Montgomery Whitewater to host 2024 Canoe Slalom and Kayak Cross Olympic Team Trials

Montgomery Whitewater will host Olympic trials later this year.

The American Canoe Association selected the park to host the 2024 Canoe Slalom and Kayak Cross Olympic Team Trials on April 13 and 14.

Whitewater officials say this is the first time Canoe Slalom and Kayak Cross will hold its Olympic Team Trials in the state of Alabama. It is also the first of two selection events to be held before the 2024 Paris Olympics with the second one taking place in Oklahoma City later that month.

“Montgomery had a vision to provide unique outdoor opportunities to its community, and the Montgomery Whitewater Park is the realization of this vision,” said Beth Spillman, Executive Director of the American Canoe Association. “They have embraced our sport, and we are beyond thrilled to be able to bring the Olympic Trials there.”

Montgomery Whitewater says the city will welcome some of the world’s best paddlesport athletes and become part of the Olympic story.

“With this significant win, Montgomery adds another internationally significant achievement, and demonstrates our status as a premier destination for people who seek to better themselves and achieve the pinnacle of success – whether in sports, business or personal development. We are honored and proud to welcome these Olympic Trial events and the athletes and fans that will discover all that Montgomery has to offer this spring,” said Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed.

Montgomery Whitewater Park opened in July 2023 and hosted the ACA’s Age Group National Championships in Canoe Slalom and Kayak Cross.

“Montgomery County’s investment in this world-class attraction is paying off – not only in the recruitment of internationally significant events like these Olympic Trials, but also in the Montgomery Whitewater Park’s commitment to introducing more people to healthy outdoor living, and aspirational athletes like the ones we will welcome in April,” said Doug Singleton, Chairman of the Montgomery County Commission.

Olympian Evy Leibfarth Kayaking at Montgomery Whitewater/Source: Montgomery Whitewater

Canoe slalom is contested by two types of boat, canoes and kayaks. In canoe, a single-blade paddle is used by an athlete who is kneeling in their boat. In contrast, kayakers use a double-bladed paddle and are sitting.

Canoe and kayak competitions are timed events where competitors navigate a whitewater course by passing through a combination of gates. Upstream gates are designated by the color red and downstream are green. Time penalties can be incurred for touching a gate (two seconds) and missing a gate (50 seconds).

Kayak Cross is the latest addition to the Olympic Program and will debut in Paris. This exciting new Olympic event puts four kayakers in a head-to-head format, racing down a section of whitewater while negotiating several inflatable gates. The race starts with four kayaks on a ramp above the river.

After launching 10 feet into the river, the athletes paddle around a series of red and green inflatable “gates” and complete a full kayak roll under a “roll zone” marker; the first boat to cross the finish line wins.

The Olympic Team Trials at Montgomery Whitewater Park will be open to the public and a schedule will be published when available at montgomerywhitewater.com, along with more information on the park and its other events.