There are few places that make my heart feel as full as Wausau Whitewater. Every summer and into early Fall, twice a month, paddlers from all over the region gather at this special place. As the dam gates slowly begin to drop, releasing water from upstream into the course, the river turns from a small, peaceful babbling stream to something much more wild within a matter of minutes. This is it; this is what we came here for.
This last weekend marked the first recreational release of the 2023 season at Wausau Whitewater. Each year, a few core staff members and whitewater paddlers make the trek up with a trailer full of all the latest whitewater boats. We pop up a tent, spread the boats out on the grass and settle in for a weekend of laughter, smiles, excitement and good clean fun.
The positive vibes and good times are contagious. It’s almost a daily occurrence for non-paddling bystanders to come up to us with smiles on their face, and curiosity and interest in their voices as they ask us questions, eager to learn about all that goes on here. Familiar faces and new, this is what it’s all about. Building community and gathering together, all for the love of water.
If you’re a whitewater paddler and you haven’t been to Wausau before, you won’t regret making the trip. If you’ve ever been interested in learning how to paddle whitewater, this is a great place to start.
Demos are available to those who have their own gear (i.e., Spray Skirt, Helmet, Paddle, and PFD) and have signed waivers and a wristband for the release weekend. If you don’t have any of your own gear, but you want to learn how to get involved with this incredible community of whitewater paddlers, send us a message or give us a call and we can help get you pointed in the right direction.
