Lee Valley White Water Centre today unveiled a new winter and spring season, following an immensely successful summer at the only brand new London 2012 venue people can use before the Games.
The new season runs from 19th January up to 9th April 2012, welcoming adrenalin fans bold enough to brave the 300m long Olympic Standard Competition Course in the middle of winter, plus those who like the water a little warmer who can take on the rapids in March and April.
The Centre is owned and run by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority whose Chief Executive Shaun Dawson said: “The take up for our summer season was very strong, with day after day selling out, and we’ve been inundated with people desperate to get their chance to raft the rapids before the Games. We’re running up to Easter – just 16 weeks before the Games, so this is an incredible opportunity to raft or canoe this fantastic venue before the world’s best take it on.
“Rafting these world class rapids is absolutely exhilarating – thousands of people have enjoyed the experience this summer of 13,000 litres every second pumping down the outstanding course, and now there’s the added challenge of the wintery weather. Rafters and canoeists will have an unforgettable experience, and while we are starting in the middle of winter, we’ll be open through spring, so people can pick a date to tie in with the experience they want.”
The Centre, 40 minutes door to door from central London, is host venue for the London 2012 Olympic Canoe Slalom events next July and August, and has accommodated a host of top international paddlers, plus thousands of rafters from schools, family groups and sports teams to blue chip companies on corporate days out.
Led by an experienced guide, a half-day rafting session will include a safety briefing and a session to get used to paddling the raft. Starting with a calm but fast-paced descent, tougher and tougher challenges are set with each run of the course until rafters are ready for surfing, high siding, spinning and nose dunking. All the gear – super thick wetsuit, buoyancy aid, helmet and boots – is provided, so all that’s needed are swimmers, a towel and a willingness to take on the white water. When the rafting is over, rafters can warm up with a free bowl of hearty soup and crusty roll served at the café overlooking the course.
Prices start at £49 per person for a half-day Winter White Water Rafting Adventure.
Useful links:
Hotels near Lee Valley Whitewater Centre
Other tourist attractions in Broxbourne

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