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Whitewater Racing & the Dickerson Course
Submitted by Adam Van Grack, President PWRC <vangrackremovethis@gmailremovethis.com> on 15/Jan/2015
50.232.55.74
Message:
Based on the discussion below, I would like to respond to a few statements for clarification on behalf of Potomac Whitewater Racing Center ("PWRC" :
(1) The Dickerson Whitewater Course has been open to athletes and recreational boaters for paddling through PWRC for many years. We believe the course is beneficial for athletes to train in slalom and recreation boaters to learn safe paddling in strong whitewater. Any paddler, for a $60 per year maintenance fee, can obtain a pass from PWRC to paddle at Dickerson. We know that paddling on whitewater courses isn't for everyone, but we are happy to have the course to train on. The Course ha directly benefited many Olympmians and World Champions.
(2) Unfortunately, the Course is located on land owned by NRG Energy (formerly Mirant & PEPCO). NRG Energy requires strict procedures for entry onto their property whatsoever. NRG Energy also requires that PWRC be the entity to execute NRG Energy's requirements for course access. This includes their requirement that PWRC restrict access to those who are members and have these members' information provided to NRG Energy regularly. These are NOT PWRC policies, but policies required by NRG Energy - who owns the Course. Thus, neither PWRC nor any other group can permit openly-public paddling at the Course for anyone at any time.
(3) Additionally, NRG Energy requires that PWRC fund all of the repairs, gates, wires, fences, upkeep, construction, access passes, and safety procedures for the course. As such, PWRC requires a nominal $65 ($45 under 21) per year fee to fund these services. NRG Energy does not pay for these services. Compared to most gyms and paddling courses, this fee is not exorbitant.
(4) Over the past few years, paddlers' access to the Course (including those for Olympic athletes) has been restricted by NRG Energy. This is not due to PWRC's restriction of the course. We have worked with NRG Energy to open the course as much as possible to recreational boaters as well as for athletes. We continue to work with NRG Energy for more access to the Course.
(5) Finally, I have heard for years that slalom boaters or whitewater athletes are "elitist" or "unfriendly." I don't know where this started, but it's possibly because athletes are often on the river to train, and don't socialize as much with other paddlers while on the river. That said, I assure you that we are very friendly boaters (well, most of us are). Note also that PWRC is very much a part of the local public whitewater community. We have sponsored the Maryland Chute-out in prior years. We have opened up slalom training classes to the public. We have held Dickerson Open House events in prior years. We have opened Dickerson to the recreational paddling community per above. And we have sponsored the Potomac Whitewater Festival in prior years.
If anyone would like to talk about PWRC or whitewater athletics, I would be happy to discuss those issues with anyone (either on or off the river) and clarify any misunderstandings about PWRC or the Dickerson Course.
Best regards,
Adam
Adam Van Grack
President/Chair
Potomac Whitewater Racing Center
http://potomacwhitewater.org/
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