YMCA and kayak camps at Montgomery Whitewater help introduce youth to the sport. Bronze medalist Evy Leibfarth qualified for the U.S. team at the Paris Olympics.
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Drops of Olympic glory mix in the clear, flowing rapids of the Montgomery Whitewater.
“We know that Montgomery, Alabama, is home to Olympians,” says Megan McKenzie, marketing director for the 300-acre park with its man-made whitewater canals.
Thanks to a few camps, groups of young people have been able to train and have fun in the same waters that helped North Carolina canoeist and kayaker Evy Leibfarth win a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 20-year-old won Team USA’s first canoe slalom medal in 20 years.
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“You have to be aware of your surroundings and know where the other girls are. And you have to really want it because it’s kind of a contact sport, so you have to put the hell in,” Leibfarth told USA Today after winning her medal.
In April, Leibfarth took first place in the women’s canoe at the U.S. Olympic team trials in Montgomery Whitewater.
“It’s so incredible to me because I remember there was a time when I was this young girl watching kayaking and dreaming of going to the Olympics one day,” Leibfarth told the Advertiser in April.
During the summer, Montgomery Whitewater hosted a YMCA camp, funded by a donation from the Alabama Power Foundation to the Montgomery Whitewater Foundation, and a separate kayak camp.
“Montgomery Whitewater is one of three places in the United States where kids can train where Olympians train and compete,” McKenzie said. “It’s like coaching baseball at Wrigley Field.”
Access to the facility is also beneficial for young people and their families who like to get out and learn more about the facility. Admission and parking are free at Montgomery Whitewater, 1100 Maxwell Blvd., including for major events such as Olympic qualifiers. If seeing the action makes you want to get out on the water, rafting tours can be booked on-site or online at montgomerywhitewater.com.
Kayaking for kids
Paul Belle Isle, kayaking and rafting manager for Montgomery Whitewater, said the kayak camp he led introduced 55 children to whitewater slaloming in a fun, non-competitive way.
“I think Montgomery Whitewater will play a critical role in the growth of this sport in this region because of its accessibility,” Isle said. “We have a consistently low-risk environment that you won’t find anywhere else on a natural river. It’s a great place to introduce youth and adults to whitewater sports.”
Isle said they will be offering a once-weekly beginner kayaking program and a twice-weekly advanced kayaking program this fall.
“Everyone has to start somewhere, and the chances of Paul having an Olympian in his class this year are super high,” McKenzie said.
New experiences and teamwork for YMCA children
“Rafting and whitewater are a completely new experience for the YMCA,” said Wilson Calhoun, land sports manager for Montgomery Whitewater.
Calhoun’s campers ranged in age from 9 to 15. So far, 139 of them have graduated, out of a larger group of 435 who are expected to complete the camp by next season.
Calhoun said it was a great experience for the children on and off land to learn about whitewater and themselves, and plans are in place to offer such camps year-round.
“We were really excited about these (YMCA) camps. We developed a lot of different programs for them,” Calhoun said. “We wanted them to go rafting, but we also wanted to show them a little bit more of what Montgomery Whitewater has to offer.”
In addition to being on the water, the children got to know each other through social activities and learned about the environment.
“We played a game about the deer population where the kids ran around and had fun,” Calhoun said.
The teamwork exercises helped them come together once they were in groups on the rafts.
“We’ll be able to open a kayak camp next year for the kids who went to Wilson’s camp,” McKenzie said. “It’s really exciting to see that happen.”
More information about Montgomery Whitewater
In addition to the whitewater rides, Montgomery Whitewater’s facilities will expand to include zip lines and walking trails, a children’s water area in the form of a miniature version of the water rides, access to the Alabama River, a hotel and an on-site distillery. The facility was recently named one of Time’s 100 Greatest Places on Earth in 2024.
The facility features an outdoor concert stage that will be used during Montgomery Whitewater’s Golden Hour Festival on Labor Day weekend. On Sunday, September 1, there will be brunch at Eddy’s, sunset rafting, kayaking and ducky riding from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The three scheduled acts are Symone French at 3 p.m., Lizzie No at 5 p.m. and Seratones at 7 p.m. Admission to the concerts is free.
On Monday, September 2nd, the Labor Day 5K and Lil’ Tri Triathlon will take place in Montgomery Whitewater.
For more information about the festival, visit montgomerywhitewater.com/upcoming-events/golden-hour-festival.
Montgomery Advertiser reporter Richard Silva and USA TODAY reporter Dave Birkett wrote this report.
Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers activities in the River Region. Contact him at [email protected].
