This world-class resource at Whitewater Park is yours, all yours. They’re your events. Compete, Learn to Kayak, Volunteer or sit back and watch the excitement – no matter what you choose, you’ll be glad you got involved. Join us for a day of fun on the water during our recreational releases or take it to the next level at a training class. Consider this your invitation to join us at Wausau Whitewater – the local paddling community with an international reach. Learn to paddle. You won’t be sorry you did! Don't just come to see it, come be a part of it!
Our Information Tent
While hundreds of paddlers and spectators are expected to grace our course, we want to get to know you. So be sure to stop by the Information Tent. - Our friendly staff is ready to answer any of your questions!
- Pick up an Event Program with Start List containing the order of paddlers
- Find out how you can learn to kayak - Buy your Wausau Whitewater Merchandise
Food: Grab a bite to eat from the selection provided by St. Peter's Church. They've always got something delicious along with smoothies for a hot summer day.
Kayaking Vendors:
Bear Paw Adventure Resort and Whitecap Kayak are here to answer all of your questions about
whitewater kayaking, sea kayaking, and gear for the outdoors.
Training, Competition and Recreation: Check out our schedule to find the dates of Training, Competition, and Recreation Days. Wausau Whitewater hosts a variety of competitive events including Freestyle and Slalom competitions at local, national, and international levels. However, we bring the sport to you through introductory and advanced training classes as well as recreational paddling days! Don't forget about our Wausau RiverFest with free kayaking demonstrations and a Hooligan Race where anyone with an will to ride the waves and the proper safety equipment can sail their craft down Wausau Whitewater's Big Drop!
Slalom 101
Watch this great Documentary on Brett Heyl, "A Shot at Glory" to learn more about whitewater slalom kayaking. Brett is one of many Olympians who has competed in Wausau.
Learn the Tricks at USA Freestyle (Scroll Down to the Hole Moves)
A freestyle kayaking competition consists of paddlers from
beginners to experts performing tricks on a wave or in a hole.
Each paddler has 60 seconds to perform as many tricks as
possible. Their score is determined by the variety of tricks
performed and the difficulty level and technical execution of the
tricks.
Tricks you can expect to see in order of difficulty: Front/Back Surf: The paddler faces upstream or downstream
keeping the bottom of the boat flat on the water.
Spin: Keeping the boat flat on the water, the paddler spins 360
degrees in either direction. 5 Points
Cartwheel: The paddler rotates the boat 360 degrees with both
ends entering the feature. 10 Points
Splitwheel: Similar to a Cartwheel, however the paddler changes
directions when the stern enters the water. 15 Points
Loop: A flip, either forward or backward. 20
Points
Space Godzilla: This begins and ends like
a loop, however the paddler performs a
cartwheel. 20 Points
McNasty: The Paddler spins from a back surf, facing upstream to
complete a front loop. 30 Points
Phonix Monkey: A Pirouette on the bow followed by a front
loop. 30 Points
Competitors receive bonus points for completing moves without
touching a paddle or hand to the water (Clean), if the boat
completely clears the water (Air), or if they link two tricks after
one another in a fluid motion. Come out and enjoy the show as paddlers of all levels from beginner to expert show off their tricks in one of the hydraulic features on our river. From Loops (flips), to cartwheels, spins, and split-wheels you're in for a great show!
The Basics:
The goal of whitewater slalom is to race a canoe or kayak downriver while navigating through a course of gates that are hung over different rapids. The racer with the fastest overall time wins. Racers are grouped into classes: men’s and women’s kayak – seated with two paddle blades (K1 & K1W), men’s and women’s canoe – kneeling with one paddle blade (C1 & C1W), and men’s double canoe (C2). Most of the equipment is made of hi-tech composite carbon fiber ensuring that it is light but strong.
Depending on the set course it can take athletes between 80 – 120 seconds to complete a course. Athletes must negotiate the course without missing or touching any gates. For each gate a racer does not get their head through or passes through upside down, they are assessed a 50 second time penalty. Every time a racer touches a gate pole an official will add two seconds to their time. Final results are based upon the fastest run. During a competition, racers will run each course twice. For a multi-day event, the first day is qualifications with the top ten boats advancing to the finals the next day.
When watching athletes race, ideally the boat should never stop moving or gaining speed while taking the shortest line possible between gates. The best racers complete the course without missing or touching any gates.
In addition, officials are assigned a small area of the course – approximately three to four gates – to watch for touches or missed gates which result in time penalties. This is communicated to a head official who records the total time penalties for all the racers. These time penalties are then added to the time it took the racer to complete the course creating their total time.
An Olympic Sport:
Europeans made canoe slalom an international sport with the first World Championships in Switzerland in 1949. The sport made its Olympic debut at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, was removed for a short period and then added back in 1992 at the Barcelona Olympic Games. What to Look For: Slalom race courses consist of 18 – 25 numbered gates. Green gate poles indicate a “downstream gate” that the racer passes through headed down the course. Gates with red poles are called “upstream gates” and require the racer to loop below the gate, travel back up through it, and then turn to continue moving downstream to the next gate.
