2012 AllSport Season Passes are now on sale. With this pass you’ll have access to the AllSport Activities, including several new activities opening in 2012, and exclusive benefits all year long.

When you purchase your Pass before the end of the year, you’ll not only benefit from preseason prices, but you can use your Pass for the remainder of the 2011 season.

For more information check out the AllSport Season Pass Page.

The U.S. National Whitewater Center is holding an Open Call for all Food and Beverage positions as we look to hire for the 2012 Season. The Open Call will be held on:

• Sunday, February 19 (12 p.m. to 4 p.m.)
• Monday, February 20 (3 p.m. to 7 p.m.)

This event will be held in the Rivers Edge Bar & Grill at our facility – 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway Charlotte, NC 28214. At these sessions, the USNWC will be accepting applications and time permitting, managers will be available to meet with candidates about the positions.

Applications are available on our website; candidates are encouraged to complete applications in advance and bring them to the event. These positions are summer seasonal in nature and will involve both full- and part-time scheduling opportunities.

Positions we will be interviewing for include:

• Prep Cook
• Line Cook
• Market Cook
• Market Cashier
• Banquet Prep
• Inventory Manager
• Dishwasher
• Host / Hostess
• Food Runner / Busser
• Server /Lead Server
• FOH Manager
• Banquet and Event Staff

USNWC is an EEO employer and a smoke- and drug-free place of employment. Pre-employment background check required. No phone calls, please.

If you are unable to attend the event in person, please complete an application online and submit it with a resume to jobs@usnwc.org.

Event Info:

Green River Revival
When: St. Patrick’s Day Saturday, March 17
Schedule: Live Music and Green River at 1 p.m.; PowerBall Race at 3:30 p.m.
Music: Larry Keel and Natural Bridge to open; Chatham County Line to headline
Cost: Free and open to the public

Event Details:

We’re turning our whitewater river green to celebrate the St. Patrick’s Day holiday. Come and watch the only whitewater river in the world flow green at 1 p.m. We’ll also have live music throughout the afternoon featuring Larry Keel and Natural Bridge and Chatham County Line and a PowerBall Race.

We’ll also be selling off a fleet of our used mountain bikes starting at 9 a.m. on the morning of this event. More details on the Used Bike N’ Boat Sale Page.

Chatham County Line

PowerBall Race

To enter this river race, white plastic balls will be available for purchase ($2 per ball) throughout the day. The balls will be marked with the purchaser’s name and raced down the green river at 3:30 p.m. Winners of this raffle-style competition will be award prizes from the USNWC and Smith Optics.

2011 Green River Revival

Pool Sessions Info:

Available dates: 1st and 3rd Friday of each month, January through March
Location: Dowd YMCA
Time: 5:30 p.m.  – 7:00 p.m.
Pricing: $30 per session/$25 per session for YMCA Members
Registration is Required: Register through the Dowd YMCA at 704.716.6100

Pool Sessions Info:

Held the Dowd YMCA, indoor pools are an ideal setting to safely develop and hone your skills. Our professional kayak instructors will work with all skill levels (must be at least 10 years old). Please remember to bring a swimsuit and the USNWC will provide all other necessary equipment and instruction.

More details and information on the Kayak Instruction Page.

Event Info:

What: Trail Race Series that is a joint production between North Carolina Outward Bound and the USNWC
Dates:

• March 10 (5K/8K)
• May 19 (5K/10K)
• July 21 (5K/15K)
• September 22 (5K/Half Marathon)

More Information: River Bound Race Series
Online Registration: Available Online

Event Details:

The River Bound Trail Race Series is a signature trail running race series featuring some of the most scenic and challenging trails in the entire Southeastern United States.

This race series is designed for the entire range of runners- from those who want to try their first 5K trail run all the way to the grizzled trail running veterans testing their limits in a half marathon. The 2012 Trail Series consist of four trail races: 8K race on March 10, 10K race on May 19, 15K race on July 21 and Half Marathon on September 22. All race dates include a 5K option, but it is not part of the race series.

The River Bound Race Series is a joint production of the U.S. National Whitewater Center (USNWC) and North Carolina Outward Bound (NCOB). The third year of this four-race series will take place on the 400 acres/14 mile trails at the USNWC in Charlotte, NC during the Spring/Summer of 2012.

For more information and registration, head over to the River Bound  Race Series Event Page.

Event Info:

• When: March 24 & 25
• Start Time: 9 a.m.
• Distance: Roughly 4 miles
• Complete Race Information and Registration: Available at Spartan Race

Event Details:

Spartan Sprints are muddy, 4 mile events with 10 or more obstacles. The Carolinas Spartan Sprint will take place at the USNWC on Saturday, March 24 and Sunday, March 25. The challenging sprint races are a great way to get off your couch and start living. Beginners to hardcore warriors, and marathon runners alike come out to test themselves on the insane obstacles.

Heats (250 racers per heat) start at 9 a.m. each morning and continue every 30 minutes throughout the day.

More information and registration available through Spartan Race.

We are kicking of the first River Jam of 2012 with the Green River Revival, a St. Patty’s Day party featuring Larry Keel and Natural Bridge and Chatham County Line.

Larry Keel and Natural Bridge to open and Chatham County Line to headline. Music begins at 1 p.m. after the river is turned green.

Chatham County Line

This year’s Green River Revival marks the second ever “greening” of the USNWC’s whitewater river, keeping Charlotte in a class of its own as it comes to St. Patty’s Day celebrations. Live music will play an even bigger part of this year’s festival with Larry Keel and Natural Bridge opening for Chatham County Line. Live music will begin after the river turns green.

In addition to the green river and live music, the Green River Revival will also include a PowerBall Race. To enter the PowerBall Race, white plastic balls will be available for purchase throughout the day. These balls will be marked with the purchaser’s name and raced down the green river at 3:30 p.m. Winners of this raffle-style competition will be award prizes from the USNWC and Smith Optics.

For more information on the Green River Revival, please visit the Green River Revival Event Page.

The U.S. National Whitewater Center (USNWC) is a non-profit outdoor recreation and adventure sports facility. Alongside mountain biking and running trails, a climbing center, zip-lines, flatwater kayaking, high rope courses, and a canopy tour, the facility’s most unique feature is a multiple-channel, customized whitewater river for rafting and paddling enthusiasts of all abilities. The USNWC is just minutes away from Downtown Charlotte and is situated on over 400 acres of woodlands along the scenic Catawba River. The USNWC is proud to be a U.S. Olympic Training Site that provides outdoor recreation for families, outdoor enthusiasts of all ages, casual observers and Olympic-caliber athletes.

Press Contact:

Stephen Youngblade
syoungblade@usnwc.org
(704) 391-3900 x 132

CHARLOTTE, NC – December 12, 2012 – The U.S. National Whitewater Center (USNWC) will host the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials for Whitewater Slalom and the 2012 Canadian Olympic Trials on April 12 – 14, 2012. The three-day competition also features live music and a fireworks display on Saturday night. The competition and festival will be free and open to the public.

The USNWC hosted the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials leading up to the Beijing Olympics. “Having the U.S. Olympic Trials return to our facility is exciting because it continues to build the Olympic spirit and movement in the Charlotte region,” says Jeff Wise, Executive Director of the USNWC. “Over the weekend we’ll play host to the many elite athletes from both the United States and Canada. Alongside those athletes, you’ll see friends and families playing outside and enjoying a great event.”

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials for Whitewater Slalom return to Charlotte,” says Joe Jacobi, Executive Director of USACK. “The USNWC is the world’s premier whitewater facility and an ideal setting for selecting our best athletes, while the venue’s amenities are perfect for raising the profile of the sport. We’re excited that Charlotte will play a key role in our efforts to win Olympic medals in London. The USNWC has some of the most challenging, but consistent whitewater in the U.S. for Slalom and will once again make for a perfect venue for selecting our 2012 Olympians.”

Whitewater Slalom athletes will compete in the Olympic disciplines of men’s and women’s Kayak (K1M and K1W) and men’s single and two person Canoe (C1 and C2). Based on an athlete’s placing in races throughout the year, including the U.S. Olympic Trials, points are assigned to rank the athletes within their disciplines. The athlete (or team of athletes for C2) with the highest point total in each qualified discipline will be nominated to represent the U.S. at the Olympic Games. Thus, a maximum of five U.S. athletes will have the chance to compete in London.

“Events like the U.S. Olympic Trials elevate the region and add to our city’s reputation as a world-class destination, so we’re thrilled to be an important stop for these Olympic hopefuls on the road to London,” says Mike Butts, Executive Director of Visit Charlotte. “With a tourism draw as unique and dynamic as the U.S. National Whitewater Center hosting the Trials, it gives us an opportunity to spotlight the city and share just how the facility continues to impress visitors across the globe through its wide-ranging programming and assets.”

For more information, please visit the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Event Page.

Press Contact

Stephen Youngblade
syoungblade@usnwc.org
(704) 391-3900 x 132

About Whitewater Slalom

Whitewater Slalom athletes have to navigate their canoe or kayak through suspended gates as they work their way through 300 meters of whitewater rapids in the fastest time possible. Hitting one of the hanging gates or missing one completely results in time penalties which are added to the paddler’s time at the end of his or her run. A 2-second penalty is given for a touched gate, and if the gate is missed completely there is a 50-second penalty. There are approximately 18-24 hanging gates for each course. The gates are color-coded to indicate which direction the paddler must pass through. Green gates are negotiated heading downstream while red gates require the paddler to reverse direction and pass through them heading upstream.

Whitewater Slalom made its Olympic debut during the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich and did not reappear until the 1992 Games in Barcelona. The Olympic program includes men’s and women’s single Kayak (K1M and K1W), and men’s single and two person Canoe (C1 and C2).

Slalom boats are made from carbon, Kevlar and epoxy resin. All slalom boats must meet minimum length and weight requirements. Kayaks have to weigh more than 9 kilograms and be more than 3.5 meters long and 60 centimeters wide.

About USA Canoe/Kayak

USA Canoe/Kayak (USACK) is a non-profit membership organization promoting canoe and kayak racing in the United States. A member of the United States Olympic Committee, USACK is the National Governing Body for the Olympic sports of Flatwater Sprint and Whitewater Slalom and an official U.S. Federation of the International Canoe Federation. Other paddling sports sanctioned by USACK include Marathon, Freestyle (Rodeo), Wildwater, Polo, Canoe Sailing, Outrigger, and Dragon Boat.

About the U.S. National Whitewater Center

The U.S. National Whitewater Center (USNWC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit outdoor recreation and adventure sports facility. Alongside mountain biking and running trails, a climbing center, zip-lines, flatwater kayaking, high ropes courses and a canopy tour, the facility’s most unique feature is a multiple-channel, customized whitewater river for rafting and paddling enthusiasts of all abilities. The USNWC is just minutes away from Downtown Charlotte and is situated on over 400 acres of woodlands along the scenic Catawba River. The USNWC is proud to be a U.S. Olympic Training Site that provides outdoor recreation to families, outdoor enthusiasts of all ages, casual observers and Olympic-caliber athletes.

CHARLOTTE, NC – January 25, 2012 – London may be calling, but before these athletes compete across the pond,they need to make a critical stop in the Queen City. An unprecedented amount of athletic ability with ties to 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London will take place in Charlotte this spring, bringing together three Olympic sports in one exceptional city.

The Modern Pentathlon World Cup and Olympic Qualifier kicks off the excitement beginning March 8–11 at facilities including Grady Cole Center, Memorial Stadium and the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center. Then April 12–14, the Olympic Trials for Canoe Slalom take to the rapids at the U.S. National Whitewater Center. Finally, the 2012 Charlotte UltraSwim hits the pool at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center May 10–13.

“As one of the last stops before the 2012 London Games, Charlotte demonstrates a keen ability to host events of an intense caliber. In fact, no other U.S. destination will host this amount of Olympic activity leading up to the Games,” says Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA) CEO Tom Murray. “We’re honored to welcome the Olympic spirit and will strive to make each event an unforgettable experience for the athletes, coaches, relatives and spectators drawn to the region.”

Modern Pentathlon World Cup #1

Five sports including swimming, fencing, horseback riding, running and shooting comprise the rigorous gauntlet of Modern Pentathlon. Over 80 men and 60 women from more than 30 countries will compete in an event first introduced in the 1912 Olympic Games. While the sport celebrates its 100th Anniversary this year beginning in Charlotte, its origins are steeped in the original Greek Pentathlon dating back to 708 BC. A first place finish at the Modern Pentathlon World Cup #1 will automatically qualify a male and female athlete for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

2012 Olympic Trials for Canoe Slalom

Speed is the key for Canoe Slalom athletes, who navigate their canoe or kayak through suspended gates as they work their way through 300 meters of whitewater rapids in the fastest time possible. Originally debuting at the 1972 Olympic Games, the sport did not reappear until the 1992 Games. Now a regular Olympic fixture, the Olympic Trials in Charlotte will feature disciplines including men’s and women’s Kayak and men’s single and two-person Canoe. Drawing more than 100 athletes from the U.S. and Canada, a maximum of five athletes from each country will compete for the chance to represent their nation in London.

2012 Charlotte UltraSwim

Over the last 27 years, Charlotte UltraSwim has been privileged to host more than 10,000 athletes, approximately 130 Olympians and over 50 Olympic Gold Medalists. 2012 promises to be no exception to the gloried meet, which will be one of the last major stops for an outstanding field of competitors before the Olympic Team Trials in Omaha. Look for allstar athleticism from contenders like Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Natalie Coughlin and more as they dive in for blazing fast heats and a $20,000 purse.

###

About the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority

The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA) seeks to ensure that the visitors and events that come to the area have a positive experience. Our responsibilities include destination marketing through Visit Charlotte and management/operations responsibilities for the Charlotte Convention Center, Time Warner Cable Arena, Ovens Auditorium, Bojangles’ Coliseum, and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Guided by three main mission objectives, the CRVA markets by bringing visitors and events to the Charlotte region, manages by making the visitors’ experiences positive and the events successful, and maximizes by marketing and managing in a way that continues to bring visitors and events back to the region.

About the U.S. National Whitewater Center

The U.S. National Whitewater Center (USNWC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit outdoor recreation and adventure sports facility. Alongside mountain biking and running trails, a climbing center, zip-lines, flatwater kayaking, high ropes courses and a canopy tour, the facility’s most unique feature is a multiple-channel, customized whitewater river for rafting and paddling enthusiasts of all abilities. The USNWC is just minutes away from Downtown Charlotte and is situated on over 400 acres of woodlands along the scenic Catawba River. The USNWC is proud to be a U.S. Olympic Training Site that provides outdoor recreation to families, outdoor enthusiasts of all ages, casual observers and Olympic-caliber athletes.

About SwimMAC Carolina

Dedicating its expertise, resources, and manpower to making the Swimming Discipline successful, SwimMAC Carolina is a USA Swimming competitive swim club located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Originally founded in 1977 as the Mecklenburg Aquatic Club (MAC), SwimMAC Carolina’s competitive team boasts a highly trained and professional coaching staff led by Coaching Director and CEO, David Marsh. In addition, SwimMAC is a USA Swimming Gold Medal Club, one of a handful of swim clubs in the United States that have earned this distinction for displaying excellence in their competitive program. SwimMAC Carolina is USA Swimming’s first “Center of Excellence” in the United States.

Press Contact:

Stephen Youngblade
syoungblade@usnwc.org
704.391.3900 ext. 132