Inspired by the Penrith Whitewater Stadium built for the 2000 Olympics and the 2004 Athens games stadium, the USNWC is the worlds only multi-channel recirculating whitewater river. The U.S. Olympic committee has designated the USNWC an official Olympic training site. The Slalom course is 1000 feet long and has a 21-foot gradient, making it the steepest pumped course in the world. The facility includes Class III and IV rapids that can be navigated by canoe, kayak, or guided raft, and is open to the general public for a small fee. The park contains about 12 million gallons of water. The pump station platforms, structural supports, stair, stringers, handrails and slalom pole all have been hot-dip galvanized. Galvanizing will provide decades of maintenance-free performance in the marine environment of the park.