional Park.
The opening of Brookbank Canoes and Kayaks brings a solid economic boost to the area and is the first of many developments heading to the region for the Centre opening in spring 2011.
As well as a first rate canoeing venue, the Centre will be a major white water rafting and kayaking attraction with 70,000 visitors expected annually.
Brookbank are a UK based company and began 10 years ago in Stockport, they have since grown to become the largest UK supplier of paddle sports equipment, with five other outlets in Britain and an extensive online store.
Lee Valley Regional Park Authority Chairman Derrick Ashley said, “We’re pleased to see this contribution to economic regeneration in the area and job creation. This is a welcome addition to the local economy.”
Centre on course to open spring 2011
The White Water Canoe Centre is the only brand new London 2012 Games venue that the public will be able to use before the Games – so you’ll be able to have a go at white water rafting before the Olympians arrive!
The Park Authority has worked with partners to ensure it will not just challenge the best in the world, but crucially be perfect for training, community use and for people new to canoeing and rafting - and will help in the regeneration of the surrounding area.
To find out how you can get involve with this new leisure venue we’ve opened a dedicated Information Point at the YHA Lee Valley, Cheshunt.
The Information Point is just a 25 minute walk from the construction site and is open seven days a week 09.00-19.00. Drop in at any time to see displays providing updates on construction work, images of the site, footage of rafting and canoeing and information on how the Centre can be used both before and after the London 2012 Games. You’ll also be able to drop in and ask us questions on the first Saturday of every month when we’ll have someone on hand from 10.00-12.00.
Since March, the Authority has hosted over 2,000 visitors and dates in January are filling up already from people keen to find out how they can get on board.
To learn more about the White Water Centre, to organise a trip to the site and Information Point, or to have us come and meet you please contact Area Manager, Ashley Bartlett.
P: 07736 692 576
Come and visit us at:
YHA Lee Valley, Windmill Lane, Cheshunt, Herts EN8 9AJ two minutes walk from Cheshunt railway station.
David Florence signs his picture
Go White Water speaks to Olympic Canoe medallist David Florence
David Florence is one of biggest names in UK canoeing. He took up the sport at an early age and has stormed the world circuit in recent years, winning accolades at numerous national and international events and earning a silver medal in the mens Canoe Single (C1) Canoe Slalom event at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
Go White water managed to grab a few minutes with the young star during Team GB’s recent visit to the White Water Canoe Centre construction site where we got the inside word from the UK’s first name in paddling:
- How did you first get into the sport?
My uncle threw me into a canoe and took me out to sea on a family day at the beach many years ago. It was all go from there really.
- What do you think of the new White Water Centre?
Well as it's not been built yet, so I can't say for sure, but it looks like it's going to be a fantastic course and I can't wait to see it when it's finished.
- Have you seen an increase in interest in the sport since the London 2012 announcement?
There seems to be an increased interest in Olympic sports in general and although I'm not directly involved in grass roots development, I'd certainly hope and believe the games will be a boost to our sport.
- What excites you most about London 2012?
Having such a massive sporting spectacle in our home country.
- How do you see the sport changing after the Olympics have been on home soil?
The interest generated by having a home Olympic games and a new white water course close to our amazing capital city will hopefully see our sport grow.
- What advice do you have for talented youngsters looking to develop in this sport?
Go paddling on white water as much as you can, as early as you can and enjoy every minute.
Lee Valley works closely with local Canoe Club
Lee Valley is consulting with partners and funders to create comprehensive development plans for the White Water Canoe Centre in the run up to its spring 2011 opening.
The Sports Development team have been working closely with funders and partners at national and local levels to develop legacy sport plans for the Centre. The British Canoe Union, Sport England, the East of England Development Agency, and the Boroughs of Broxbourne, Epping Forest and Enfield were among the first in a series of key discussions.
We are working to ensure the Centre is fully utilised, open to users of all abilities and used by families, young people and residents from across the region. A draft strategy will be submitted by next September to Sport England, a key funder of the Centre.
At a local level, our Sports Development and Communications teams are working closely to coordinate our legacy planning efforts with the Herts Young Mariners Base, a popular gathering point for paddlers of all abilities which hosts nearly 22,000 visits per year and is a close walk from the new Centre. We will be working with the Base to promote greater inclusion in the large events they host. One such example is the Essex Winter Canoe Marathon which took place earlier in December, drawing over 100 paddlers fromCambridge, Southwold, Ealing,Richmondand Maidstone to battle it out against each other on the stretch of the River Lee between Cheshuntand Dobbs Weir in Hertfordshire.
If you are interested in speaking to our Sports Development team, or geting involved with our legacy planning, please contact our Senior Sports Development Officer, Paul Coates.
P: 01992 709 934
Aerial view of the White Water Canoe Centre
Foundations Complete!
Strong progress is being made on the site of the White Water Canoe Centre with work on its foundations now complete.
A series of engineering feats have transformed the 25 acre site since construction began earlier this year.
Most recently the construction team finished laying more than 500 concrete piles for the main facilities building and Olympic course start pool. The Olympic and intermediate courses are now fully defined with the final concrete works scheduled to begin in early 2010.
Construction of the course and buildings will be complete by this time next year. If you have any questions or concerns you have about construction works you can call the Olympic Delivery Authority's Construction Hotline on 08000 722 110, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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