THE ATHENS SLALOM COURSE  (by W. I.)

While we were (and still are) very preoccupied with our slalom course facility, I had the opportunity last August, when I went to Athens for the Olympics, to experience the most recent addition to the world’s new slalom venues, the one they built there for the Olympics. That course is probably in the most unlikely location for a white water course that could ever be imagined. Its final location apparently was not the original choice. They actually thought of building it near Mount Olympus, but that site was cancelled. Instead, it now sits on the runway of the old Athens international airport, south of the city, near Piraeus. The course is about 200 meters inland from the Mediterranean, which serves as the source for the white water. Its cost: close to $50 million. (Ottawa is spending some $52 million on new water pipes from Lemieux Island to the Pumphouse. Hey, that would be just enough to get our slalom course up to the latest Olympic standards…)  

But never mind the location or cost. According to the Canadian paddlers who competed there in the Olympics, the course is the best they ever raced on. My personal impression is the same. Even though I never paddled on that course, it beats all other slalom courses that I have visited over the past decade and half, natural or artificial, such as Tacen, Augsburg, Merano, Seo d’Urgell, Bourg St. Maurice, Minden, Mezzana, Penrith, etc. Well…for that price, it should be the best! 

I have put a few of my photos of the Athens course in a PowerPoint slide show...Athens Slide Show

Athens course, while still under construction...