Dickerson Whitewater Course: Dickerson, MD
WHITEWATER FROM A COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT
An Olympic Partnership Between Power and Paddlers – The U.S. Whitewater Slalom Team and coach Bill Endicott needed an Olympic-caliber course to help prepare for competition at the 1992 Olympic Games, where whitewater was reintroduced for the first time in 20 years. In an unprecedented partnership with the Potomac Electric Power Company, the Dickerson Power Plant’s cooling water discharge canal was transformed into world-class training site.
The Perfect Warm Water Training Site – Today’s course offers many appealing options for paddlers:
- International slalom course length for serious training and permanent, flexible gate system
- Continuous Class III rapids
- Warm water 24 hours per day, 7 days per week – even in icy winter months
- Convenient to Washington, DC
- Adjustable whitewater features
The Dickerson course hosted the 2010 US National Whitewater Slalom Championships and will likely hold many future world class events.
This is a dream come true…it’s awesome, simply awesome.“We were skeptical at first…but it is really a credit to Scott Wilkinson and John Anderson…it’s just like they said it would be,” applauded William Sim, VP for the Potomac Electric Power Company. John Anderson adds, “Working closely with the plant manager and construction staff was awesome, for we all had a lot on the line. I cannot imagine it coming together with greater success.”- Jon Lugbill, five-time world champion, Men's C-1 (whitewater decked canoe)
Services Provided – Grant Writing, Fund Raising Support / Conceptual Design / Physical Modeling / Construction Observation
For more information on the Dickerson Whitewater Course visit the Bethesda Center of Excellence or Maximum Whitewater Performance.
