Penrith Whitewater Stadium 1999


Photos by Tom Beres


1. The Penrith Olympic whitewater venue outside of Sydney, Australia. Pictures by Jim Clarke, a temporarily exiled NC boater, taken the first day the course was open to the public, in late 1999. 2. The top pool. That strange slide on the left represents the ultimate in shuttles! More on that later. 3. The starting gate of the course. On the day it was open to the public, it cost $20 Australian ($12 US) to paddle for the day. A bib was given to indicate the person paid and signed the insurance waver. 4. A view downstream from the top of the course. The course was designed by Rick Fox, and is a big "U" shaped deal with a large pond (that extends well beyond the bottom pool) to suck water from.
5. No tough portages on this run! 6. Looking up at the top hole. 7. Jim labeled this "Every Crud Crusted Corner", as in, "They came from every crud crusted corner", a line from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. 8. Surfing at Gate 7.
9. Playing Gate at 8. Lots of fun to go around for everyone. 10. Another player in Gate #8. I keep looking for the usual DC crowd of 20-30 boats jostling about in the eddy. 11. More surfing. No sharks, no poisonous snakes, no poison ivy - the best Australia has to offer! 12. Retendos in Gate #8
13. Mystery moves in Australia. If they go deep enough, do they come out on the Cheat? 14. We are all looking forward to seeing some U.S. names here next year! 15. This one is Gate #13 16. The bottom half of the course. A lotta rapids in a little space! I really like the occasional rock cemented in, for the natural effect!
17. Gate #15. Getting near the end! 18. The final drop. Don't stop yet! 19. The ultimate shuttle. In photo # 2, "Top Pool", you'll see paddlers coming off the belt. #21 shows the belt from the bottom access, and #24 shows a rider in action (or inaction?). 20. The walking track. Not too shabby for those who prefer to go by foot, either.
21. Anyone need a lift to the put-in? Jim named this "Bob's Belt" in honor of his US-based fellow open boater. See picture #24 to see the conveyor in action. 22. The bottom pool, where everyone was hanging out. The social scene was rather like paddling in the East back in the '70's. Everyone was a long lost brother, finally reunited. 23. Finished! 24. An Easy Rider on his way back to the top. One last run! See # 2 for the easy entry back into the top pool. Do you think the Park Service can set up the C&O canal to do this?