Check out the 2009 Lockapooloza Event to raise money for the Lock32 Whitewater Park in NY

5th Annual Lockapalooza Festival ~ August 8th – 9th

The Genesee Waterways Center (GWC) Lock 32 Whitewater Park (2797
Clover Street, Pittsford, NY) will hold the Third Annual Lockapalooza
Festival on Saturday August 8th -9th. Come on down for a day of fun,
great food, exciting raffle prizes, t-shirts and more! Festival is
free for spectators, if you are a whitewater kayaker, participant
registration is $15.00 and includes entrance in the Slalom Race,
Boater-Cross, and Rodeo. For more information, pictures, links,
videos and more, check out http://www.lockapalooza.org Festivities kick off at 11 a.m. with a free two hour clinic for kids
with whitewater experience. At 2 pm we’ll hold the Slalom Race.
Racers paddle downstream and upstream through a series of gates, just
like in the Olympics. At 4pm, you’ll see the Boater-Cross, a crazy
mass start, mad dash to the finish that will definitely be a nail
biter! At 6 pm we’ll hold the Rodeo, a freestyle competitions in
which participants throw cartwheels, front flips and new moves like
the McNasty and the Phonics Monkey. At dark we’ll put on some awesome
videos from local artists and Lunch Video Magazine of kayakers playing
on huge waves, running enormous waterfalls and living it up. You can
chat with participants, whitewater instructors and members of the
greater whitewater community.

Throughout the day we’ll have grilled food, snacks and soft drinks for
sale. We’ll also hold a huge raffle for kayakers and non-kayakers
alike. Prizes include paddling gear from local retailers such as
Braddock’s Bay and Oak Orchard Canoe and Kayaks, gift certificates to
EMS and Pack, Paddle and Ski and rafting trips with Whitewater
Challengers and Adventure Calls.

Lockapalooza will bring together whitewater enthusiasts and businesses
from all over the northeast. It will be an excellent opportunity for
those curious about the sport to check out the latest in whitewater
kayaking and find out how to get in the game. Information will be
available from kayaking schools around the northeast. We’ll also have
flatwater kayaks that you can try out the day of the event.
The Lockapalooza Festival will also highlight the plans on improving
the Whitewater Park’s facilities. The GWC hopes to have the new
building, including an office, changing rooms, restrooms and bigger
boat storage area under construction by the end of 2009. All proceeds
from the festival go directly to upgrading Lock 32 facilities.

The Genesee Waterways Center (GWC) is the premier non-profit
organization promoting paddling, rowing, and related activities on the
unique waterways of the Genesee Region. Located in Genesee Valley
Park, the GWC is the gateway to outdoor activities on or near the
water in Western New York. From kayaking, canoeing, and whitewater
rafting to hiking, biking, and snowshoeing, our recreational
facilities and year-round classes excite the young and the old, the
enthusiast and the novice, and just about anyone who enjoys being
outdoors and living well. For more information, class listings and
more, visit www.geneseewaterways.org.