ROLLIN’ ON THE RIVER
by Sandi Solomonson
With a perfect summer in the forecast, you can expect the Reno/Lake Tahoe area to be bursting with outdoor activities.
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n addition to a feast of concerts, special events and farmers markets, summer sports take center stage, drawing us out of our winter dens to dust off bikes, hiking boots, and water gear. One of the many sports popular in this region is kayaking. On any given day, you can spot a rainbow of kayakers peacefully exploring Lake Tahoe’s tranquil waters, or surfing the waves on the mighty Truckee River. Twisting its way through downtown Reno, the Truckee River provides nature’s playground for families and sport enthusiasts alike. The Truckee River Whitewater Park, located in the
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heart of downtown Reno, teems with energy. In 2003, the Biggest Little City had the foresight to create this visionary water sports park. Charles Albright, locally known as The Godfather of Kayaking, was instrumental in getting the park engineered and built. “It helped revitalize downtown Reno. People traveling across the USA stop all the time to enjoy the park; it brought more focus to the community”, said Albright. With a passion for kayaking, this charismatic 70-year old kayaked a whopping 203 days last year at the park. The river park is open year ‘round
and offers a 1/2 mile of adrenaline pumping action with 11 drop pools, class 2 and 3 rapids, slalom track, and 5 play pools. You’ll hear devotees chatting about maneuvers such as front flips, spoofing or splatting, and throwing ends. The park is an excellent place for novice kayakers to discover this wet-n-wild sport. With over 7,000 tons of smooth flat-top rocks and boulders lining the river banks, it’s easy to be a side-line spectator or just relax in the shady grass with a picnic. Multiple river access points, including ramps for disabled sun seekers, beckon you to wade, swim, or enjoy a quick river float on a raft or inner tube.
