An Olympic White Water Rafting Centre, Hertfordshire

Beat the Olympians to the Lee Valley White Water Rafting Centre:

White Water Centre - Courtesy VisitBritain

The Lee Valley White Water Centre is a brand new white water rafting centre on the north-east edge of London. This custom-built rafting centre will be the scene of the London 2012 Olympic canoe slalom competition.

When the White Water Centre opens on April 22, 2011, the public will be able to use the facilities before the Games begin.  This is the only brand new London 2012 venue that the general public will be able to use before the start of the 2012 Olympics.  So, for anyone who fancies the thrills and spills of riding the rapids, here’s your chance to beat the Olympians to this venue!

White Water Centre Features

As an Olympic venue, the Lee Valley White Water Centre was built to be the best of its type anywhere in the world. It has two separate courses, apparently a unique feature: a 160-metre Legacy Loop with grade 3 rapids and a 300-metre Olympic Standard Competition Course with grade 4 rapids and with a 5.5-metre drop from the start to the finish of the pool. The Competition Course has 300 metres of obstacles, drops and waves, and enough fast-flowing white water to fill a 25-metre swimming pool in less than half a minute.

Almost anyone, it seems, can have a go at rafting – I exclude myself from the ‘anyone’. So, if you’re looking for some challenging sporting activities during your London holidays, this is a chance to test your skills on this demanding Olympic course – just bring your swimmers and a towel.

And just in case anyone needs assistance, the centre’s raft guides are being trained by Paskell Blackwell, who is captain of the Great Britain Senior Men’s White Water Rafting Team and assistant manager at the centre.

Getting there:

By Car – The centre is on the north-east edge of London, five minutes from the M25, near Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire.
By Train – The train journey to the centre takes about 40 minutes from London Liverpool Street Station, which includes a 20 minute walk through River Lee Country Park. You can also reach the centre via Waltham Cross station where buses will take you to the main entrance.

The centre will be open to the public Wed–Sun from 22 April to 30 September, 2011. Rafting tickets are priced from £49.

Address:
Lee Valley White Water Centre
Station Road, Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire EN9 1AB
Tel: +44 8456 770 606
Website: www.gowhitewater.co.uk

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